This really happened. And every time I think about it, I let out a laugh.
Imagine a formal sit-down dinner. After the usual full-course meal, dessert was to be served. The host’s choice was a double-chocolate soufflé laced with salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream on the side.
A hush came over my side of the table when the sweet dish was served to me.
The gentleman across me nudged by his wife finally asked the much anticipated question: “I thought you didn’t eat sweets, so are you breaking your rule?”
Smiling, I replied, “It’s a treat day, not a cheat day.”
Don’t deprive yourself
Business institutions have gotten it right. There is a reason for a rewards program—it makes you feel appreciated.
How about if you came up with your own incentives? Truth is, I don’t believe in dieting. It makes the dieter feel deprived. So, let’s not even go there, shall we?
Instead of dieting, embark on mindful eating. It is a new approach to enjoying your favorite things but knowingly feed yourself what is good or even not good for you. The whole point of the exercise is awareness. And with it comes accountability.
With this new paradigm of thinking, there is no such thing as cheating, only treating yourself to something you deserve to have, like a reward.
So, what is it that you feel you truly deserve—a plateful of truffle pasta, a family-size four-cheese pizza, lechon, fried chicken… and the list goes on.
It is said that bad food doesn’t exist, only bad eaters.
Stop when you should
It means never mind what you eat, but mind the quantity.
Rationale: By adopting this attitude toward food, the law of balance takes place. Soon you will end up doing the right thing, consuming food with modulation.
Your inner traffic light is like a voice telling you to stop, wait, go. Your instinct acts like a radar. When you are told to wait (yellow light), study carefully what you are about to order from the menu or select from the buffet.
Stop (red light) is an alarm bell that rings which says it’s rich—so beware and be aware.
Translation: You can eat but try not to overdo it.
Go (green light) means yes, it’s an excellent choice. Every cell in your body will be nourished by your food selection.
Nobody has to tell you what’s right for you or not because you already have it at instinctive level.
Give in
You’ve got to give yourself some downtime. Life shouldn’t be all about work and no rest or play. The price you pay for not relaxing and maintaining a highly stressful pace can bring on hypertension, heart disease, or cancer. Note that these are lifestyle diseases which were unheard of 50 years ago. Today it is the No. 1 malady of the modern work force.
And so, today, stop whatever it is you are doing and go home. Here’s a “giving in to yourself” checklist.
Laugh as often as you can everyday. If you cannot laugh about anything, force yourself to. This is because your mind doesn’t know the difference. The effect is the same—a stronger immune system.
Salon time—have a make-over, change your look, hair color and cut. Turn yourself into a goddess by recognizing the inner goddess in you.
Shop—buy yourself something from you to you.
Share a little love—love yourself more because you are loveable.
Then save enough love to give to others like your family, friends and the community. Bring out the civic leader in you.
This week’s affirmation: “I have a loving and generous heart.”
Love and light!
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