No more slip ups, only rest stops along the way

Tomorrow I will make an assessment of how February went. All things considered, I think it went pretty well. There were slips here and there, but that's called living in the real world. At the moment I am reading a book by Chantel Hobbs - "Never Say Diet." She knows - she knows - and she shares. Very good read.

Not much to report today. I am still dealing with the collateral damage from the slip up the other day. But you know what? From now on I am not going to call them "slip ups." There are no "slip ups." There are just minor stops along the route. Let's call them Rest Stops. Yes, that is what I am going to call them from now on. Slip up implies a lack of control, but a rest stop is something else. I am going to plan some rest stops along the way. We all know that the journey goes better when we pace ourselves.

In order to change a slip up into a rest stop, I have to have a plan. That means I will be in control of what happens at the rest stop. I do not succumb to something, I choose to have it - purposefully and without guilt. I think one rest stop a week sounds about right. I don't always have to take it, but I know it's there. That takes away a lot of the power from that little voice that is always trying to derail me. The rest stop will consist of one meal or one item that I normally don't have. It may be an impromptu family gathering where we order pizza. (We have at least one family gathering a week of some sort.) I can have it or not - it's my choice. But if I choose to have it, I will enjoy it thoroughly for the treat it is. If I choose not to have it, then I do not get to whine and moan and feel like a victim. Victims have no choice. I am not a victim. The rest stop will last no more than an hour - but that does not mean stuffing down everything I can in that hour. Rest stops will always involve other people. That means I do not sneak off to the bedroom with a book and a bag of M&Ms. If I choose to have them for a rest stop, it is out in the open and sharing with other people.

Okay, so let's review my plan:

I can have one rest stop a week. (If I do not use it, it does not carry over.)
A rest stop consists of one meal or one item I normally don't choose to have.
A rest stop lasts no more than one hour.
Rest stops are taken in the presence of other people.
After a rest stop, the journey continues with no regrets and no self-flagellation.
Rest stops will be reported in my blog. (That's my own little accountability thing.)

March is marching in!

Have a great day all!