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Day 17 is done, and I'm reflecting on what felt like my first real challenge since starting this wellness journey: dinner at a friend's home. I decided to treat it as a test - not in a pass/fail way, but as an opportunity to see how well the strategies I've been building would hold up in a social context.

The results? I'd give myself a solid 7/10, and honestly, I'm pretty pleased with that score.

What Went Right (And Why It Matters)

I showed up not hungry, which meant I could easily skip the appetizers without feeling deprived. This wasn't willpower - it was strategic planning. I've learned that arriving at social events starving is setting myself up for failure before I even sit down.

I had planned for a couple of glasses of wine and built them into my calorie budget for the day. This felt like such a shift from previous diet attempts where I would either completely abstain (and feel deprived) or drink without thinking (and then spiral into guilt). Instead, I enjoyed the wine as part of a conscious choice.

When it came to the main course, I skipped the red meat and went for salmon only. My high-protein approach has become intuitive enough that this felt natural rather than restrictive.

Where I Stumbled (And What I Learned)

The dessert situation was where I veered off course. They had both pie and tarts, and instead of choosing one and savoring it, I had both. I was disappointed in myself for that choice, but as I've been reflecting on it, I'm trying to understand what happened rather than just beating myself up about it.

Was it curiosity? Social pressure? The wine lowering my inhibitions? Or just the challenge of having two appealing options in front of me without a clear plan for how to handle that scenario?

The Bigger Picture of Progress

Because I've been away from home, I haven't weighed myself since last Monday (day 8), so tomorrow's weigh-in will be interesting. Based on how I've been eating and moving, I'm hoping for continued progress, though I know that dramatic first-week loss of 4 pounds isn't likely to repeat.

The realistic expectation is probably 1-2 pounds, which would actually be ideal for sustainable weight loss. But more than the number on the scale, I'm noticing other changes. My clothes are starting to feel a little looser and where I have fat it’s getting quite jiggly – which my AI wellness coach told me is normal as fat cells shrink and things rearrange themselves.

I feel pretty good overall. My energy is stable, my eating has become more intuitive, and I'm handling challenges like social dinners with strategies rather than just hoping for the best.

What This Test Taught Me

This dinner experience showed me that I'm building real skills, not just following temporary rules. The fact that most of my strategy worked in a challenging social environment gives me confidence that I'm creating something sustainable.

The dessert situation wasn't a failure - it was information. Next time, I'll have a specific plan for that moment when multiple tempting options are in front of me. Maybe I'll decide in advance to have one dessert and really savor it, or take small tastes of multiple options to satisfy curiosity without going overboard.

Key Learning

As I head into day 18, I'm feeling optimistic but grounded. The scale tomorrow will tell me one piece of the story, but it won't be the whole story. The fact that I can handle social eating with a 7/10 performance, get back on track the next day without drama, and feel good about my overall progress - that tells me more about where I'm headed than any single number.

I'm learning that sustainable change isn't about perfection. It's about building flexibility, developing strategies for challenging situations, and treating setbacks as information rather than failures. The jiggly phase might be uncomfortable, but it's apparently part of the process.

Week three is almost done, and I'm still here, still consistent, still learning. That feels like success, regardless of what tomorrow's scale says.

Perfection may be the desire but just trying with consistency is often more important

Check out tomorrow's post where I try to better understand the fridge-staring phenomenon

Interested in reading all my experiences and conversations with AIso far? Check them out here!

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Susan Williams is the visionary founder of Booming Encore. With over 28 years of experience in corporate senior leadership and executive roles, she realized there was a significant gap in resources for those seeking a purposeful and healthy later life. Driven by her passion to make a difference, she decided that if she couldn't find it, she would create it and launched Booming Encore in 2013.

Since then, the Booming Encore has organically grown into a globally recognized authority on retirement, aging, and longevity. Susan’s commitment to empowering individuals is further reflected in her co-authorship of Retirement Heaven or Hell: Which Will You Choose? and her contributions to Longevity Lifestyle by Design.

An engaging speaker and advocate, Susan passionately shares the importance of all the aspects that can help people positively live, embrace and contribute in their later years. Today, she’s not just helping others create their own “booming encore”—she is actually living hers. Join her on this inspiring journey and also live your best booming encore!

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Founder, Booming Encore

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