We met some friends for dinner tonight. It's never a good thing when you are looking at the nutritional information (now required for all chain restaurants in CA) and the waiter tells you "don't look at that, you'll only be disappointed". But I found a delicious chicken sandwich with bruchetta and pesto (on the side) that I want to recreate at home to enjoy over and over again. I did indulge in a few french fries, but you still have to enjoy food right? To deny yourself completely only leads to binging as I know too well. I waited until the end of the meal to indulge in those fries (and boy am I sorry I ate those. My belly was hurting.)

I am learning that if I pay attention to my gut, (literally, not figuratively) once I've had the healthier part of my dining out meal, I can have a little of the not so great stuff at the end of the meal and only have a few very satisfying bites. I find I don't need any more than that to feel like I've had a little something I wouldn't normally eat at home.

You know that I'm focused when the thought of a frozen yogurt (which I've been known to have as a meal replacement) doesn't sound appealing. I was full from dinner and I didn't NEED to eat anything else. After all, eating (is to be enjoyed, but really,) is for nourishment, so if your full, don't eat any more. Kind of a "duh" statement, but I honestly had never thought much about it until recently. "If your not hungry, food isn't the answer" .....This is the mantra I have been repeating over and over again for the last couple of weeks (which is just now sinking in and becoming second nature). So, I said no thanks to the frozen desserts and the cookie my friend offered me.

The real test was about 2 hours later as we were chatting at our friends house who offered caramel chocolates. OH MY!!! How I LOVE Caramel!!!! And its even more irresistible when bathed in milk chocolate...if only I felt the same about broccoli!! LOL My friend offered me these little boxed caramels that I could take home. So, I stuffed them in my purse. 10 minutes later, I find myself really NEEDING a piece. Yeah right. I was still satisfied from dinner and really needed no such sweets at that time. When do you need them anyway really? I stared at the piece of chocolate and I said, out loud so my girlfriend could hear me "Keri, you don't need these now. You can take these home and have them tomorrow. Its not the last time you'll ever have caramel, so close the box and wait until tomorrow when your actually hungry." My friend laughed, but it helped me resist...at the time. Okay, I did have a piece when I got home...but that, I will consider a victory, because the box had 3 pieces and I only ate one.

So today I am reminded I am a strong gal who CAN absolutely resist temptation when I set my mind to it. I can make better choices if I focus and I can indeed get my butt in gear to become a fit, firm, fabulous female!!!!