Scary Words Like Never

I recently listened to an interview with one of the Biggest Loser contestants. The lady had been given the opportunity to go home for a week to practice her new lifestyle. Her family was so excited to have her home they planned a big group dinner at her favorite restaurant. She said that the last time she ate at that restaurant was the day before she reported in to the Biggest Loser contest and that now she couldn't even imagine ever putting that kind of food in her mouth again.

I admire the hard work and dedication that the contestants on Biggest Loser put into their competition. And while it's fun to watch, I'm not sure it's a very good example of how to be healthy in the real world.

For most of us, our day to day lives are too unpredictable to use words like never or always. We don't have the advantage of living in a group home where everyone is focused on the same goal, where a trainer comes to us and a dietician is on call to help us plan meals. In the real world we plan our meals for the day only to find ourselves tied up in a meeting through lunch where the boss decides to order pizza for everyone and work right through the afternoon. Real life brings church pot luck dinners, children's birthday parties, holidays and dates. While we strive not to make our social lives revolve around food the fact is we don't always get to make the plans for our social lives. Sometimes we participate in activities that other people plan.

I can't imagine a food that I think I'll never eat again. I love healthy eating. I enjoy fruits and vegetables and lean protein. I plan my meals around healthy choices. But I also have some really un-healthy favorites like my mother-in-laws macaroni casserole or a peppermint oreo cheesecake I make during the holidays that I have to find a place for in my diet.

I believe in building good habits and have a health foundation for my eating plan. But there is no place for never in my healthy lifestyle.