There is no better snack in the world than Nacho Cheese Doritos. I've loved them as long as I can remember. About a week after I started the program, I went home to visit my parents. They have been very health-conscious, so I was comfortable that I would find a good snack if I went into the kitchen. When I opened up the pantry, the first thing I saw was the beautiful red bag with a picture of the best chips in the world on them - the wonderful Doritos I speak so highly of. Having been a strong-willed follower of the P90X nutrition plan at the time, I actually resisted the temptation, closed the door, and drank a gratuitous amount of water so that I would feel full. My mom immediately saw me looking for food and cooked me a wonderful, hearty and healthy chicken and vegetable meal. To even think about as I write this entry makes my mouth water.
As we were eating, my father sauntered in. Undoubtedly, he smelled the food my mom had made and had to partake in the amazing meal. Let me describe my father's personality - he is the most carefree, laid-back individual I have ever known. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, but he will always have your respect, because that's just the type of person he is. He is always friendly, personable, and will treat you like you want to be treated (the Platinum Rule).
So here is my dad, casually pulling out the Doritos and having an absolute feast right in front of me. Present were my wife, my mother, and I. He knew full well that I was on a strict nutritional plan, but he certainly didn't care. After all, his boy has to learn how to control himself, right? He asked me if I wanted some, and when I initially said no, he gave me a look that said, "suit yourself" as he shoveled more chips into his mouth. This went on throughout the meal.
Ultimately, I was unsuccessful at my attempt to control my cravings. The look of pure joy on Dad's face as he voraciously tore apart the bag was too much. How a man can look that happy without smiling (my dad has never been big on smiles) is beyond me, but somehow he pulled it off! I was done for, and my fate was sealed. I ate 1/4 of the bag while my wife sat and watched, shaking her head. I can't blame my dad for my weakness as that wouldn't be fair... he was eating the most delicious chips ever made, and you can't blame a man for enjoying them.
Fast forward two and a half weeks to the present and being only a few short days from a month of P90X. Not only have I gained tremendous physical strength, but I have developed an amazing amount of willpower since beginning this journey. I have said no to burgers, fries, brownies, cookies, ice cream, cake, and Lord knows everything else under the sun. The fact of the matter is that it has been relatively easy. This is because when you work so hard, you want to supplement it with the right fuel in order to maximize your results. It would be silly to get up every morning before working an extremely long day only to throw away all the hard work with an unhealthy diet.
I am definitely a believer that you should live life to the fullest and indulge cravings every once in awhile. Why not have a small piece of cake or a tiny amount of fries? The interesting thing is that moving forward, I can envision a scenario where the cravings for the bad stuff disappears as quickly as my waistline has been. The question I have been asking myself lately is this: Is the price of negating some of my hard work worth thirty seconds to two minutes of pleasure from eating one small treat really worth it?
Lately, there have been a lot of "no" answers to that question, and it feels good to say it every single time... almost as good as Nacho Cheese Doritos.
~ MJ
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