It is the time of year where everyone talks about all the food they are going to eat and the weight that they will gain. It is almost as if it is expected, imminent, or even a laughing matter, but it doesn't need to be any of these if we choose to make the right decisions.
If there is anything I have learned over the years since first losing the 90 lbs, it is that there are times we tend to let our guard down a little bit. For me that time was during the marathon training. I figured I was running over 40 miles a week and I needed the calories/fuel so I needed or was even entitled to the food I was eating. For others the holidays bring the time when they let down their guard only to be discouraged and down when the season comes to a close and the new year is upon us.
Following my first marathon last year, I gained some weight. I didn't gain a lot, but I gained more than I wanted to. I ate pretty much anything I wanted during the marathon training which was a mistake itself. Once the marathon was over I cut my mileage way back and the holidays were in full swing. I didn't cut my food intake back like I had my running and so the weight started to creep up on me. I got control of myself after the first of the year and then a year later I find myself again at that same place. I just finished my second marathon a few weeks back and so now my running is not what it was just three weeks ago. I am determined this year to not let the same thing happen to me so I am paying very close attention to how I am treating food and what my relationship is with it while the holidays are in full swing.
I say, lets not let the holidays happen to us, lets go into the holidays with a plan. The plan doesn't have to be to lose weight (although that is what my plan is) but the plan only needs to be to continue to be conscious of what we eat, and make wise choices.
Tim Wilson - blog.2big.org