My July game is in the beginning of week two. As usual, we have 50 or so friends, reaching out to each other, helping each other, keeping each other motivated...but for many of those 50, the two weeks before the game started were, let's say, educational.
As the "administrator" or "Game On Mom" as I was dubbed affectionately (I think) last week, I usually stick to the recommended four week game. Because of where MY vacation fell (selfish perhaps, but I guess it is one of the perks of being the "MOM"), the last game was a long five weeks, and then we took off two weeks for my vacation and the week of the 4th of July. Our intentions were to start again, for those who wanted to, on July 6th.
How much "fun" can one have in two weeks? I will admit, being Game Off, is a bit free-ing... Reminds me of the days when, as a kid, you could jump on your banana seat bike (with no helmet since we didn't know what those were then!) with the tassles on the handles and ride like the wind...in the street, hair blowing behind you with no one worrying or caring when you came home (as long as you were home for dinner). For those of us who were truly away for vacation (as I was), it meant, saying yes to the nightly ice cream shop ritual (I did eat low fat or low sugar yogurt), drinking a glass or two of wine, and enjoying fried, well, fried anything, without too much guilt.
Before I left for vacation, I received several emails from gamers wondering if they would play in July...they were heading out for vacation mid-game, and they didn't want to worry about disappointing others, etc. But by the end of the two week Game Off, most were ready to jump back in. Even knowing they were vacationing mid-game....
Why? Why do these folks WANT to go back to rules, boundaries, scoring, limitations?? There are a couple of reasons that are so clear to me.
1. Like children, many of us crave order in our lives. As much as we would love to jump on that banana seat everyday, all day, some days have to have chores and "have to's." This game has given us an order in regards to food that works for almost all of us. We can eat within plan, plan within the game, and stay within boundaries, even when we take a penalty for lack of sleep, an Orange Crush, a sweet 16 birthday party of a daughter or a day it is just too hot to exercise.... And we still lose weight and feel better internally and externally.
2. We seem to be magnets for others to join us. With each game, we may lose 10 or so folks, but the majority of "game friends" keep on plugging along. And keep telling others about our success. So when a "newbie" jumps on board, we all want to be our best for them because they deserve the best support from us that we got from others when we first started.
So, the summertime may be hot. It may be full of fun excuses to go "off game." But even if you do this game at 75%, you feel better, look better and are more in control than when you are completely "off." And for that, I thank you gamers....for keeping me going and sticking together. For jumping back on board, even when the going gets tough. For playing, again and again. We are making our little part of the world, a little healthier, one game at a time.
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