Stay in Your (Food) Lane

This week managed to be both busy and quiet at the same time. I hosted three speed dating events—each one in a completely different part of Connecticut—which meant a whole lot of driving.

My shortest trip was fifteen minutes to New London, while my longest was a ninety-minute trek to Middlebury. And let me tell you, being on the road that much reminded me why I’m not a fan of long drives.

Between rush-hour chaos, impatient drivers, and everyone acting like the highway is their personal racetrack, it’s clear most people forget how important it is to simply stay in their lane—literally and figuratively.

Everyone seems to lose empathy behind the wheel, focused solely on reaching their destination, no matter the chaos left in their wake.

But the journey is important.

When I’m driving, I put on good music, sing along to the radio, and let myself enjoy the ride instead of stressing about traffic or the clock. I remind myself that it’s not just about getting somewhere—it’s about how I get there.

And honestly, the same idea applies to Program.

We’re all working toward an end goal, but how we get there is just as important as the finish line. We can’t white-knuckle our way through every week, ignoring our own needs and expectations. We need to be present, patient, and proud of the path we’re taking—especially with the holidays arriving at full speed.

Next week is Thanksgiving, and if we don’t slow down and stay mindful, it’ll be 2026 before we know it.

Speaking of Thanksgiving—the holiday I dislike the most—let’s talk about it.

(Yes, I know. Shocking. A holiday all about food, gratitude… and turkey. I dislike turkey—both the bird and the meal.)

Thanksgiving is the holiday of eating. Dinner starts at 2:00 and before you know it, hours have vanished and you’re somehow still sitting at the table. That’s why PLANNING is your best friend. Write out your food sheet. Measure your portions. Bring your scale if you’re not hosting. Don’t guess. Don’t estimate.

To make things easier, I recently did a mock-Thanksgiving using BJ’s rotisserie chicken instead of cooking a full turkey.

I loaded my plate with extra veggies even mixing mashed turnips (a free veggie) into 4 ounces of mashed potatoes—instantly doubling the quantity without losing any flavor. I added carrots and asparagus for double the vegetables, and I even had ¼ cup of cornbread stuffing, which is delicious… and conveniently my least favorite, so the small portion was more than enough.

Remember your behavior modifications too: use smaller plates. You can always go back for unlimited veggies and salad.

And bonus—if you’ve completed five weeks or more on Program, you can use your extra for the Elective List and enjoy a glass of wine and 2 ounces of apple pie. So don’t forget to save your electives this week!

We’ve got this. Thanksgiving won’t get the best of us as long as we stick to our plan, stay mindful, and remember the journey matters just as much as the destination.

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday and gets time with friends, family, and loved ones.

Next week’s blog post will be delayed since Thursday is Thanksgiving.

I’ll be posting over the weekend—stay tuned!

This week’s loss: 1 pounds

Total loss so far: 48 pounds