Set the Table for How You Want Things to BE

Part of our success as we change behavior and create a healthier lifestyle is setting the stage.  That means we create the environment where we know we can succeed.  When my kids were little, at the beginning of the school year, one teacher sent a note home asking that we create a dedicated homework space in our house for this very purpose.  Knowing what happens and where it happens is part of what keeps us on task.

Consider how far we have come from the mealtimes of our childhood.  At a table, with chairs, no phones or tv or radio or doorbell...command performance--everyone was there.  It was a ritual that created a sense of stability and routine where we all knew what to expect.  In my house it was always:  hand on lap, napkin on lap!  Consider how our mealtimes play out today.  At a barstool or on the couch with internet, tv, music, distraction, interruptability, with the mind wondering to the next thing.  It is not nearly as enjoyable or sustaining.

I am not romanticizing olden times.  I am romanticizing meal times at tables with chairs.  I am saying that knowing when it is time to eat and when it is time NOT to can help us succeed.  If it is not an eating time (or place) then we won't even consider eating there, and that makes it easier to follow the program.  It also prepares us to be hungry for our meals when we do sit down.  We can actually get satisfied with less food if we create a pleasant, slow, thoughtful ritual around it. SmartOnes on your lap won't do.  You are worth so much more than that.

This "throwback" thinking is highly recommended to decrease stress and increase enjoyment.  It is very stressful to gobble food, under pressure, while you are contemplating your next move.  It hinders digestion and makes you feel like you haven't eaten.  In truth, you haven't had a quality experience of eating well.

Here in the U.S., we value speed and efficiency.  This is not the same everywhere.  We have high productivity because of it, but we also are tipping the scales.  We are the world leader in obesity.  I see a connection.

With this in mind, let's consider how you'd like your set mealtimes to be.  Let's consider making it a nice part of your day, not an after thought, especially dinner.  Later in the day, as we run out of points, we run out of energy for the program, and we run out of goodwill.  Let's have a nice dinner to look forward to instead. Comforting foods that satisfy will fill the bill in the winter months.  Let's see if we can get zero point joy out of less food but more satisfaction.

You are worth the time it takes to have nice meals free of distraction.  Set up your life so this gift can be yours every single day.