Whenever we make a decision to make a positive change in our lives, not just about food but about anything really, it's sometimes very easy to make the decision...and then very difficult to find the path to the ending in mind. The goal seems so distant and difficult to reach, so different from our present reality, that sometimes we quit before we even begin. It's often easier to invent obstacles that seem pretty understandable to convince ourselves things are okay just the way they are.
A concept that has helped me is the idea of the Slight Edge. The concept comes from a book by world-reknown author, Jeff Olson, titled The Slight Edge (go figure). The book is an easy read and uses some great examples to illustrate the main idea - that small actions or decisions compound over time like interest until a very noticable outcome is realized seemingly overnight. And this can be true of poor decisions that seem not to matter ("just one slice of cake!") or small disciplines that also seem not to matter ("so I skipped the mashed potatoes at dinner - I don't feel any different yet"). And on their own, each one of these decisions probably doesn't matter. But compounded over time they are the difference between success and failure. It also becomes easier to make the better decision after you've already made a healthier choice earlier in the day. Likewise, it's easier to slip further down that slippery slope and eat dessert at dinner if you've already eaten some table bread at that business luncheon. Psychologists might compare the concept to the "foot in the door" phenomenon.
So when I come across a temptation (example: we had a bake sale this past Monday at my office and was very tempted by the wonderful homemade goodies that were floating around) I tell myself that I am going to make this one small decision to pass it up - not that I am giving up homemade peanut butter chocolate pie for the rest of my natural life, but that this time I'll pass. We live in a relatively abundant society - if you have the means to read this blog, you have the means to get that pie later if you really want it.
What has also made it easier is setting myself up for success. I try to never let myself get hungry. I have stocked my desk drawer full of healthy snack options - sweet and salty to match whatever I might crave. I have roasted whole almonds for that salty, crunchy, fatty craving I might have. I have organic (no sugar added!) dried fruits like apricots and raisins. I made an organic trail mix of similar ingredients. I also have Lara Bars for the ocassions where I really feel like I need a dessert (read the ingredients before you buy though - some flavors are not paleo-friendly). And if I find myself wanting something naughty to eat, I'll eat some of my healthy snacks first. Just a few almonds or half a handful of apricots. Then I tell myself, if I'm still really hungry and I still really want it, I will let myself have that naughty food. So far I haven't needed it, once I eat my healthy snacks and drink some water and let my body feel satisfied.
Wherever you work or what your schedule is like, I guarantee you there's a way to set yourself up for success like this. I am not always in the office with my safety net of snacks with me. Last week I traveled and left the house at 4:00am and got home at 8:45pm. I knew it would be a long day with minimal opportunity to pick up anything remotely healthy to snack on outside of lunch, so I packed a lot of almonds, a banana, and two hard boiled eggs.
It really just takes foresight and planning and a commitment to those small decisions - take it one step at a time. And if you slip, remember to get back on the path and let go of that one step you took in the wrong direction.
Below is a photo of my "stash" at work, and an illustration of the slight edge concept (Image source: http://blog.kw.com/files/2012/06/the-slight-edge.jpg).
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