Sabotage?

Sabotage has to be one of the most overused and often out of context words used on MFP.

I don't lack sympathy for those that struggle with self control, weight issues or poor relationships both with people and food but the use of the word sabotage has seriously gotten out of control.

Apparently everyday innocent events have become acts of sabotage according to a large proportion of threads, case in point here are a few examples of what is now considered sabotage...

Offering somebody food, complimenting someone's current physique before they reach their goal weight, inviting someone to a restaurant that isn't subway, providing food at social events that hasn't been meticulously weighed and portioned out, eating around your significant other, the presence of birthday cake at a birthday (OMG), public holidays, advertising etc etc Dastardly yes?



I could write a much more comprehensive list no doubt and anybody who has been on the threads long enough know what I am talking about.

No doubt some people will read this and sharpen their pitch forks and light the torches exclaiming how I am not being sensitive to those that are not receiving the support they need, and people should accommodate the changes in their lifestyles they have chosen.

Sabotage used to have a different meaning but now it seems to be the replacement for lack of willpower, a scapegoat for poor self-control.

Part of developing good eating habits is learning how to control yourself in real world situations, as you are not vacuum sealed in an underground bunker away from the rest of humanity...hopefully.

Yes we are influenced by the people that surround us and our environment but I would like to think people are committing to more than just strengthening their physical being but also their mental fortitude.

Well here is my take on it, if you are unable to learn to deal with these common real life situations you are bound to fail!
Just because you have made some changes in your life does not mean that others are always going to accommodate them.

Yes it is great to have supportive and understanding spouses and friends but how long are you going to lean on a them as a crutch, best to fly with your own wings

To me real sabotage would be a deliberate attempt at ruining your goals whatever they maybe, yes I imagine in some sad cases things like emotional and physical abuse could exist but 99% of the time the word sabotage is used on the threads this is not the case.

People make it sound like being offered cake at the office is akin to having one of these inserted forcefully...



Now unless people are recalibrating your food scales, letting your tires down before you go to the gym or force feeding you, more often then not they are not sabotaging you they just don't share the same goals.


Try and remember next time somebody offers you your favorite snack it is most probably because they like you, not because this is their secret agenda...



hopefully.

Hmm now I want to listen to some Beastie Boys.