Details, Details, Details

Welcome to December!  I always start to hyper-ventilate just a bit on December 1, because it means the countdown is on until Christmas.  Like almost everyone else, there is a lot going on this month and a lot of things to do.  I am a list maker by nature, but December puts my list making into overdrive.  List of things to do, gifts to buy, events to attend (including grandchildren's Christmas programs) - the lists go on and on.  For me, it's the best way I know of to stay on top of all of the details and make sure that everything I want to do and get done happens.

Some of us are more detail-oriented by nature, but whether we come by it naturally or not, paying attention to detail makes a difference.  I recently read a story about a man from Germany who planned to visit his fiance for Christmas but ended up in snowy Sidney, Montana instead of sunny Sydney, Australia.  Ouch!

Not paying attention to details while on Take Shape for Life/Medifast 5&1 can result in us not arriving at our destination, too, or getting there much later than we'd hoped.  This time of year we have a lot of things vying for our attention, so it takes some extra effort to stay focused on what we're doing.  An extra bite here and a small nibble there can quickly push us out of the fat-burning state, and if we're not paying attention, we may not even realize it.  Since it takes a minimum of three days to get into the fat-burning state and since the Medifast meals cost approximately $10 a day, going off plan will cost us a minimum of $30, and that cost can go up if we don't get right back on plan. 

Paying attention to details also means making sure you have some extra Medifast meals with you, just in case.  This is a busy time of year, so make sure you don't end up in a situation where you're hungry and don't have access to a Medifast meal.  Take the time to plan your meals each day - this small detail can make the difference, especially during this holiday season.

Plan carefully and pay attention to details and you'll get through this month just fine!  The good news is that a month from now, while much of the country will be scratching their heads and looking at their protruding bellies and wondering what they're going to do, you'll be starting the new year weighing less than you do right now.  All you have to do is make the choice today, so choose wisely :-)