What’s a Dieter’s Favorite Day of the Week to Start?
Tomorrow. Yes. Tomorrow is any dieter’s favorite day of the week to start a new food plan. Likewise, as a foodie, “tomorrow” is my favorite day of the week. By the way, some other favorite times of the week for dieters and/or compulsive overeaters to start a new food plan are:
“Monday”
“The 1st” of (Of Whatever Month)
“Next Week”
Why is “tomorrow” a food addict’s favorite day of the week?
From my own experience, I know that if I start my food plan “tomorrow”, that means I can eat as many Twinkies, Ring Dings
My thought process as a foodie goes something like this…
“Well, if I’m going to start my new food plan, I might as well eat everything and anything I want in large quantities because after today, I’ll never be able to eat any of this stuff again.”
Here’s the problem. “Tomorrow” never comes.
I swear to God (okay, so I’m a Buddhist), tomorrow never comes. How many times did I say to myself, “Self, I’m going to start my new food plan tomorrow for sure, no matter what”, only to find myself watching all-night South Park marathons with my two friends, Ben & Jerry?
Too many times to count!
And when “tomorrow” does come, I don’t start my new food plan because I’m too sugared up (basically drunk off sugar) to be able to start.
See, for me, once sugar, white flour, rice
…and I’m off to the races.
So, tomorrow stretches into next week and next month…before you know it, 6 months have gone by – and I’m still in the sugar, flour, and grains.
Okay, here’s a real life example:
In October, as I was huffing and puffing up the stairs of the 59th Street Lexington Avenue train station, I promised myself (as I had done 100s of times before) that I was going to go back on my low-carb plan – for good this time.
And by golly, I meant it.
Then I thought, “But my birthday is November 23rd. I can’t NOT have a birthday cake.” So I told myself I’d start after my birthday. But I forgot that Thanksgiving is right after my birthday. So then I thought…
“But Thanksgiving is coming up too. I can’t start my food plan now. I’m not giving up stuffing, pumpkin pie, and mashed potatoes. I’ll start my food plan after Thanksgiving.”
And what happened after Thanksgiving?
So after Thanksgiving, I remembered that I had made reservations for my birthday dinner at Carmine’s Italian Restaurant in New York City. I thought…
“I can’t start my food plan now because I have to eat pasta at
By the way, my birthday dinner at Carmine’s was on December 1st. And I wasn’t willing to get back on my low-carb plan until today – December 22nd.
(Remember, my good intentions started way back in October.)
So what happened? Why did it take me from October 1st, all the way to December 22nd to get on my low-carb plan?
Because I had the tomorrow mentality.
I had completely forgotten that “tomorrow” never comes and that there will always be a reason to put off following my healthy, low-carb plan.
So When Should You Start a Food Plan?
When do you think is the best time to start your food plan (whether it’s WW, Keto, Paleo, Atkins, etc.)? I find that the best time to start my low-carb food plan (or anything else for that matter) is NOW.
There’s so much power in now.
Now allows me to gather momentum. As a matter of fact, this morning I asked myself, “So Shalisha, what excuse do you have today for not getting started on your low-carb plan?”
I thought for a second, and I told myself, “Well, Christmas is coming…”
I promptly, but gently, reminded myself that I was completely full of shit and that if I was ever going to get back on the wagon, it had to happen today – as in right NOW.
So, I prepared my low carb delicious meal of salmon with lemon, garlic, parsley and string beans sauteed in olive oil, garlic, salt
And guess what? My obsession with the food, and hence, my obsession with “tomorrow”, left me.
Then, since the momentum of now kicked in, I began throwing all of my binge food into the incinerator. And as I waved goodbye to my two friends, Ben & Jerry, I told them that they had to make new friends – preferably with people who don’t have a propensity for consuming gallons of ice cream in one sitting.
Then I started cleaning my house…
Then I started writing this article…
Do you see where I’m going with this? The power of now serves as a catalyst for other life affirming, liberating actions. So, stop being a slave to “tomorrow”, “Monday”, and “Next Week”.
Start now.
What can you do today, now, with your food (or anything else) that will change your life? I’d love to hear your experiences with the power of starting now.
Please leave your comments below.
lisha42
Hi AlJareaux. I love the name! Yes, this can be applied to so many areas of our lives. Thanks so much or stopping by.
Aljareaux Morrison
I mean, I’m usually good about eating and keeping my weight stable so I think I actually might use this advice more for other stuff honestly. It can apply to so much.
lisha42
Hi Matts Mom! I’m always happy to see your comments. No time like the present, right? Thanks for your comment.
matts mom
Yep, i should have known the answer already! I know that I have used that before…..”I will start tomorrow so today I can eat what ever I want”. Yep, doesn’t work. NOw I try to be a little bit more proactive, and the best day is always going to be today. Why procrastinate at anything really?
lisha42
Hi Erick. Thanks for commenting. I’m glad my post resonated with you. I can find a dozen reasons to put of doing what I need to do today also! The gym is one of them. But after this post, I’ll be more mindful when I’m thinking about skipping the gym. Thanks again for stopping by and commenting.
Erick Darke
I know exactly about putting things off .
Because I started working out at home because of making excuses not to join the gym.
i actually hate going to the gym not because of the work outs themselves but because of crowds and having share equipment with other people
who may or may not have correct hygiene..Great images and article writing in your post.
lisha42
Hi Darren. Thank you for commenting. You’re right. We think Monday is a new week, hence day 1. But Monday never comes either. LOL. Thanks again for your insight.
lisha42
Hi John. Thank you so much or stopping by and commenting. I love your thoughts about the sugar industry – it really is a problem in our society. Unfortunately, the government puts profit above the people’s health. Yes, sugar really is a poison that I’ve struggled with my whole life. I thought I’d share my honest journey, with a bit of humor. Thank you again for your comment.
lisha42
Hi there Solomon. Thanks for commenting. I’m so glad this was helpful to you. Yes, I had a feeling many other people struggle with this too. I find that doing things “now” really does start it’s own momentum. I’m so glad you found this inspiring. I am on my journey. I have a lot of weight to lose, but I have the right frame of mind, and I will do it.
Solomon
This was such a fun article to read 😊. It doesn’t just help with diet procastination, but with a whole range of other things. I have gained a lot of weight, and I have been telling myself the same thing, but at the end of the day, I still end up procastinating for one reason or the other just like you mentioned.
This Article has opened my mind, and if you can do it, I believe I can do to. So, many thanks for an amazing article and the inspiration you just provided.
John
Great headline that captured my attention and you really make the point clear that the best day to start is not Monday, Sunday, tomorrow etc. it is TODAY.Sugar is so nasty, evil and poison to our bodies. The food supply and companies profiting from this quick hit to the consumers are a real problem in our society. Thanks for sharing your honest and authentic journey of a dieters excuses and I love the look of your low carb delicious meal of salmon with lemon, garlic, parsley and string beans sauteed in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper! Good by Ben and Jerry, hello health, vitality and life again!
Darren
I really liked your post as it’s so true and describes many peoples mindsets perfectly. We are programmed to think let’s start on a Monday as it’s the start of the week hence day 1. If you are going to start something then why wait? Take action and do it. In my opinion.
You have Summed up this up perfectly!