At work, twice a year we have a “retreat” where we have a speaker, team building exercises, etc. and of course, there is food. There is a catered meal, usually from a local barbeque place with mostly fried foods. Candy is left on every table. It is a nightmare from me.
A member of the planning committee was telling me about the upcoming retreat. She said that the food was different this time. She would not tell me the menu because the committee wants it to be a “surprise” but I was assured that I would love it. I asked if I would be able to fit it within my calorie limit. Her answer was, “probably not, but its just one day”. That got me to thinking about “It’s just one day.” I hear that a lot so I started listing all the “special” days that are “just one day.”
Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving through Christmas, Birthday, Loved ones’ birthdays, anniversary, the retreats at work, meals at church, going out with friends
I think that having a “It’s just one day” mentality is one of the reasons that I failed at weight loss in the past. There can easily be 2 “special” days a month. One “special” day can make me lose a whole week’s worth of work. Even worse, it stops momentum. No wonder I had such a hard time stopping cravings, I could not stay on plan long enough to let my body adjust. This time around, I am not giving into “special” days. I stay on plan and believe that it has made a huge difference.
I have difficulty knowing what to say to “It’s just one day”. One thought is that every day is important.
Maybe I'm overly sensitive, but I think her comment was way out of line. If she wants to eat the "surprise" menu for just one day, that's fine. But I think in this day and age it's inappropriate for the company not to provide a healthier, at the very least maybe a vegetarian, option for those that don't want the fried food.
It's not really up to her to make that "one day" call for your life. (Because, you're right, there are so many of them and you should get to pick what yours are!!)
I don't know if you'd feel odd about it, but is there any option of bringing your lunch? Or maybe just a few parts, like a salad and fruit, to help fill you up with a small amount of whatever is being offered?
I think 'just one day' as a comment is ignorant (I don't mean that as ignorant = thick, just ignorant = no understanding of what it takes to lose and maintain weight).
1. Everyone with any sense/sensitivity knows that 'just one drink' is not the thing to say to a recovering alcoholic; though I know they get dumb comments like that too.....
2. There is no such thing as 'just one day' off plan if we're serious about our health. Just one day of dancing on the motorway? Just one day of tightrope walking over Niagara? Either our health matters to us or it doesn't. Silly woman. Her, not you.
I take bananas and water with me to days like this. I bet there will be stuff you can eat bits of, if she comments, tell her to butt out.
I know food is celebratory but I get so annoyed with people who for 'celebratory' read 'artery-busting'. argh.
There are no just one day, just one meal or even just one bites for me anymore, but everyone's different. Unless you think it would get you fired for lack of cameraderie, I'd just bring my own food.
I think that having a “It’s just one day” mentality is one of the reasons that I failed at weight loss in the past.
I agree. 100%. I can alway find a "special occasion" to veer off-plan for "just one day." . I must be very, very selective now. Not everything is truly "special" and I'm only fooling myself and delaying my weight loss by pretending otherwise.
i think that it depends on your own personal goals.
for me, it's not about numbers, sizes or other stuff as much as i need to believe that i am proceeding towards a healthier, active, more vibrant lifestyle.
and it has to be sustainable. for life. for always.
life includes innumerable celebrations. they are what make life joyous and remind us to be grateful, remind us to slow down and enjoy ourselves.
so "just one day" to me isn't license to binge or to lose all self control, but rather another day where my ideas about food will be challenged.
there are so many complexities: we tie food to reward, we tie it to emotion, we tie it to self worth and value. we abuse it, use it to abuse ourselves, treat it with fear, loathing or make it the object of obsession.
but what about trying to view it as something we need, something that nourishes us and gives us pleasure, something that needs to be respected and valued for itself? not for what it does for us, but for itself in itself?
and then we can begin to eat mindfully. chewing. tasting. enjoying. experiencing food as something integral to our being.
i know this sounds flakey. but i think when confronted with an event like this, i believe we are best to give ourselves permission to enjoy, while respecting ourselves as we do everyday. and if it means that guilt and recrimination will follow eating, then that is not enjoyment right?
as for other people's comments - diet is personal and has little or no place as water cooler conversation. healthy boundaries about the operations of our private life often prevent this kind of work place injury or insult.
i am not trying to be harsh, and i hope you get my sense or intent.
good luck!
isolde
Last edited by stillclock; 04-23-2009 at 12:00 PM.
Good for you for deciding that you are going to make healthy choices because you are serious about your health. It is very easy to give in, especially when people all around you are saying "Oh, It's fine, Just try some" or "Just one day". There is nothing wrong with having a small amount of less healthy food once in a while, but it's such a personal choice and it's not for anyone else to say you can or cannot. Who does she think she is to tell you to go off plan?
What if you have food allergies or special diet requirements for some other reason than you are trying to lose weight? Would that gal have been so flip about it being a "surprise" then? I am SOOOO not a fan of company retreats and things like that anyway, I suspect she would have gotten an earful from me.
Good luck with this, TimeToLose, and do what you have to do to keep that lovely downward trend going. I completely agree with you about the power of momentum --- there are enough things against us losing weight, why give up something that is working in our favor?!
I hate when people tell me "come on..it's only one day" they remind me of the kids in high school that would try to pressure me to try a drug or smoke "Come on...all the cool kids do it. Why not try it?" *sigh* There are too many "one days" in a year for me to give in at every one and when I do give in I feel icky afterward even if I didn't eat much
When my DH's company has a special function I will not hesitate to bring my own food. Although I think I have his boss' wife in my way of thinking...at the last event they had she actually got me to help with the menu.
Last edited by TJFitnessDiva; 04-23-2009 at 12:26 PM.
What if you have food allergies or special diet requirements for some other reason than you are trying to lose weight?
This, exactly. Keeping the menu a 'surprise'? For real? That is so asking for trouble when it comes to food allergies etc. Certain people need to know what's in their food for good reason. This would definitely be 'just one day' where I'd be packing my lunch, even if it was just to prove a point.
Well, you made me think! I have a "just one day" event with family this weekend and have been considering just going off plan. But this made me consider more closely. I am making the dessert and i know what restaurant we are going to.
So I am off to DietPower and Red Lobster's website to figure out a reasonable compromise for Saturday.
Enchantedonyx - Red Lobster has some good options actually, under the Lighthouse menu. I've eaten several of them and they are pretty yummy. Just avoid the cheddar bay biscuits, I can never eat just one of those!
Too many times, just one day turns into just one week, just one year, just one lifetime or poor choices. Ok, maybe a little dramatic, but I know how I feel when I mess up on just one day!
I used to think "its just 1 day" too, but that one day gets you in the habit of again. I noticed that when I deliberately go overboard with food wise, it is very difficult to get back on track. One "just one day" makes the second "just one day" so much easier.
It really isn't the calories consumed in 1 day that is the problem. Keep in mind, you have to eat 3500 extra calories to just gain 1 pound of fat. One day of poor food choices will not *in and of itself* add significantly to your weight, but what it will do is get you back into the habit of making poor choices.
I'm now all about maintain *good* habits and don't need "just one day" to set me back!
It’s just one day
"Come on...all the cool kids do it. Why not try it?" *sigh* There are too many "one days" in a year for me to give in at every one and when I do give in I feel icky afterward even if I didn't eat much 
