OVERCOMING TEMPTING SITUATIONS THIS CHRISTMAS!

Let me share this using a real life story,

Next month, I shall be attending a conference hosted by a professional body I belong to. One thing that this conferences are well known for is that there are expensive to attend and there is usually an abundance of food.

Typical for breakfast- croissants, meat pies, hot dog rolls, beef burger slathered with lots of mayo, chocolate beverages and a bottle of soft drink are served. Nothing remotely GHN compliant is on the menu.

For lunch, its usually pre-packed lunches. The plate used can feed 2 ‘normally eating’ adults. It’s usually rice in its different forms with 2 large portions of fried fish, chicken or beef.  Or Swallow and a small serving of egusi soup. People typically ‘testify’ that they gain weight during this conference. Ehen before I forget, this lunch is also served with a bottle of soft drink and fruit salad or apples.

We typically attend lectures from 8-5pm daily for 10 days.

So after all that overdose of food, we seat down all day. In fact, we once had someone suffer a diabetic coma in one of the workshops I attended. The stress of travelling, being in an unfamiliar environment plus all the carb loading and sedentariness can definitely be blamed for this.

I share this experience because I know that portion control can easily be thrown out to the wind when you are faced with food that you PAID for with your money or when it is your right to have them.

Someone recently shared that after eating all that food, the next day when he belched the stale food came up his throat.

If you find that you are constantly eating out, attending meetings at work, or social functions especially when you are a special guest and served ‘high table portions’, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? So that you don’t fear checking your blood sugar or climbing the scale.

Christmas is around the corner. The season of overeating.

What would you do so that you don’t allow food destroy your arteries and make you have that low moment of guilt feelings?

When I was still a medical student, there was this man whose kidneys had been destroyed by uncontrolled hypertension. He had come to the clinic the week of Christmas to complain about his swollen feet and reduced urine production. My consultant then wanted to admit him and started counselling him on dietary modifications such as reducing his protein intake. He vowed that he would rather die than not eat all the meat he was entitled to receive this season as the head of his clan. Well, you guessed right. HE DIED. Because of food.

Do you know, renal failure is a common complication of uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes, see symptoms here.

My final note is this, food is not your god. Don’t allow it control you. Don’t allow it steal your health and peace of mind.

Be bold to say no, be bold to ask for more water at that meeting and be content with it. Even when you hear all that sound made by the soft drink cans and green/brown bottles.

Be bold to say no to the small chops or snacks served when you know you are not hungry.

Would you?

Guess what, many others do. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.