“You don’t decide the future. You decide your habits, and your habits decide the future.”

In my post, True Confessions, I discussed how important it was to make daily habits that move us forward to the life we want. Eating well on any given day has started to come naturally to me. Most places I eat have an option to keep on track. But there are times when things get a little tricky, no matter how well you plan. When faced with that kind of decision, when choices are not ideal, I still have a plan to succeed.

Saturday, we were invited to a kid’s birthday party. Our grandson turned six, and when choosing the food he would like, he did not consult the Journal of Healthy Eating. His choices fell more into what a six-year-old boy loves to eat category. Hot dogs and mac-n-cheese were on the menu, finished off by cheesecake.

So, what’s a girl to do when faced with such decisions?

This girl enjoyed the happy party, hot dogs, and all. It was delicious, and I chose to do what I do every day. I ate a portion of each offering and stopped. It’s a habit I’ve developed with all my food. It works for whatever is on the table. The kind of food we eat is undoubtedly essential, but the amount we eat is important, too. Because I chose to eat in moderation at the party, I did not have a setback. I tracked (WW term for journaling) everything I ate. And then, I made sure vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains showed up in abundance at my next meal to continue my commitment to eating healthy. Do you know what the best thing about my choices was? I had no guilt or feeling of defeat. I was in control.

As hard as we try, there will always be meals that we can’t plan on what we will eat. So many events revolve around food, and choices of what to eat are sometimes limited. When we can’t plan what we eat, we can plan how we eat. We don’t need to let surprises overwhelm our plan to eat well. And don’t forget to season everything with a little grace. It makes life so much better.

“In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do that shapes our lives but what we do consistently.”

Tony Robbins

Maybe eating well isn’t your struggle. You want your life to look different than it does, and if only you could fill in the blank. I have several things I want to change. The process is the same. I will have to choose daily habits that will move me forward to where I desire to be. You can too. I know, I know, we all want to wake up someday and be changed, but the reality is we will have to build our new selves one habit at a time. It’s doable. I’ve seen the results.

“Take charge of your life! The tides do not command the ship. The sailor does.”

Ogwo David Emenike

Note: Another very good way to take charge of your health journey is to track what you eat. Lots of great apps for this including WW. I have made this a daily habit. I never have to wonder what happened if things start to go sideways. It’s an accountability tool that really works.

Update: I started a weight training class this week. I’ll share more later but I have maintained my weight loss due to building muscle that I was lacking. My non-scale victory: Despite sore muscles, I am loving the process.

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