However, in my official capacity, I was horrified and upset. What sort of horrible lesson is this movie trying to teach unformed and easily impressionable minds such as my own?
Over at Weight Watchers, we find ourselves in a new glorious era of a PointsPlus program that encourages vegetables, fruits, lean meats, whole grains and low-fat dairy. By contrast, the four basic food groups of the Christmas Elves are apparently:
- Candy
- Candy canes
- Candy corn
- Syrup
It's one thing for Buddy to eat used gum off the railing at a subway station (not very many points at all), but his breakfast choices were truly unconscionable. How bad you ask? In one morning alone he had (in a single bowl):
- Spaghetti (3 cups by my estimate): 15 PointsPlus values
- Maple syrup (looked like 1/2 cup): 12 PointsPlus values
- Marinara sauce (the bargain of the lot): 3 PointsPlus value
- Chocolate chips (1/2 cup): 12 PointsPlus values
- M&M's (conservatively one bag): 6 PointsPlus values
- Chocolate syrup (1/2 cup): 14 PointsPlus values
- Pop Tart (one): 5 PointsPlus values
plus
- 2 liters of Coke: 23 PointsPlus
That's 67 PointsPlus values for the breakfast and another 23 for the drinks. This is simply not responsible behavior.
It goes without saying that we are not targeting our new program to the denizens of the North Pole. What about my house? How do I coexist with PointsPlus during the holiday season?
I have to admit that I thought I was going to have a mild nervous breakdown yesterday. My wife was in over-heated kitchen duty, creating Christmas treats for friends, teachers, etc. Among her creations were Nutter Butter's ground up into balls coated in melted milk chocolate and then chilled. She did the same with Oreos and white chocolate. Then there were pretzel-peanut butter rounds, coated in chocolate and then by peanuts. For the healthier touch, she made cashews with rosemary. Of course, she wanted me to try them all to taste test, and I did. It goes without saying that they were all fairly spectacular, particularly the pretzel-peanut butter-chocolate things.
Having enjoyed the samples, my wife and I looked at each other and said the same thing: we've got to get these out of the house. Fast. They are being packaged and delivered today, and my home can again become a safe place.
So really how much of a horrible combination of Scrooge/Grinch am I? What's wrong with a little holiday indulgence? Why can't I lighten up a little bit?
In truth, Buddy the Elf is alive and well inside of me. I love the decadent stuff, particularly this time of year. When it comes to eating this kind of food, I know myself well enough to know my own limits. If I am surrounded by chocolate delights for weeks upon end, I will eat them for weeks upon end.
On Christmas Day, I have no intention of either tracking my points or hitting the gym (really!!!). I just don't want the week that follows or the one the proceeds to feel like a mind numbing bender.
For some people, the introduction of the new PointsPlus program in the midst of the holiday season was stressful. I can totally understand that. For me, (obvious bias caveats apply) it was a complete blessing. I've been tracking my points most days, exercising like a nut, and I'm at goal right now. That makes me happy and proud. I can afford to lighten up at select moments over the next two weeks, but I just don't want to completely freak out and find myself sleeping in a damp gutter of junk food and sweets.
So, my holiday plan:
- Track this week up until Friday night (I LOVE Christmas Eve)
- Do not track on Saturday (Love Christmas Day even more)
- Slowly re-enter responsible life on Sunday
- Fully back on program as of Monday with some grace for the fact that I have the week off (kind of)
- Exercise LOTS (I no longer consider this a hardship -- I like it!)
I want to hit January 3 feeling strong. At the same time, I really am trying to leave my inner Grinch safely locked up. As they say, moderation in all things, including moderation.
What's on your docket?
Cheers & Happy Holidays!
David