Just One More Time

by Maryann Marks

Just one more time….....How often have you said these words, even after you have made the promise to stick with your diet plan? The other day, I had one of those moments which gave me a lot of clarity on this subject. I was about to have a glass of wine, shortly after I had told my partner that I was giving up alcohol and sugar for a month. I had made my declaration, and no more than a few hours later, I wanted to have a glass of wine with dinner. My justification is that I hate to waste things, and I thought we would just finish off the bottle, and I would start on my pledge the next day. I was struck how much I felt like an alcoholic asking for just one more drink, and then I’ll give it up tomorrow.

We dieters have a very similar issue that the problem drinker has. I saw very clearly that my entire adult life has been a series of “just one more time” in regard to dieting. I believe I can have the thing I have decided to give up, stick with the diet plan tomorrow, really honest I will. Luckily, I have a very savvy partner who saw my good intentions being ambushed. Having cultivated a fairly good practice of mindfulness, I saw that what I really want is to observe what might change if I give up sugar and alcohol for a month.

I’ve been having trouble sleep and stiffness in my joints. I have read numerous things about the effects of sugar on sleeping and joint problems. We probably all know that white sugar is a culprit for many ills of the body. Note- alcohol turns into sugar. I don’t consume that much sugar or alcohol, but maybe more than I realize. The real point is about the “one more time” issue. It is very easy to make a resolution, and then sabotage it with the “one more time” gig. My suggestion is to keep your observing mind on the look-out for ambush and find someone who you count on to keep you honest with your plan.