Lunch....

It's not a surprise that I am a social eater.  Eating is an event for me.  Sometimes, it's not about the food, but what's going on around the food.  I enjoy getting dressed up to go eat, I enjoy meeting friends to go eat, I enjoy visiting new cities to find new restaurants to go eat, I enjoy leaving work at approximately 11:30 a.m. each day to go eat.  Lots of times while having breakfast, I'm talking about what we're going to do for lunch or dinner.  I like food and all that is associated with it.  Paleo is not as socially friendly.  Today, like a good 1st day diet starter, I packed my lunch.  I don't usually pack my lunch because I like to leave the building for lunch and have social interaction and be served my food.  Now, my husband would love it if I packed my lunch more often because it gets pretty expensive to eat out.  I like to say it's for my mental health.  Anyway, I brought my lunch today with all intentions of eating it.  Then it happened.....I got the invitation go to lunch.  First from Nova.  I explained that I just started my diet and that I should probably eat lunch.  I never flatly tell someone no because I want to give them the opportunity to change my mind.  Stacy said she brought her lunch too to save money so we all agreed to eat at the picnic table.  Lunch solved.  Except then, an hour later, Stacy said she really needed to get out.  She said she didn't want to pressure me and they would go without me.  I think that was a tactic.  I'm social....I can't handle being left out of anything! So, I had to go.  Chicken Ole will have to wait for dinner. 

Even though I did not choose to stay in for lunch, we did choose a responsible place to eat where I could eat a Paleo friendly meal.  We went to Marlows.  I usually have a delightful tavern salad, but I couldn't have the dressing so I setteled for a grilled chicken breast with grilled asparagas.  It came out a little sad looking but wasn't that bad....really. 

 

Right before lunch I got some really good news.  After I ate my normal 4 pieces of sugarfree gum for the morning (the little chicklet things...relax), I realized that I might not be able to have gum! This is a horrifying thought if you know anything about me.  I can chew a pack of gum in a day.  My husband hides his gum from me.  I have to have it like a smoker needs a cigarette.  My first inclination was to let it be my little secret, but I decided to come clean.  I asked the Facebook accountability group if it was allowed.  Kristen said I could because she didn't think it would really change my overall health (I'm sure she didn't realize the extent of my habit).  So, now, I feel like I can successfully complete the challenge.  I came back from my grilled chicken lunch and eagerly popped 2 pieces of gum in my mouth!  Ah.....the little things.