The Importance of Being Healthy

I may have mentioned in the past (given my sporadic posting over the past year I honestly can’t remember) Hubby’s discovery of and my re-introduction to AdvoCare nutrition products.   

In case I haven’t mentioned it before, and you are wondering what AdvoCare is here is an introduction from the company website:

“At AdvoCare, We Build Champions^® through physical and financial wellness. Backed by the latest science, AdvoCare provides innovative nutritional, weight-management, sports performance and skin care products. In addition, the AdvoCare business opportunity empowers individuals to explore their ultimate earning potential. AdvoCare was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.”

I’m starting by explaining AdvoCare because the background information is really necessary to understand my current problem.  

Last spring Hubby tried the AdvoCare 24 day challenge (you may remember I did a challenge a couple of years ago and had good results but he wouldn’t try it with me).  He had amazing results and became super excited about the products so we signed up as wholesale customers so that we could take advantage of the discount the company offers and I ordered a Challenge to do in preparation for our trip to Hawaii. Since we started using products Hubby has lost over 70 pounds (I honestly don’t know the final number but last time I checked it was 70 pounds…and I know he has lost more since then) and I have lost close to 20 pounds.  We have both become much more conscientious of what we are eating and have done a great job of sticking to healthy choices (not to say we didn’t have pie on Thanksgiving) at least most of the time.  

We have not been home since last Christmas because we went to Hawaii over the summer for the wedding of a childhood friend.  Therefore many of our friends and family members have not seen us in 12 months.  This includes hubby’s older sister who usually hosts our “Christmas” dinner when we go home.  She knows that hubby has struggled with his weight over the years.   Their entire family battles at least a few extra pounds so I’m sure part of it is genetics (though I’m also sure more of it is other things) however whenever we go home she always fills both of our stockings with lots of candy and treats.  

I grew up in a house where candy truly was a treat.   So much so that when I asked for a piece of candy as a small child what I was really asking for was a single tic-tac because that’s what I got.  Not because my parents were anti-sugar or health nuts but simply because that is how they lived their lives.   I got candy in my stocking but I also got small toys or books so it wasn’t all candy.

My sister in law has made comments in the past about me being a picky eater (I’m not, I will eat almost anything I just don’t eat a lot of it and try to avoid overdoing sweets/treats/desserts).  Their family also doesn’t exactly practice moderation-if they find out you like something, there is a good chance you will get 20 pounds of 100’s of related nic-nacs related to every year for the rest of your life. It doesn’t matter if this is pistachios (no really, I’ve gotten a giant Sams-club size thing of pistachios the last 3 years for Christmas, not that I’m complaining because it means I didn’t have to buy them), Dark Chocolate kisses, or monkey’s… They do everything to the extreme.  Which is great because it is how they show you that they love you…thus enters my dilemma…because Hubby was raised in this environment he isn’t the best at moderation either—though he has improved tremendously over the last year.  So I am really worried about how he is going to respond when he gets a stocking full of sweet treats that he has historically eaten in 2 days then proceeded to go and buy more of.  Is he going to say something about not eating that stuff anymore in front of her and hurt her feelings? Is he going to eat it all and get sick?   Is he going to go back to old habits that he has worked so hard to break?   I know this sounds silly and like I am talking about someone with a true addiction like an alcoholic or drug addict, but this is the problem in our lives right now so it is the one I’m worried about. 

How do I ask my sister in law to limit the sweet treats this year without A) sounding like a completely judgmental/ungrateful bitch and B) hurting her feelings?  Or do I just let her do her thing and risk whatever hubby’s reaction may be???  

What would you do?