Happy New Year! “Tabla Rasa” or “clean
slate” was one of my favorite high school teacher's sayings.
He was probably the toughest teacher I ever had, but without
a doubt the most fair. Each day we had the opportunity to begin
again to work harder and learn more, to make anew, to challenge
ourselves to be the best that we could be.
December's challenge was to think about the food gifts that
we might give over the holidays. I know my patients were conscious
of it. Many of them were amazed that even the people that knew
they were working hard on changing habits gave them gifts that
were “dangerous.” This was challenging for them
and raised questions as to whether their friends and family
members were just being thoughtless or in some cases even trying
to sabotage them in their efforts.
The concept of “tabla rasa” is a great context
for making good on our New Year's resolutions. One of the biggest
stumbling blocks for making a change in oneself is the ease
with which we give up on our resolutions if the going gets tough.
We are all going to stumble but the challenge is not to give
up because, we think, “It’s not working and I cannot
do this”.
The message my high school English teacher sent was that anyone
can do anything for one day, and one day of success leads to
another day of success, and soon one has a week of success,
then a month etc. When you have a bad day, take your lumps and
wake up with a “tabla rasa” and move on. It takes
practice. Undoubtedly, it is a mental challenge, but a great
one and one that any one can do with steady, deliberate, daily
practice.
Here is this month's challenge to get 2009 off to a great start.
Figure out what you think your biggest dietary obstacle to good
health is. If you are not quite sure, pick one or two from this
list: drinking sodas and fruit juices, eating fried food, eating
fast food, skipping breakfast, eating food from vending machines,
eating lunch and dinner out rather than at home, eating very
large portions, not eating fruits and vegetables, not planning
meals or mindless eating. Once you have figured out what your
obstacle is, work on that obstacle for the next month, but do
it in 24-hour blocks. For example, if you are someone who needs
to stop drinking soda regularly the following might be your
resolution: “Today, I will have two sodas. They will be
diet sodas. I will only have it with my lunch and evening meal.”
With this statement, you have made a timely, specific plan,
and made it for one day. The next day, do it again. Success
breeds success. Build on it.
On behalf of myself and the staff at Tidewater Bariatrics,
I wish you and your family a wonderful and healthy 2009.
Always
Consult Your Physician before beginning any Diet or Exercise Program.
