Friday, March 5, 2010

Take a Vacation

Nobody likes a cheater. Cheaters, we are told, never win. Then why is it that we choose to use the phrase "to cheat" when addressing the occasional break in our healthy eating lifestyle? Cheating brings along with it feelings of guilt and shame, something less than enjoyable, to say the least. I'd rather go on vacation.

To take a vacation is to take a well-deserved break from the norm. When you're on vacation, you know you are indulging. You are allowing yourself the freedom to experience something outside of your routine. While on vacation, the rules are less structured; you take the good with the bad, and you're okay with it, because, hey, you're on vacation. You allow yourself this amount of freedom, knowing that this vacation will come to an end. No vacation lasts forever. Sooner than later, your daily routine will resume, and your vacation will become a joyous memory.

It is important to allow yourself the occasional indulgence while living on a clean, healthy eating plan. Otherwise, you may end up feeling deprived and sabotage your goals. Therefore, scheduling vacation days or vacation meals could be very beneficial. For example, if you are just starting out, you could schedule one vacation day each week, then gradually cut back to one vacation meal a week. If you have been living a healthy eating lifestyle for some time, perhaps you could schedule one vacation meal each month and fit others in around special occasions. Find what works best for you. Just remember, vacations are special events, they don't come around very often.