We are susceptible to environmental cues. We respond to the stimulus in our environment the way we always have. Maybe it's candy or chips at the checkout or a tray of cookies coming fresh out of the oven. Our natural instinct might be to start eating. We like this stuff, after all. However, if you are watching your calories, points, sugar and sat fat intake, it's time to rethink this approach.
The next time you see something in your path that looks tempting, take a moment. Consider your options. Do you have to do what you always have done? Do you have to eat all, or can you have some? Do you have to remain near the food, or can you simply turn away and distract yourself?
Special treats and unplanned snacks are not set in your path to make your life difficult. They are part of life. So, one of the best things to do when they come along is accept them as a choice that you have the POWER to make. Cookies and chips don't control you even if they show up in unsuspecting places. Cheese and crackers don't have feelings. You can say NO and move on. Or, you can incorporate them into your day even if you didn't plan for them, by being mindful. If you eat cookies at lunch, maybe you forgo a potato at dinner. If you have more than your fair share of crackers, maybe you lighten up with more vegetables later on or tomorrow. What you don't do is feel guilty. We are allowed to eat.
The point is that there is always, always, always something you CAN do to put yourself in the driver's seat of your life. No matter what shows up, you get to decide. Being tempted is tough, but those temptations are not going away, and the more we practice our mindfulness skills and exercise our power over difficult situations, the better we feel. That is success in the making. Try it this week, with something unexpected that comes along, and see for yourself!
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