Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

It is comical to me that in the wake of extolling the virtues of my revived journalling habit, I would have the most significant ambush to my healthy habits thus far and failed it big time. I wonder if I will learn from this mistake so I don't repeat it again. If you have read previous blogs you will see that I have seen hints of this scenario before and didn't take heed. A wiser soul would have done something to head off this problem months ago, but sadly, I didn't.

It started innocently. My husband called my extension at work.

"Tim (an fellow employee) bought donuts for the volunteers and there's a Blueberry muffin for you, do you want it?"

I think about my projected calorie intake for the day.

"No, I better not."

"I thought you like the blueberry muffins and Tim bought it just for you" This time my husband is more persistant.

I contemplated the situation a little more carefully. I did kind of put it out there that I would eat Tim Horton's Blueberry Bran Muffins and if someone went out of their way to order me one...I shouldn't turn it down. Wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

"Okay," I back down, "I'll have it instead of the snack I packed."

The Tim Horton's bag was delivered via one of the volunteers and I opened it to find that that the blueberry muffin was NOT bran, but the low-fat, high sugar version instead. In addition to this, there was an Old Fashioned Plain donut in the bag as well. Miscommunication. I closed the bag quickly and ran down the hall to reception. My efforts to off-load the forbidden treats were unsuccessful. Apparently my campaign to raise health awareness at the office has succeeded and no-one wanted the muffin or the donut. I thought about this and decided that I would keep the treats but bring them home to my children instead. They might want them. Big mistake.

Later in the day, a time-sensitive project landed on my desk that prevented me from leaving on time. As dinner-time approached I was having more and more difficulty concentrating on my work. I had no more food packed in my lunch and had no desire to begin scavenging in my co-workers offices as I have done on two previous occasions. I remembered the Tim Horton's treats and without serious debate of any kind, decided to eat both treats in lieu of supper.

Neither of them tasted that good to me. The muffin was almost sickeningly sweet and the donut was heavy with fat. I would never have chose either of those items to indulge in on my worst eating day!

My short-term objective was achieved. I was able to continue my work and a couple hours later I left the office tired and bleary-eyed. I dragged myself through my grocery shopping and when I got home at 9pm, I was exhausted beyond all reason.

My family wanted to watch a taped episode of the Biggest Loser and I typically use my stationary bike when we view it. This time, I was so tired, I just collapsed on the couch instead.

Of course the baked items did not register as a "real" dinner so I began a procession of foods during the next hour. Not good. This was not a shining example of healthful eating.

If I was to do things over again, I would've just been firm on declining the muffin or at the very least asked some more qualifying questions about it and by now I should have a stash of healthful snacks at work. We'll see if I learn from this mistake. Fortunately, it was isolated to that evening. I suffered from some energy depletion, a headache and a serious craving for coffee the next day but I recognized it for what it was and it went away. Made much better choices after that!