It is just me, or is anyone else in denial that this is Memorial Day weekend, the official kick-off of the summer? It seems like it was only a short time ago that we were ringing in the New Year and making all of those New Year’s resolutions. Remember those? How many of you made solemn resolutions on January 2 that, with the holidays finally behind you, you were going to finally get focused and get to your weight loss goal. How many of you vowed that you were going to be at your goal by the time shorts and swimsuit weather rolled around again? How have those resolutions worked out?
I know that a number of you made that resolution and stuck to it, and you’ve reached your goal (congratulations!!). Without exception, when someone reaches their goal they readily admit two things: 1) it wasn’t always easy and 2) it was worth it! No one has yet reached goal and decided that giving up some of their favorite food for a short period of time wasn’t worth the thrill of seeing their goal weight on the bathroom scale. Even more than the thrill of seeing that number on the scale, a number of you have seen real improvement in your health – with medical conditions improved or completely resolved and prescription medications reduced or eliminated.
Others of you aren’t at goal yet, but you’re continuing to make great progress. Some of you have had the joy of finding yourselves as much as 100 pounds lighter in a matter of months. You know that the sacrifice and the struggle is worth it and that as long as you keep focused on where you want to go, you will soon be at your goal weight.
If you aren't in one of the two categories listed above - either at your goal or making good progress toward your goal, would you like to be? You can be, and that reality can begin today, even on a holiday weekend!
Regardless of where we are on our journey, this holiday weekend will find many of us attending BBQs, picnics and parties with family members and friends. Most likely, most of the food at these events won’t be even remotely on plan, so what’s a person to do? Here’s my suggestion: plan ahead, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to do what you need to do to stay on plan. If you’re going to a cookout, find out what will be on the grill. If it’s hot dogs and brats, ask your host/hostess if it’s OK if you bring along a chicken breast to throw on the grill (I'm almost 100% certain they won’t mind!). Offer to bring a large garden salad or a vegetable tray. If the protein option is burgers on the grill, you can have 5 oz. of beef, but skip the bun and watch the condiments as they will add unwanted calories and carbs. If you’ll have trouble resisting the chips and dip, bring a bag of soy crisps or a bag of Medifast pretzels or cheese puffs. While everyone is having dessert, make sure you have a crunch bar with you. NOTE: you may have to adjust the timing of your 5 Medifast meals, so take the time to plan your day accordingly.
One of the things I learned while on 5&1 is that nobody really cared what I was eating. As long as I was OK with it, so were they. I attended a lot of food-focused events and either ate what I could or brought along something I COULD eat and it was never an issue. Nobody cares if you eat chicken while they eat a brat, and even if they DO care (which they don’t!), this is your program and your health.
Don’t let a holiday weekend get in the way of getting what you really want! Focus on what you want, then choose wisely :-)
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