One Meal At A Time

Yesterday I had to head out of town to Old Perlican for a few graduation photo shoots. It was a beautiful day, I put on my new pants which I would like to point out were a size smaller than normal, and loaded my gear into the car. I dropped Jamie at work, kissed him goodbye and climbed into the drivers seat.

Then I got a text.

"Drive safe, and did you pack a lunch?" It was Nancy. I can only describe her as the little white body that sits on my right shoulder to do battle with the little red body that is the former me, who sits on my left shoulder.

Crap.

My lunch was at home and the clock said I had no time to go back and get it.

Now what I was I going to do.

"Find a grocery store and pick up some fruits and vegetables," she messages.

Good plan.

I get on the highway with the coffee I picked up when I got gas, and the still green banana they had at the cash register. In case of a disaster, I would be OK. I might not like it, but I wouldn't starve.

Pictures went really well and I had an hour in between sessions. Old me would totally have asked the clients where the best place to eat was. Surely there had to be somewhere with fries, dressing and gravy in a town as cute as this!

Instead I tracked down the grocery store. Now, when faced with a lunch dilemma, old me would totally have scarfed down a bag of Roast Chicken chips, a Mr. Big bar and a full bottle of Lime Crush. Then I would have found a garbage, thrown out the evidence and moved on - possibly to find the fries, dressing and gravy spot!

 Instead, I found Foodland.

I canvassed the aisles, up and down, up and down, and gathered the attention of the people working there as I combed the aisles like I was looking for a lost earring. I had real trouble finding something that I should eat. There were lots of things I COULD eat but not much that I SHOULD eat. It would all require some sort of cooking or preparation and I was not equipped for this.

In the back of the store I finally tracked down a cooler with pre-made sandwiches. On May 3, the date on the sandwich told me it was good until my birthday- May 28. I had my doubts that it was preservative free. It was made with white bread which I no longer eat, but it did have real turkey. I took it. Now, off to find something to go with it. I desperately wanted a Babybel cheese, a container of Greek yogurt, or a salad. Not happening. However, I did find a shiny 5 point apple and a bottle of water. Off I went to the check out with my healthier choices - only to stand behind a well dressed, well built man, who was buying.... wait for it.... A bag of Roast Chicken chips a bottle of Pepsi and a darn Mr. Big bar. I had either just run into my soul mate with amazing metabolism or the devil himself at the Old Perlican Foodland - there to tempt me with my former favourites!

Do you know what happened?

The man turned around and in small town fashion said "Hello". He then checked out what I had on the belt. This is when I would normally have been mortified but indignant about my selections. Today I wasn't. I had made the best possible choices.

So what happened? Did I quickly change my mind and grab up the junk that was calling my name?

Nope! I ate my sandwich and washed down the gummy white bread with the water, and then I ate my apple as I drove down the highway enjoying the sunshine and looking forward to my next session. I was satisfied. I vowed to bring my lunch from now on because though I had made good choice, there were certainly better choices - white bread and mayo do not a healthy body make.

I faced the same internal battle again a few hours later. There are very few KFC's around here any more, and I had to drive past one on the way to Old Perlican. I had to pass the same one on the way back. When I was 10 minutes outside of Carbonear, I looked at the clock. It was nearly 4:30pm. I had loads of points left for the day, and I could work a Big Crunch into my day for supper if I wanted, and still not cut into my weekly Points. But then I thought back to the good decision I had made a lunch, I looked down and saw my new smaller pants and thought about how much energy I had buzzing through 3 photo sessions earlier.

I just drove past.

The KFC will still be there if the going ever gets rough enough that I can't live with out it. But right now, I just can't live with it.

Much love,
Amy

P.S. I would love to hear how you overcome your challenging moments and what you draw from to get through! Let's discuss in the comments section below!