Admittedly I do have friends who overeat as much as they possibly can. They’re called dogs.
Pearl One
I once had a casual friend who was an eating-buddy of sorts. I mean, we worked together, and then began meeting for lunch and no way were those lunches small bites and large salads.
But when I began my weight loss trek (in earnest), and we were out to lunch together I’d order veggies and brown rice.
Guess how that went over? Clearly bugged her.
I didn’t purposely pull away from my friend, but that’s exactly what I did.
They’ve done studies and have concluded that habits are contagious. No matter whether we’re talking good habits or bad.
Like a bad virus?
Precisely.
They also say that we can catch habits from our friends’ friends. Makes sense if you think about it. If my good friend, Sarah, has a good friend named Sally and Sally thinks that drinking a bottle of chardonnay on her own every night is just the thing, then Sarah might end up drinking more and subsequently pass the attitude of over drinking onto others.
That’s how huge habits are in our lives: they can present in a big, “After a long day, a margarita is my best friend!!” way. Or the message can slither in and make implications about over drinking.
Here’s my point: We all have to give careful thought to who we allow to stay in our lives.
I hate to sound so inflexible, but when it comes to weight loss after age fifty you have one of three choices:
1) Encourage your eater-friend to see how amazing it is to live the Smart Eating Lifestyle.
2) Suggest to your eater that you meet in some other spot: i.e. not the Olive Garden.
3) Keep your eater in your life and just have a massively difficult time lunching with her every month because you can either join her in giant meals big enough to feed three, or feel annoyed when she gives you the side-eye as you order veggies and brown rice.
Eventually, the fettuccine will hit the fan and you’ll have to make a choice between your weight, your deepest wants, and your friendships. I never said it’s easy walking the Smart Eating Path, but it’s worth it. ♥
Pearl Two
I won’t waste your time telling you that the fall drink menu at a specific coffee house (and a donut shop) involve shockingly high numbers like 50 grams of sugar in a medium-sized “coffee.”
Or instead have two full-sized Snicker bars.
When you think about buying a pumpkin spice caramel hint-of-cocoa latte, ask yourself this question: would I cook, bake or brew with these ingredients at home? If the answer is, “not in a million years.” Then say, “Not interested, but thanks for the offer.”
However, I do want to share a dessert that sounds like an autumn dream and is totally healthy-ish.
Pumpkin Spice Dole Whip
4 servings
- 1 cup peeled and chopped sweet potato
- 1¾ cups chopped frozen pineapple
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage
- ½ teaspoon + ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, divided
Place the potato and 2 tablespoons water in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap, but leave one edge slightly open to vent. Microwave the potato on high for 3 minutes or until very tender. Drain the potato and let it cool completely.
In your high-power blender or food processor, purée the cooked potato, pineapple, maple syrup, milk beverage, and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides, as needed.
Divide the Dole Whip between 4 bowls. Sprinkle each serving with the remaining ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and top with pecans and coconut chips, if desired.
It’s supposed to end up looking a bit like soft-serve ice cream and really looks glam in a stemmed glass dish.
Nutritional Information
Serving size: ½ cup Calories: 90 Fat: 0.2g Saturated fat: 0.2g Carbohydrates: 22g Sugar: 14g Sodium: 20mg Fiber: 2g Protein: 1g Thank you to GoDairyFree.org. ♥
Pearl Three
Today’s prompt for your journal: A time you knocked it out of the park.
Remember, just write in your journal free-style. Next: meditate on this “win” three times a day until next Tuesday. Can you do this? I know you can. ♥
Pearl Four
In the mood for something on the lighter side and easy to consume? Then this book suggestion might just hit the spot. In five years: a novel by Rebecca Serle is set in modern-day New York and tells the story of two friends within a time-travel environ. It’s easy to assume this is a rom-com, but while it touches on romance, it then dives head first into a fairly gripping story. There are fun twists and a great conclusion that you likely won’t see coming. I give it four stars. ♥
Pearl Five
“Write the story of your life. Sharpen your pencil, freshen the ink & get to it. You are the author, the world your pages. The hero or the villain. You decide.” ♥
Megan Hine
For sure, it will be ready to rock and roll next week.
If it sounds interesting, I would love a follow on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Hope you have time to read during the coziest season of all.
♥, Wendy
P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!
You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.
1 Comment
Hi Wendy, I discovered your blog in the ‘Fine Whatever’ link up. I totally agree with having to sometimes let go of friendships that just don’t align with what you want from life. I try to surround myself with buddies who are on the same path – my running friends or who are supportive, cheerleaders who encourage what I’m doing and don’t feel threatened. Happy New Year to you and hope to visit again. x