Sometimes being true to yourself is “uncomfortable.”

Gino comes from a huge Italian family. And if you’ve ever been to the home of an Italian, you already recognize the problem. If not, let me fill you in.

Italians feel obligated to offer you something to eat. And they continue to offer food to you until they find something you accept.

Sausage. Cheese. Salami. Pasta.
Roasted Peppers. Cookies. Biscotti. Antipasto.
Pizza. Tiramisu. Coffee. Wine.

If they don’t find something you accept, they feel they have failed. And then they’ll offer you food to apologize for failing.

Just remember, you are not responsible for their feelings.

In the words of Nancy Reagan, “Just say No!” Actually, “no thank you” will probably do a little better, along with a pleasant smile on your face.

You are taking care of YOU. You are your #1 priority. If this feels selfish, just realize that the better you take care of you, the better person you will be for those you love. Every time you chose YOU, you build your inner integrity. How could that EVER be a bad choice?

Gino struggled to follow his meal plan at work, too. Sometimes it would be time to eat and he was at the scene of an accident or in an important meeting.

But he always set himself up to succeed. He always had his cooler in his car, complete with eating utensils, can openers, supplements, napkins, shakers, etc. More than a few times, Gino has politely excused himself from a meeting, run out and slammed down his food. Then he comes back in and sits down as if he’d never left. (And, with all of the water he drinks, he takes a quick trip to the men’s room before he returns.)

By setting yourself up to succeed, failure ceases to become a factor in your transformation. Plan to succeed!