Excuses, excuses....

Today the second pre-season task was unlocked. I was looking forward to it with much anticipation as I am so focused and committed to getting this thing started!! I have read that a huge contributor to the success of the 12WBT is completing all of the pre-season tasks with 100% honesty and integrity, and that's what I plan on doing. I love the idea of the pre-season tasks as I see it as an education process and a way of easing into this lifestyle change as opposed to jumping head first into some kind of "crash diet" which would result in just that, me crashing in a heap!!

So as I started to listen to Michelle's video (as I was walking to the gym, what better way to get pumped for a workout!) I started to get a little disheartened. It was all about excuses. And I was thinking to myself "I'm not really one of those people" I've never really been full of excuses, for me it has always been more about self-sabotage, lack of confidence in myself and just plain old laziness.. oh and an unhealthy love afair with food... And then it hit me, that is my excuse.. I love food! I have always been one to say "I could never be skinny anyway, I love food too much" or "I just love food" my love of food has been a rather unhealthy one. And now, as I am put in a position of reflection, I realise I have given too much power to food, and have in fact fallen in love with food.

Food is always there for you, whenever you need it. Food has been compared to and often described as better than sex. We watch skinny movie stars cry over a break up with tubs of icecream and a spoon, we socialise over food. We have first dates over food, we celebrate our birthdays/weddings/special events with a cake.. when it all comes down to it, a certain element of being happy and felling better is reliant on food.

I have taken a step back since signing up to the 12WBT and in a way emotionally disconnected from food and let me tell you it has worked wonders. I am not giving food the power I once did, to make me feel better. Because in actual fact, when thinking that eating a block of chocolate is going to make you feel better, and it may well do that for a brief period, ultimately it actually makes you feel worse. So essentially, eating a block of chocolate makes you feel bad, not good... in the long run. However, if you do genuinely love chocolate (or any other food for that matter) a little but, like a square or a bite.. that can make you feel good. Good that you had your taste, and good that you had the control not to eat the whole block. It is with this mentality that I can say I have gone from eating chocolate almost every day to eating just one lindt ball since 02/01/2012.

I am taking control of what goes in my mouth, not letting what goes in my mouth control me. And I'm proud of myself that I can identify there is a difference.

So thank you Michelle, for making me realise my excuse. For bringing it to the surface so that I can now erradicate it from my life! I love that I have had a light bulb moment, it will make it all the more easier for me to succeed by facing who I thought was my friend but in fact is my foe, junk food!

Lucy x