Blog Dis
Just roll me down the aisle...
2025-11-04
It will begin soon, the season of too much food, too much glug-glug, too much fondling and kissing and pulling tipsy bodies closer to your steamy body. I speak of the return to the Christmas season, the get-together of family and colleagues and friends, the wolfing down of nibbles and too-large meals that force you to pop a button on your buttoned-up jeans or to loosen that tight belt.
Most recently, I treated a friend on her birthday, taking her to one of our favorite restaurants, a busy social house, to celebrate her because her fiancé plays soccer, as he always does on Fridays. We chose two strategic seats at the bar, to give ourselves a bird's eye view of the place, and its buzzing activity, as well as everyone else sitting at the bar. I like the potential of having conversations with others, rather than to sit across from a table with a friend and we each only have ourselves for company. There is nothing wrong with this of course, because when you need to have an intimate conversation, a booth or a small table are ideal. But when your goal is to take advantage of happy hour, and appetizers at half price, the bar is the best choice of them all.
We ate too much. I ordered only three appetizers; what the social house calls 'shareables' and these included sirloin sliders, crispy Thai chicken bites, and a small plate of yummy tacos for two. The act of sharing your appetizers gives you the false sense of security that you're not tucking into a full-course meal but rather an appetizer, tiny as they are, and equally delicious as they are, only the issue is when you add in the calories of alcohol over and above rich appetizers, in the end you've eaten just as much, if not more than a main course dish.
I haven't even touched on the Christmas or holiday season to come. Where I work, the sweets start to roll out at this time of year, owing to the proximity to Halloweenie, where bowls of mini sugary treats are set out for the staff, to include a box of Timbits, left strategically in the cafe serveries. You will never just stop at one, once you pop a tiny round doughnut into your mouth, clutching your coffee in hand as you make way back to your desk to begin work. Nobody benefits from these sweets, yet there are some traditions that do not die, like avoiding the notion of a diet when this time of year is upon us.
When the month of December is fully launched, and this fully-fledged indulgent month rolls into the picture, the velocity of dinners and the scrumptious food will pick up in steam and I shall likely pack on three pounds even before I see the end of December. I'm stuffed to the brim already, just thinking about it. I've posted previously how I avoid the large Christmas sit-down dinners because my digestive system can no longer handle the rich fare that is spread out before the guests. Yet, feeling light in the tummy dies by a thousand mini sweets, served seemingly on an innocent tray or in a bowl, with no one to observe your comings and goings.
My biggest goal in these next two months to come will be to wrestle with self-control, to tie a lasso around it to ensure it doesn't get out of hand. As my sister and a friend and I had thoroughly enjoyed the first exciting Blue Jays game in the World Series, we discussed the upcoming holiday season, to plan what day we'll connect to celebrate even before the holidays of days off to come. Even in early November and most assuredly in early December, the pre-season get-togethers will gather like a storm of yumminess. I tell myself every year I will not succumb to fine red wine, to cream cheese brownies, to tomato soup cake, or to cold turkey sandwiches, and every year... well, like I had just said, I'm already full just thinking about.
Admit it, you, too, and all your family and friends shall deal with weakness, the absence of your self-control fighting with the desire to let your Santa hat fall off, as you reach for that extra nibble. Try, if you can, to leave the dinner table a little hungry. It is the advice I keep posted in my bathroom medicine cabinet, a gentle reminder that there are many who go without food at this time of year, families dealing with food insecurity. So, if you attend an event at work, and there's too much food, why not deliver the leftovers to your local food bank? Your tummy will thank you, as will the hungry bellies who really need it.
On a personal note, admittedly I have a pet peeve at this time of year and it's the toy advertisements, the aggressive online promotions of merchandise, and hot deals, when we've yet to recognize Remembrance Day on November 11th. I avoid putting up decorations and the like until this commemorative day has come and gone. I'm not trying to suggest that you should too, but know you've got plenty of time to ensconce yourself in garish sweaters, tinsel, flashing lights, scented candles and all things-Christmas before the actual day arrives. Besides, you still have Black Friday in November.
May your pocket-book and tummy brace themselves for the onslaught.
Most recently, I treated a friend on her birthday, taking her to one of our favorite restaurants, a busy social house, to celebrate her because her fiancé plays soccer, as he always does on Fridays. We chose two strategic seats at the bar, to give ourselves a bird's eye view of the place, and its buzzing activity, as well as everyone else sitting at the bar. I like the potential of having conversations with others, rather than to sit across from a table with a friend and we each only have ourselves for company. There is nothing wrong with this of course, because when you need to have an intimate conversation, a booth or a small table are ideal. But when your goal is to take advantage of happy hour, and appetizers at half price, the bar is the best choice of them all.
We ate too much. I ordered only three appetizers; what the social house calls 'shareables' and these included sirloin sliders, crispy Thai chicken bites, and a small plate of yummy tacos for two. The act of sharing your appetizers gives you the false sense of security that you're not tucking into a full-course meal but rather an appetizer, tiny as they are, and equally delicious as they are, only the issue is when you add in the calories of alcohol over and above rich appetizers, in the end you've eaten just as much, if not more than a main course dish.
I haven't even touched on the Christmas or holiday season to come. Where I work, the sweets start to roll out at this time of year, owing to the proximity to Halloweenie, where bowls of mini sugary treats are set out for the staff, to include a box of Timbits, left strategically in the cafe serveries. You will never just stop at one, once you pop a tiny round doughnut into your mouth, clutching your coffee in hand as you make way back to your desk to begin work. Nobody benefits from these sweets, yet there are some traditions that do not die, like avoiding the notion of a diet when this time of year is upon us.
When the month of December is fully launched, and this fully-fledged indulgent month rolls into the picture, the velocity of dinners and the scrumptious food will pick up in steam and I shall likely pack on three pounds even before I see the end of December. I'm stuffed to the brim already, just thinking about it. I've posted previously how I avoid the large Christmas sit-down dinners because my digestive system can no longer handle the rich fare that is spread out before the guests. Yet, feeling light in the tummy dies by a thousand mini sweets, served seemingly on an innocent tray or in a bowl, with no one to observe your comings and goings.
My biggest goal in these next two months to come will be to wrestle with self-control, to tie a lasso around it to ensure it doesn't get out of hand. As my sister and a friend and I had thoroughly enjoyed the first exciting Blue Jays game in the World Series, we discussed the upcoming holiday season, to plan what day we'll connect to celebrate even before the holidays of days off to come. Even in early November and most assuredly in early December, the pre-season get-togethers will gather like a storm of yumminess. I tell myself every year I will not succumb to fine red wine, to cream cheese brownies, to tomato soup cake, or to cold turkey sandwiches, and every year... well, like I had just said, I'm already full just thinking about.
Admit it, you, too, and all your family and friends shall deal with weakness, the absence of your self-control fighting with the desire to let your Santa hat fall off, as you reach for that extra nibble. Try, if you can, to leave the dinner table a little hungry. It is the advice I keep posted in my bathroom medicine cabinet, a gentle reminder that there are many who go without food at this time of year, families dealing with food insecurity. So, if you attend an event at work, and there's too much food, why not deliver the leftovers to your local food bank? Your tummy will thank you, as will the hungry bellies who really need it.
On a personal note, admittedly I have a pet peeve at this time of year and it's the toy advertisements, the aggressive online promotions of merchandise, and hot deals, when we've yet to recognize Remembrance Day on November 11th. I avoid putting up decorations and the like until this commemorative day has come and gone. I'm not trying to suggest that you should too, but know you've got plenty of time to ensconce yourself in garish sweaters, tinsel, flashing lights, scented candles and all things-Christmas before the actual day arrives. Besides, you still have Black Friday in November.
May your pocket-book and tummy brace themselves for the onslaught.
