I think this sums up what I learned today at Weight Watchers. Everyone has challenges especially during the holiday season. The leader this time was a fill in and a former teacher who had lost over 100 pounds. I was inspired by her. It is how you deal with the problems not the problem in itself. The proportion is 10% problem and 90% is how you deal with it. It is a good thing to remember.
The leader had everyone take a pen and write down the holiday challenges. None of mine were food but stress alone can make you overeat. It was a wonderful exercise. I was slow at getting started but once I thought it through I found it was a good exercise.
My personal challenges are:
1 People that are stupid or rude, something that is more prevalent during the holidays. Yesterday, I had someone cut me off and nearly run me off the road on the 401. Then when I reached my destination, I waited for a person in a car to leave his parking spot. As soon as the person was far enough out of the spot, another man shot ahead of me to get the parking spot.
2 Buying Chanukah gifts especially for kids. It is a challenge.
3 Listening to Debbie Downers talk about their illnesses
4 Crowded places and people pushing you around. I always hated that and was shocked at the US reports about how people used pepper spray and actually in two places took a gun and shot people to get ahead of the crowd on Black Friday.
5 Being overworked
So can I help any of the above challenges? Probably not but I can help put my reactions into perspective. I try to get enough sleep and workout. I try and plan ahead because for me being organized is being in control. Then take a big, deep breath and focus on the pleasures of the season.
Writing things down really helps me. Yesterday, I wrote a list of the hors d'ouevres that are served that are not accounted for in any Weight Watchers lists. Mostly they are mini things like mini quiches, mini egg rolls and a variety of small unusual things. Whether right or wrong I have tried to calculate points based on calorie count. Generally a lot of these hors d'oeuvres are about 100 calories.
I have in the past used my Weight Watchers calculator to convert calories into points with the exception of fruits or veggies which are free, 30 calories seemed to be about a point. So something that is 100 calories might be 3 points.
The best thing I learned when I was a Girl Guide was to "be prepared". It has served me well through life and dealing with unexpected challenges. I have a few tactics to deal with no time to cook and being hungry. I keep a few things in the freezer like soups and things I have made in the slow-cooker, pizza, pasta and lasgna, and mini muffins I make. I buy and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits than I have in the past. My go to fruits are apples and bananas but everyone is different. Sometime I buy trays of veggies that are meant for parties because there is just enough of each type to go for days.
This morning when I weighed in I brought my pretty designer coffee cup with a top and 2 of my mini-banana muffins to eat and drink during the meeting... after weigh in, of course. And, how am I doing after two weeks of eating out in New York and attending parties and the like? I am down in small increments but going in the right direction.
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