Overtime!
The score is tied 17 – 17 in the 2012 NFC Championship game between my NY football Giants and the San Francisco 49ers. After a punt from Steve Weatherford, of the Giants, a field goal will win the game for the 49ers…if the 49ers can get into field goal range and make the winning field goal.
Here is the play by play.
Weatherford punts the ball. Kyle Williams of the 49ers catches the ball at his 20 yard line, then runs to the 25 yard line where – WHAT??!! WHAT?!! – he is stripped of the ball by the Giants' Jacquian Williams! The fumble is recovered by the Giants Devin Thomas giving the Giants the ball back inside the 20 of the 49ers.
This is More Than I Can Take
After getting the ball back, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw ran a few yards, setting Lawrence Tynes up for a 31 yard field goal. At that point, I had no idea what was happening. In all the excitement I had forgotten how the overtime rules worked. I stood there only a few feet from the television, holding myself, willing Tynes to make the field goal. I held myself tighter. I leaned a little more forward. The ball is snapped, Weatherford catches the ball, places it on the ground, Tynes kicks it, the ball goes through the uprights! We score!! But what does it mean??!! What does it mean??!! Yeah Baby!! WE – I did so much to help the Giants get there – are going to the Super Bowl!!
Forget the Game! Whoa Nelly, Look at You (Me)!
Even if you do not know a thing or do not care about football, you sure as heck know what overweight is when you see it. I was close to the biggest I had ever been. On that particular night, I am sure I did not eat something to help my matters. I cannot recall what our football celebration meal could have possibly been, but I am sure it was waistline and derrière expanding.
Four Tips to Help You Celebrate Wisely at the Super Bowl Party
The Whoa Nelly shot was taken on Sunday, January 22, 2012. The photo on the right was taken on January 25, 2015. Both Sundays were taken before a Super Bowl Sunday. I have no desire to get back to the likes of the person in that 2012 photo. I will be certain to celebrate wisely this time around. If, you are like me and are on a weight loss journey, or want to maintain the goal weight you have already reached, here are some tips to help you keep from splurging on all the waistline expanding goodness on Super Bowl Sunday:
- BYO Healthy Eats: If you are going to a Super Bowl Party, bring your own bag, bowl, dish, meal, whatever you want to call it. Bring something that you prepared. That way, you are in control of the ingredients in what you eat. There are no worries about possibly too much fat, sugar, or sodium.
- Skinny the Fat: There are several of your favorite meals that you can still enjoy as a modified version. For example, I LOVE pizza, but that can be not so friendly to my thighs. As a wonderful alternative, I, on occasion – the Super Bowl being one of them – will make cauliflower pizza. The crust is cauliflower. I use yummy veggies, organic fat free cheese, and garlic, then enjoy in sharing the yummy goodness.
- Drink Water: Be sure to drink water throughout the day. This should be a habit anyway. The recommended amount of water you should drink each day is half your body weight, in ounces. When you are disciplined with your water intake, you do not have the urge to eat too much of anything, good or bad.
- Snack: By the time the Super Bowl game kick off begins, at least on east coast time, you should have had two snack meals. One between breakfast and lunch, then another between lunch and the Super Bowl. Such will not be the case for west coast folks, but still be mindful to have your snacks. Eat veggies and a lean form of protein, nuts such as raw almonds, or a good fat such as from an avocado. If you do not like avocados – I do not like them straight up – mash them up to make guacamole.
Click to get 6 additional tips that will help YOU and your waistline
Start the Discussion: Whether it is Super Bowl Party or some other big event, what do you do to enjoy what you eat while staying healthy? Share in the post comments, on Facebook, or Twitter.