Friend of Julie: Because It's........

Recently a friend touched on a topic that a lot of us have had personal experience with: "My beautiful husband's Aunt struggles with her weight. She is not interested in seeing Julie, but has recently been reducing her carbs and is starting to lose."

Yesterday my husband took her out to lunch to celebrate Mother's Day and she was so excited because she had bread and ice cream after not having either for 2 months. She said, "I'm going to eat what I want today because it's Mother's Day." It just struck me how many 'Because it's (insert any occasion, holiday, event or excuse here) I'm going to eat what I want' days I used to have. I was truly the queen of rationalization.

Living through 2 years of events and having the strength to not eat off program "because it's..." is really amazing to me. I'll always want those foods as they are like old friends to me. I've just decided I don't want to party with them anymore. I don't want another Monday where I have to feel defeated and know I have to start dieting again because I blew it.

I'm grateful that my life is full of events that deserve celebrations. I just don't want to ever use those happy times to hurt myself with food."

How many of us have thought like that? Isn't it a relief to be free from these feelings?

Another friend talked about her personal situation with Mother's Day too:

"I was thinking this will be my first Mother's Day without kid-made French toast. Boo boo, poor me. But instead they made a beautiful omelet with ham and a side of bacon. They cared enough to cook, and to sit and eat with me. The focus, for me, has changed. Mother's Day was never about French toast.  :)"

People that have seen Julie are learning to adapt to holidays! And their families care enough to allow the "old" tradition to be replaced with a "new" tradition. That is true support! Do you have people helping you meet your goals? If so, how?? Are you worried about the next holiday, or are you prepared??? Has your focus changed??