When I think about my sugar addiction & how hard it would be to own an ice cream store, I remember that there are plenty of recovering alcoholics who work in restaurants & bars. They manage to stay sober. I think it's because they have a personal higher purpose, which is more important to them than drinking. My higher purpose is to live as long and as healthily as I can. As a modern, first world person I have access to so much food, so much BAD food, and lots of holidays which center around food. But really, unless my hosts are really obnoxious, they won't notice what I do or don't eat or drink at their dinner party. And if they absolutely push food I don't want on me (you HAVE to have a piece of this cake!), I ask them to make me a doggie bag. Then I throw the bag away when I get home, before I walk into the house.

I try not to talk about what I eat or don't eat. Nothing will bore the pants off of somebody like a blow-by-blow description of your diet. It's like that joke…How can you tell if someone is Vegan? Answer: Don't worry. They'll tell YOU.

Each day I tell myself, "The purpose of eating is to supply my body with energy. I need it to keep me healthy & alive. I do not need it for pleasure or solace or entertainment." See, I eat when I'm stressed. I eat when I'm bored. I eat when I'm sad. I eat when I'm happy. Since I don't want to overeat or eat empty-calorie food I watch my portions and I keep my cupboards bare of anything I do not wish to eat.

Going to the grocery store can be a slippery place, so I try to shop on my way home after a strenuous bike ride. I'm not usually hungry for 15 minutes or so after I ride, so that cooling off time and a bunch of water will keep me feeling full enough to get in the store for my protein & vegetables but keep me out of the cookies & chips aisle. Even when I shop I tell myself, "I need food for energy, not for pleasure…" My life is so interesting & full there are so many things I can do instead of eating crap.