Sugary Temptations - A Hurdle To Weight Loss?
The word “Temptation” always seems to bring one story to my mind, a story that has been so powerful and told for generations! Yes, it is the story Of Adam and Eve! This story is deeply embedded in my heart; it actually provoked a thought as I was shopping this weekend. Well ... I watched an incident that I thought was worth mentioning; just wanted to share it with you and test your inner strength.
As I was shopping in a mini-supermarket, a customer service assistant began marking down the prices of all the "high fat deserts". The thought of purchasing it briefly crossed my mind because the price was quite alluring. Since I’m not a big fan of sugary desserts, I kept shopping for my "greens" of the week.
Anyway, to cut the story short, I watched as a 30 to 35-year-old woman approached the customer service assistant and picked out a dessert that had not yet been marked down. She asked him whether he would be reducing the price of this item as well and he replied, "In a while, I will be marking them down.” The woman then said, "That's good for me then; I will not buy it. If it had been marked down, I would have been tempted to buy it, especially since it is one of my favorites!"
As she continued shopping, I was curious and just thought I would check the calorie content of this particular dessert. It read "800!”
This particular woman was dressed in her gym outfit and, I assumed, might be trying to lose weight or be on the path to a healthier lifestyle. It intrigued me that she would have bought this particular dessert if it had been marked down! I wondered if she realized the calorie content or whether she was choosing to ignore it since she would have found the sale price more alluring. Fortunately, she made a wise choice and walked away. Her reason to not purchase the item was because it was not yet marked down … and she made the right choice.
If you were in a similar supermarket shopping for "healthy food" and came across a "high calorie sugary dessert" that was marked down, would you be tempted to buy it?
In an effort to win the temptation battle, here are some ideas you may find useful.
Seven Tips for Successful Shopping!
1. Make a grocery list before you go to the store and stick to it.
2. Eat your meal or a snack before you go to the store; do not go to the store hungry.
3. Read labels and make choices based on nutritional and caloric content; broaden your nutritional knowledge.
4. Do not purchase items just because they are on sale; READ the ingredients and make an informed decision.
5. If you have already experienced weight loss success, carry a “before” picture with you and keep it in front of you while you are shopping. This will remind you of your success and keep you focused on where you are going.
6. If you have not experienced weight loss success, carry a picture of a dress you'd like to purchase in the next smaller size to remind you of your goal and why you are shopping wisely.
7. Draw a big heart on the top of your grocery list, just to remind yourself to take care of you and to remember the damage unhealthy food can cause your heart!
So, here are a few questions for you to ponder.
• Will a discount lure you to change your mind and cause you to make a mistake or slip in your progress?
• What will be your "excuse” or “motivation" that will stop you from buying this product?
• What is your strategy to resist these temptations?
We’d certainly like to hear your opinion and see how strong you are mentally to deal with these sugary temptations!
Please feel free to leave your comments below and share your thoughts!





