Angels & Demons

This is my first week on the plan, and I'm not going to lie, I didn't expect my willpower to be tested this early on! For the last two days I've been working away from my usual workplace and instead I've been delivering a course just a few miles down the road.
My usual workplace in Milton Keynes has a lovely large restaurant with a giant salad bar, and jacket potatoes ready and waiting at lunch time. The course I've been delivering over the last two days however, has been at our UK distribution centre and they always cater for my delegates and I, by providing a buffet. Being prepared, naturally I'd already made myself a nice chicken salad, but as the food was brought in, the smell of soft doughy bread, hot Cajun wedges and meat kebabs had my mouth watering. Did I really want to break into my salad when that was on offer? As I looked at the salad that I'd lovingly prepared I found my internal monologue cursing it.



I don't know what it is with a buffet that makes it so tempting. In reality it's just finger food, but there's something about the sheer variety that you find on a buffet which makes is so appealing. It made me wonder though, here I was at war with myself internally over whether I could risk picking up a cheese and pickle sandwich, when my own Syn free salad was sat right in front of me! After a lot of strong words to the little devil version of me sat on my shoulder, I opted for the salad (phew!)...but what if I'd been going to a party where I didn't have a substitute to hand? Even if I had made the effort to eat before a party, could I honestly say I wouldn't have been tempted to grab a sandwich or a samosa? I haven't yet been able to answer my that question.
 
One thing I do know however, is that if we ignore all the gorgeous smells that wafted off that buffet...my salad actually looked a darned sight better!  The variety of colour from green mixed leaves, yellow sweetcorn, red tomatoes, pink radishes and orange peppers made the buffet look positively beige. The only greenery

Colour me happy!

present on the buffet were a few chunks of cucumber hidden inside a tuna mayo sandwich! I think ultimately that's what stopped me taking anything. I'm quite a visual creature and mine just looked better!  The more I looked at the browny-beige offering, the less inspired I was by it. In particular I noticed that the meat (of unknown origin) kebab that I had initially been so drawn to, very much resembled a skewered squirrel!
 
At the moment these little self discoveries about my eating habits and perceptions are empowering me to stay focused and really immerse myself in the plan. Revisiting my earlier question, I think I'd be naive to believe that being aware of my habits are enough to make feel I've changed them - especially at this early stage. There's a strong possibility that the little devil on my shoulder would convince me that it's okay to cheat because it's a "special occasion". However in the long run I suppose being self aware enough to admit it, might mean that in those moments, the little angel version of me on the other shoulder, may be able to shout loud enough to be heard!

Nighty-Night!