Good Morning Girls!  T.G.I.F.!  I love Fridays !  I love Fridays!  I love Fri- oh wait, as much as I love Fridays, they do present a problem when it comes to changing eating habits.  I don't know what it is, but it seems like the week-ends are so much harder to make good food choices.  I don't know if it's because there are birthday parties and family gatherings, or if it is simply that "let your hair down it's the weekend" mentality that kicks in.

Though it is important to identify the cause so you can be prepared, today I am more concerned with the effect of the weekend.  All week you have been working hard to make good choices.  You passed on dessert with your family.  You ate chicken breast when your family had cheeseburgers.  You cut down on your coffee.  You exercised.  Whatever changes you made, chances are you had to fight for them.  They didn't come natural.  Most change doesn't come natural at first, but you are getting stronger each day.  You mind and your body are starting to gravitate towards the "better" choice.

Then, your husband wants to take you out for Mexican food.  Red alert!  Red alert!  Your blood pressure raises as you process his invitation.  Part of you is excited....your mind is already thinking about what you are going to eat and you can't wait for the chips and salsa.  The other part of you....the new you....is panicking thinking "what do I do?".  "Is this allowed?" 

The first thing you need to realize is you do have a choice.  In fact, you have many choices.  The choice you pick should be based on where you are at today.  Today.  Not you yesterday.  Not you in two weeks.  You see your choices will change as you get stronger in your healthy habits.  If you feel like going to your favorite restaurant is still too risky as it may lead to a huge session of over eating, kindly tell your husband "I am so glad you want to take me out to dinner.  Normally I would love to go.  It's just that right now, I am really trying to make some better food choices and I don't think I am ready to go to Don Pablo's and make the choice that would be best for me.  I do want to go.  Maybe in a couple of weeks we can.  Just not today".  And then suggest a place that has good choices and not your favorite "old you" foods. 

Your other choice is to go, and order something that does not wipe out all the hard work you have put in so far.  Most restaurants now have menu choices that are labeled with the calorie/fat/protein/carb content.  Most of them really are good.  If you feel you are strong enough to go out to eat and make a healthy choice, go for it! 

Your third choice....go to the restaurant, order whatever you want, eat as much as you want, and tell yourself "I deserve this, I've worked really hard this week".  Well, your right,  you worked really hard this week, and you deserve a little reward.  However, rewarding yourself with the very thing that gave you the muffin top as a small token to remember it by, is not the answer!  If you are making slow, gradual, baby steps, one super sized restaurant meal with an appetizer or dessert can obliterate all the good choices you made for the week.  Now, if you are working out hard, and making serious cuts in your sugar and other high calorie foods, you can get away with one indulgent meal a week.  When I say working out hard, I mean 5-6 times of intense working out....not 5-6 walks at a mild pace while talking on your cell phone!

See, making healthy choices does not mean losing choices.  You have plenty.  The difference is how you will feel when you wake up Monday morning.  Will you feel one step closer to the new you, or will you feel like the same old girl who has been losing the fight for years?  I pray you have the strength to make the choice that leads you to feeling closer to the new you......it is an awesome way to start out the week!

Matthew 26:41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.  For the Spirit is willing, but the body is weak