This year Christmas feels a bit different for me, but not in a bad way. It's not less, or bad, it's just different.
While I was decorating my tree yesterday morning (yes, that's the custom here, you decorate your tree on the 24th, not before), was thinking of how many times I have decorated our Christmas tree with those decorations I have since I was a child.
Each Christmas means celebration with the family, but as life happens, over the years the family has changed as well. Some people have joined, others unfortunately had to leave as their time was up. It's a reminder of how short life is and that we should make the most of it, shape it as we want and enjoy every moment of it.
Last night we had Christmas dinner at my brother's. Unfortunately my nephew was missing as he was working the afternoon shift, so there was no celebration for him with the family, but we're making it up for it tonight.
As I mentioned in one of my previous post, a lifestyle change is what I'm going through, that started 47 days ago and although last night I made an exception, I'm planning to continue it, till I reach my goal.
Someone told me that it's a really bad time to start a diet and lifestyle change before Christmas, which I understand completely, but this time I have a different opinion on the matter. When exaggerating got you where you are (whatever you have exaggerated with), postponing your lifestyle change start, just to exaggerate more, won't do you any good.
People usually promise to start a diet or lifestyle change on the 1st of the month, on Monday, tomorrow or whatever start date they choose, to be able to continue what they are not doing right, a little bit longer.
Saying no to whatever you've been abusing is not easy, especially during holidays when you have an abundant offer, but basically that's the plan and the only way out of the bad situation you put yourself in due to lack of self control.
As I said earlier in this post, 47 successful days are behind me already and so far 30 % of my goal is achieved. When you think of it, it's not a result to neglect, of at least it is not for me. I feel way better already, some of my old clothes, that have been put away for better days I can use already, but the biggest reward is another one.
This Christmas I knew I'm not going to cancel what I have achieved, just because it's the festive season. The menu was known before the event took place and knew it's suitable for my diet, but there were cookies, cakes, other Christmas sweets that I knew are going to call my name. You don't know how strong you're going to be, till you're put to the test and I can tell you, I passed the test (not going to use with flying colors here). After eating one roll of stuffed cabbage, without bread, felt that my stomach was already full and could not eat another one. So I took a bite of the walnut and poppy seed bejgli and that was it. I'm not saying my daily calorie intake was not exceeded, but not doubled, or tripled.
Today, at Christmas lunch, this is what I allowed myself to have. It's a dish that my diet does definitely not allow, so that's why is just a small portion of it and only today. Trust me, after eating it, I was so full, could not even think of having another bite of anything.
Christmas, Old & New
They say old habits die hard and most likely it's true in the majority of cases. Christmas is a tough test as this is the time when everyone allows themselves to exaggerate, plus in some cases you also need to stand up for yourself and defend your decisions when others try to make fun of you or mock you for keeping to your plans. It was not my case as my decision of not eating everything was respected, but I still had to have the necessary self control.
Unfortunately there's no way to bring back those who are not with us anymore, you won't have the same Christmas every year in this regard, so each Christmas is going to be different, but that doesn't mean you have to keep your old (and bad) habits going.
New Years Eve is going to be the same for me. I'll allow myself a small deviation, but not much and can start the New Year with results already in my pocket, instead of starting from zero. It's the biggest gift you can give yourself. It feels good.
Last, but not least, I'd like to with everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best!
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