No Charoset, No Regrets

With the holidays coming up—Passover, Easter, and everything in between—it got me thinking about how different this time of year feels on Program compared to before.

Holidays have always been centered around food. Not just eating, but traditions. The dishes we look forward to all year. The ones that show up once, maybe twice, and feel special because of it.

And if I’m being honest, there are certain foods that I used to love that fall squarely into that category.

For me? Charoset.

For those who may not be familiar, charoset is a traditional Passover dish made with chopped apples, nuts, cinnamon, and wine. It’s sweet, rich, and meant to symbolize the mortar used by the Israelites in Egypt—but let’s be honest, it mainly just delicious especially on matzah.

And if you’ve ever had it, you know—it’s not really a “have a bite and move on” kind of food. It’s a “I’d like a bowl of this, please and thank you” kind of food.

And that’s where the challenge comes in.

Program teaches us that we can have certain foods in moderation. But just because we can, doesn’t always mean we should—at least not for where we are in our journey.

Because sometimes, having a small, measured portion of something you used to love doesn’t feel satisfying… it feels like a tease.

It’s that moment where you take your allotted amount, enjoy it for approximately 30 seconds, and then spend the next hour thinking about how you’d really like more.

And for me, that’s just not worth it.

Especially coming off of last week.

Last week, I’ll be honest—I fell off the wagon a bit. Nothing completely off the rails, but enough to feel it. Enough to know I wasn’t showing up the way I should have been.

But instead of letting that spiral into “well, I already messed up,” I turned it around.

I got back to the basics of utilizing that Blue Book and my sticky notes.

And the result? I lost five pounds!

That kind of result is exactly why I know I can’t let holiday foods—or Easter candy—get in my way right now.

Because I’ve seen what happens when I stay consistent. I’ve felt what it’s like to be back in control. And I don’t want to trade that feeling for a few bites of something that will just leave me wanting more.

I’ve started to realize that for certain foods—especially ones tied to strong memories or traditions—it’s actually easier to just skip them altogether. Not because I can’t have them, but because I know myself well enough to know that a small portion won’t feel like enough.

Instead, I’d rather focus on the foods I can enjoy freely.

The vegetables. The proteins. The things that actually fill me up and keep me satisfied—not just physically, but mentally too.

At a holiday table, that might look like loading up on salads, roasted vegetables, or whatever options fit comfortably within Program. It might not be the most exciting plate on the table, but it’s the one that lets me walk away feeling in control instead of wanting more.

And honestly, that feeling is worth more than any single dish.

That doesn’t mean it’s always easy. There’s still that moment of pause when you see something you used to love. There’s still a little voice that says, “Just have some.”

But there’s also a stronger voice now that says, “You know how this ends.”

And that voice is the one I’m choosing to listen to.

Because the goal isn’t just to get through one holiday meal. It’s to keep the momentum going.

So this holiday season, I’m not focusing on what I’m missing.

I’m focusing on what I’m building—consistency, control, and progress that I’m genuinely proud of.

And if that means skipping the charoset and the Easter candy this year? That’s a trade I’m more than willing to make.

Happy Passover and Happy Easter Everyone!

This week’s loss: 5 pounds

Total loss so far: 53 pounds