Because many people know me as the “weight loss guy,” they think I’m monitoring what they eat or how they act.

As I have stated on numerous occasions, should we bump into each other at a restaurant or grocery store, I’m not watching what you eat or put in your grocery cart – and I would appreciate you returning the favor. (After all, it’s just plain weird to monitor someone else’s food anyway.)

This time of year also brings out from people “true confessions.” I bump into someone who used to go to one of my meetings or that I coached and they feel the immediate need to justify their absence. The conversation will go something like this:

“Oh, hi Scott. Nice to see you, how have you been?”

“Doing great – but I’ll get better.” (A line I “stole” from a radio talk show host I like.) “How are you?”

“Well, I’ve been having some trouble with my diet. I’m definitely coming back to the meetings, but I just wanted to wait until the holidays are over.”

Firstly, there’s no need to justify to me whether or not you’re on a diet or going to meetings. We each lead our own lives. We each have our own priorities. I won’t try to run your life if you won’t run mine.

Having said that, I’ve always found it curious when one says he or she will “wait until the holidays are over” as they’ve been going on for a couple thousand years.

I don’t think they’re ending anytime soon. The reality of that raised my curiosity level and prompted me to take a look at the holidays this time of year. There are more holidays in December than chocolate Santas at the office holiday party. [Read more…]