The Habits We Don't Notice

Happy July, everyone, and a very Happy Birthday to Dianne!

This week's post is being written a little early, as I'll be attending jury duty tomorrow instead of weighing in.

While I missed last week's blog, I haven't stopped thinking about the results. Although the scale moved in the wrong direction, I didn't walk away discouraged.

Over the past few months, I've noticed a pattern. When my hormones fluctuate, so does the scale—and usually by more than I'd like. After making some personal changes to help manage those fluctuations, I noticed something encouraging at my last weigh-in: while the scale was up, it wasn't up nearly as much as it had been previously.

An increase is never fun, but I still left feeling positive. It reinforced that the changes I've made were the right ones. While there were certainly things I could have done better, I felt like I was moving in the right direction.

It also got me thinking about habits.

Some habits are intentional. We practice them until they become part of our routine. Others are instinctive, almost like muscle memory.

Then there are the absentminded habits.

The ones we do without thinking.

The ones that happen so automatically that we don't even realize we're doing them.

For me, those are the hardest habits to break.

The weekend before last, I baked cupcakes for my cousin's graduation party (congratulations to her on finishing high school!) and made homemade frosting to go with them.

While I don't eat raw batter, and I've become pretty good at reminding myself "not a bite, taste, or lick," frosting is a different story.

Looking back, I'm almost certain I tasted it while adjusting the flavor. Not because I was hungry. Not because I consciously decided to. Simply because it's something I've always done.

It's automatic.

What really brought it to my attention was some baking I did earlier this week for work.

I made a carrot and nut loaf cake and topped it with canned vanilla frosting. There was no homemade recipe to adjust and no reason whatsoever to taste it.

Yet somehow, a minute after dipping a spoon into the frosting, I realized what I had done.

It wasn't even an eighth of a teaspoon.

But that wasn't the point.

The point was that I hadn't thought about it at all.

And suddenly I wondered: if I can do that without noticing, how many tastes of homemade frosting have I taken over the years without realizing it?

That's why Program emphasizes "not a bite, taste, or lick."

Not because one tiny taste of frosting is going to derail us.

It's because it's rarely just one.

Those little bites, tastes, and licks add up. They're unmeasured, unrecorded, and often forgotten entirely. Eventually, they become servings that never make it onto the food sheet.

The week leading up to today involved far less baking, which meant fewer opportunities for those absentminded tastes. It wasn't without challenges, though.

I hosted a speed dating event in Peabody, Massachusetts, which was far enough away that it made more sense to stay overnight than drive the two-plus hours home.

While the event itself was a bit of a bust—too many men and not enough women—I met some great people and had the opportunity to practice something else Program constantly teaches: flexibility.

Despite carefully packing food for the drive, I somehow managed to leave my cooler at work.

The hotel didn't have a food scale, and I certainly didn't bring my own, so I had to estimate portions for the first time in quite a while.

Which reconfirmed something I've known my entire life:

My eyes are bigger than my stomach.

Did you know that a four-ounce serving of potato is about the size of your fist? Or that three ounces of steak is roughly the size of your palm?

These measurements aren't perfect—especially if you have larger hands—but they were helpful reminders.

My portions were probably off. I was likely a little heavy on protein and a little light on fruit. Had the hotel not sold yogurt in its grab-and-go market, I probably wouldn't have had any milk servings at all.

Thankfully, my water intake was spot-on thanks to my favorite 40-ounce bottle.

The day after the event, I visited Salem for the first time.

I'm not entirely sure what I expected, but a mystical, witch-themed town mixed with cruise-port energy wasn't it.

The historical walking tour was fascinating and a great way to get my steps in, but if I only had one day in Salem, I think I'd spend more time exploring the museums.

Overall, it was a fun bucket-list experience, even if it wasn't quite the historical time capsule I had imagined.

As we head into a new month, I'm focusing on those absentminded habits—the little things that seem insignificant but can quietly add up over time.

And in the meantime, I may be taking a short break from homemade frosting.

Have a happy Fourth of July weekend, stay cool, try something new, and don't forget to drink your water—not just for Program, but because this heat isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Last week: 6 pounds gained

Total loss so far: 50 pounds