Choosing Sanity
I’ll admit it’s not easy for me to enjoy social gatherings when I don’t have complete control over the food. Yes, I do realize that’s an issue 
Take a trip inside my brain and you’ll see that being at a BBQ yesterday meant that the simple squeeze of the ketchup bottle translated into the letters “HFCS” popping into my head and dancing around with devil horns. You’ll see that after confirming the hot dog buns were vegan, I tried to, and succeeded at, sneaking a peek at the ingredients list to see if the words “enriched” or “hydrogenated” existed in the line-up. They did. You might have seen a flash of remorse as I sunk my teeth into my black bean burger — I couldn’t guarantee it was 100% vegan, but it was damn delicious. You might have seen a hint of agony as I contemplated where spontaneity and zest for living met ethics and the pursuit of knowledge. Behind the grin and hearty laugh, I was calculating and measuring, troubled and wondering why I simply didn’t bring a dish to share as I always advise others to do.
In the middle of a conversation with a friend’s friend who’s a trainer at a Cross Fit, amidst discussions of how we might find shared values in veganism and the antithetical paleo diet, we both agreed on one thing….
you’ve gotta choose sanity if you’re going to sustain a lifestyle.
Ah. Choose sanity. Suddenly Ralph’s Valentine’s Day card came to mind. I choo-choo-choose you.
Sometimes, you should enjoy a little…
No, it’s not local. No, it’s not technically vegan. Yes, it’s definitely got calories. But what you can’t measure it its nostalgic weight — this is a beer my boyf introduced to me when we first started dating.
have a little…
Sugar? Yes, please! These were consumed later on at home – they’re Dr. Lucy’s and they are amazeballs.
and remember that if you don’t indulge once in while, break some of your rules, and dance away your troubles…
you’re simply a slave to your ideals. And I guess that’s a choice, as well.
We’ve all got rules we’d never break, as we should, but, sometimes, we’ve got to remember what we can be flexible with.
I think that whole “choosing sanity” bit should have landed in yesterday’s list of tips for weight-loss maintenance [here]. Dontcha think?
Do you ever find yourself in a similar “food predicament”? Do you bring your own food to social gatherings? What if you forget? Will you ever break some of your own “rules” or lifestyle choices? How do you “choose” sanity?
<3,
The Cranky One
Tags: BBQ, cross fit, dr. lucy's cookies
7 People have left comments on this post
I wrote a very similar post about this today! http://www.faithfitnessfun.com/3912/30-days-of-self-love-do-we-idolize-our-bodies/
It’s about not being able to live in the moment and enjoy life because we’re too caught up in things affecting our bodies. Its part of the 30 Days of Self Love I’m hosting on my site.
I’m glad your friend said something that helped put everything in perspective and you could have a good time.
I am glad that choosing sanity means eating that naughty cookie and having that carb-licious beer once in a while! you look great, Annabel! keep it up
I hate that I think the same things when I’m at a meal that’s not self-prepared; I know many things are not foods I would normally pick for myself to consume, yet I think the important thing is to pick your battles and enjoy one or two things without stress but maintaining your standards in the areas that are key to your diet (i.e. for me, that would be avoiding meat products at all costs but allowing a bit of dairy in baked goods or HFCS in a dipping sauce). I think it all boils down to priorities and accepting that not being in 100% control does not always equal 100% mayhem.
Awesome site! I totally agree that everything in moderation (including moderation) but with a few hard & fast rules (e.g. for me, it has to be vegan…or at least make every attempt to confirm that it is). I love beer, chips, sweets, and BBQ sauce. I don’t eat them everyday, but I when I do indulge I try not feel guilty – otherwise where’s the fun in indulging? I struggle with not being at my “ideal” weight, knowing that if I was more strict and never indulged I would get there. But, at what cost? That’s not the life I want to lead! Thanks for this post, it’s a great reminder!
I break my own rules sometimes. It depends. Usually, I break my dairy rule most often. As I get older, I realize that life is about breaking rules and realizing that the world doesn’t collapse when you do. Get back on the wagon tomorrow.
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