Sounds crazy right?  I agree! Let me tell you what drove me to the title but first you have to understand why it happened.

I started 2018 with a realization that I seriously needed to put my health and fitness first.  I know so many of you can related to this.  I am 42 and let me tell you, getting some (a little or a lot) of excess weight off is not as easy as it was when I was in my 20’s.

I have been working with a wonderful coach for months now (I am looking at you Karen Gallagher- karen-gallagher.com) and I actually had to re-train myself on how to love myself, how to accept myself all over again.  Lots of soul searching,  lots of realistic goal planning, I think you get where I am going with this.  This is why I am writing to you on my new blog.

On March the 3rd I started eating according to a Ketogenic diet.  This is vital info for the narrative below!

So back to the title, when the going get tough, go for a walk and eat celery.

This past weekend my beautiful 13 year old daughter had one of her close friends over for a sleepover.  Of course being the hands on mom that I am, I felt the need to make sure that her sleepover was special.  I wanted to treat the girls to some wonderful food when they were done having their girl talk time.  So I asked my daughter’s friend what she would like for dinner?  The answer that I knew was coming arrived….homemade pizza!  Normally this would never be a problem, however this is how on day 16 of my new eating/lifestyle plan I had a total meltdown of epic proportions.

My house smelled beyond delicious, what is better than the smell of baking bread?  Yep in my world the answer is nothing, nothing at all!  For the first time in my life I had stuck to my meal plan with zero deviations, zero slip ups and Saturday was the true test of my willpower.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to laugh, cry or give up and eat the pizza.  I did send a rather unhinged text to my personal trainer Ian (who kicks my butt at least twice a week at Goodlife Fitness).  As usual Ian who is very calm and always quick to respond reminded me it would pass in 15 to 20 minutes.  In my mind I was worried he had hit his head and had gone totally coo-coo for cocopuffs.  I couldn’t possible see how this overwhelming feeling was going to pass in 15 minutes.  My husband Greg thought I was purchasing a one way ticket to the funny farm.

As I stared at the pizza thinking “is one slice really going to be a bad thing”?  The death grip I had on the kitchen counter would have stopped Van Damn in his tracks…I was a women on the verge of cracking.  I looked at Greg and said “yep I gotta get out here…..I am going for a walk”.  With the look of a possessed women,  I took my celery and peanut butter and bolted out of the door!  I walked around the corner so thankful not to be smelling that heavenly cheesy pizza.    Believe it or not Ian was right, yes me the type A person is admitting I was wrong and Ian was right.  In 15 minutes I was able to move past the craving and enjoy the rest of the night.

I was even able to make the homemade vanilla ice cream I promised my 6 year, and chocolate chip cookies (they made the most insane ice cream sandwiches).

I didn’t have a slip up, I didn’t totally loose my mind (ok, only partially).  I know so many people are struggling every day with weight lose….I am too.  I am not an expert, I have surrounded myself with the experts to get me through to the other side.  Do you have a person who you can send a crazy text to?  Trust me find that person if you don’t it may just save you from cracking.

When the next craving happens, I will remember what Karen said “Love yourself enough to not take a step backward. More importantly continue to love yourself if you do crack. Hey it is just a slice of pizza not a cyanide pill that will end your life.

We are all Strong Busy Moms (or Ladies or Gentlemen) and we are doing the best we can.  So go for a walk and enjoy your celery!

 

XOXO

Jen