Okay, it's like this: people want you to be like them. It makes them nervous when you're not. Just try this on for size: go to an event, like an office party, a baby shower, a holiday happy hour, and don't eat what they're serving. I'm telling you, everyone in the place will make it their mission to:
1. Tell you why this occasion is an official pass from your (and their) diet
2. Tell you everything on the buffet table, menu, or bar list that is on your diet, in case you're not clear
3. Tell you how sorry they are you can't have the cake/lasagna/punch/fried pickles because they are just SOOO good and are you SURE you can't have just a little bit? (Please refer to item 1)
Now, to be clear, I'm not pissed off by such actions. I get it. The compulsion to have people where you are, for good or ill, is a strong one. When I ate whatever batshit crazy thing I wanted, I sure as hell wanted everyone else on the sin wagon right along with me. Now that I have adjusted my lifestyle and my eating habits somewhat, I find myself urging on the people I love to come along for the ride. You and I, we want company on whatever path we walk. No one wants to feel totally alone.
But this is what I want people to hear, whatever three or so of you might be listening out there: just because I have celery on my plate and not pasta, just because I'm not eating the cake and punch, just because I'm not clearing out the chip bowl: it doesn't mean that I'm feeling deprived. I'm happy to just be there with you. I enjoy the company and the conversation. Would I like a chip? Possibly. Can I resist it? I can...and it's even easier for me to do so when you don't make a situation out of it.
Breakfast - Atkins bar and a latte
Lunch - celery, a couple of slices of Gouda cheese and roast beast (courtesy of my awesome friend Stacy)
Reception food - none, despite a lot of urging on the part of everyone there
Dinner - two Grey Gooses and a plate of queso fundido that I should have only eaten half of (at the moment it's like a rock on my stomach)
Exercise - 35 minutes of the BW Booty Shake: a better experience than Monday, for sure. I put all of my original songs back into the playlist - it was like a family reunion, except with hot Shahrukh Khan instead of your skeevy uncle and a thousand cousins you've never heard of....wow. Family issues, anyone?
In a brief postscript, let me just add that I'm looking at my front Christmas tree right now, and it makes me just as happy tonight as it did the first day. Here's a clip from the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai that makes me feel the same way:
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