On Monday, I stepped on the scale and found that I feel like I'm moving in the wrong direction.  Basically, I’m moving in no direction at all.  I haven’t seen any movement on the scale in forever.  I decided that I would cut down my sugar and jump start my diet with my version of Atkins.  The induction phase should be great for me to eliminate all the valueless sugar that I have been eating.  Of course, I bought plenty of fruit, yogurt and some high fiber bread.  Almost none of the food from my grocery shopping spree was on my new plan.  My lack of options didn't stop me.  I committed myself to the new low-carb life and got under way.  After all, 2 weeks of the Atkins life shouldn't be too bad and maybe it will be the jump start that I really need.  I've put all of my fruit in the fridge and even cut up my strawberries for freezing.

All was well until I went to a work function.  I walked into the room and directly to the refreshment table.  It's not as if I really was on a mission for food.  Really, I was a little hungry.  Really, the room set up made it impossible for me to avoid the food.  The first thing I saw were moist and chocolate brownies.  I didn't see the vegetables creatively displayed in single serving shot glass type holders.  The only thing I saw was the brownies.  I felt like the people in the Geico money commercial, except there were no eyes sitting on top of the brownies.

These kinds of events are typically an issue for me.  If I were the kind of person who could only have one, brownies wouldn't be an issue and I actually wouldn't be concerned about my weight.  I'm the kind of person who after I take one, I get another then one more before I suck down another.  On this day, the brownies had captured me in their gaze.  It was a stare down.  Fortunately, I told a friend that I had cut out my sugar and she reminded me that I couldn't have the brownie if I was following my plan.  Of course that didn't stop her from taking a cookie. 

Finally, I saw the vegetables and picked up a glass of my own.  It was a very clever idea.  There was some sauce a little like Thousand Island dressing at the bottom of each glass.  The squared off edges made it a little difficult to get too much dressing which worked out to be a calorie reducing measure.  It this work setting, I wouldn't dare try to scrap the bottom with...my finger.  The pepper, cucumber and carrot strips were actually tasty with very little dressing.  Then again, I was a little hungry.

What really matters is that I managed not to touch a brownie and had a healthy choice that I enjoyed.  One day down 13 more to go and I'll be done with the Atkins induction.  At least, my version of the plan.