This is the first post in a what will be a continuing series, Body for Life Battles. This series will chronicle those moments during the challenge when the temptation to veer off the BFL path is great and willpower must overcome the desire to give in. Appropriately, the first such temptation for BLB was at a place called Fatman's.
BLB thinks happy hours to recognize a colleague moving to a new department are valuable. They are a chance to connect with your new co-workers in a more casual setting and to catch up with old co-workers that you haven't seen in a while. In the information age, when your network is everything, they are essential career building events. However, there are three problems with them when you are doing a BLF challenge; pizza, wings and beer.
What was BLB to do? Not going was not an option. These events are few and far between. BLB already had plans for the Free Day on Saturday, and didn't want to waste the Free Day on this event. So that left giving in or developing a plan to stay "BFL Approved".
First of all, BLB knew the layouts for the buffets at these events, and knew that no lean protein options would be available. The spread was pizza, wings, and potato skins. Therefore, BLB bought a new BFL approved lunch, and saved the packed lunch for a small meal right before going. A full belly is powerful, it allows one to say "No, Thank You" to the delicious spread. And that's what BLB did.
On top of that, when the waitress asked BLB what he wanted to drink, the reply was "Diet Coke, Please." It was like some other being had possessed BLB to help make the right decision to stay on the program. Certainly, when one is used to drinking at these events, navigating them without a glass in hand can be daunting! However, the night was just as much fun with Diet Coke as it would have been with a beer. And by picking the Diet Coke, at least 200 calories were saved!
BLB made a graceful exit before temptation took another swing at him, and went home to enjoy his favorite night time snack, which will be revealed in a future post.
The score after round one? Willpower 1, Temptation 0
Good job! It really isn't as hard as it would seem to only have the diet soda.... once you get the first one in your hand. It is in making that initial choice that you have to stay strong.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing about the late night snack!