Learning How To Eat – Part II
In my last entry, I stated that healthy foods often taste better than even the best junk food. The message that I hope to convey is that living a healthy lifestyle does not mean that you are deprived of life’s joys. Healthy does not equal deprivation. Healthy living is joyful living.
I received a few harsh responses to the entry however that essentially proved my original point. One responder said the following:
“Who are you to tell me what I should eat? I only have one life to live so I’ll enjoy it.”
This statement proves the original theory. The responder clearly senses deprivation when confronted with dietary change. When faced with deprivation, it’s natural to fight back with a why must we give something up mentality. This single response summarizes the problem with dieting as a whole. Diets lack long term success because the dieter feels as though he is deprived. You can only go on so long living with a sense of deprivation. This is the exact reason why we must educate those with weight problems regarding the healthy (and tasty) options that exist. You CAN and SHOULD enjoy your life. Life is too short already!
In addition, I’m not telling anyone what to eat. We all make our own decisions. I’m simply telling you that tasty foods can and should be a part of a healthy lifestyle. You don’t need to give up taste. Learn how to cook and you’ll find that many of the tastiest meals are actually healthy as well. I eat tasty meals every day of the week.
Living With Balance
Other responses to the entry suggested a balanced lifestyle. This would mean eating healthy foods much of the time, with an occasional treat every now and then. I’m all for such a plan.
I simply caution you against living your life anxiously awaiting your next cheat meal. For example, I know someone who has a scheduled cheat meal on every Saturday. I’ll run into him on a Monday and he’s already anxious for the week to pass so he can get to Saturday’s meal. He lives 6 days of the week in deprivation.
Health isn’t defined by the size of your waistline. It isn’t healthy (mentally) to live all week waiting for a chance to cheat from your normal schedule. You should enjoy each day to the fullest. I don’t crave cheat meals, simply because I eat tasty (healthy) food every day of the week. I’m not deprived of taste, and my body feels good afterwards. On the other hand, if I’m out with company and a cheat meal presents itself, I don’t lose sleep over it. I recently enjoyed ice cream with my son on his birthday. We all had a great time. I didn’t dream about the ice cream before and after the event however. It comes and goes, but each day in between is still enjoyed. I don’t live each day with the mindset that something is missing. No one should, and that is the entire point to my original entry.
Lastly, I’m all for self discipline, but it is clear that many are lacking in this department. Take a look at the obesity rates in the world. Telling someone to toughen up rarely works. The obese know that it isn’t healthy to live obese. This awareness obviously isn’t enough for widespread change. If we focused more time stressing the positives of a healthy lifestyle, I’m sure that we would see more willing to convert. As has been said many times, you’ll catch more flies with sugar…
Ross
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Good points, i think where most people fall down is the word and idea “diet”. A diet won’t really get you far, you need a whole lifestyle change that’s positive, that you can sustain for the rest of your life. Not a “diet”.
I know you must keep trying, but some people just really don’t give a damn about it. Even my old man for example, it’s like trying to get blood out of a stone trying to educate him on the crap he eats, in one ear out the other. Old habits die hard!
Also, I don’t know what it’s like where you folks live, but I must get upwards of 4-5 Take Away leaflet menus shoved through my door every week. No wonder people take the easy way. There should be something done about it, junk food kills just as smoking does.
After reading both nutritional, I totally agree with you.
People get offended when you tell them they’re food needs to be changed. I’m the only person in my group of friends that eats healthy(My girlfriend also because I choose the food) and exercises. My girlfriend and I are also the only ones who don’t have a belly either,
I get made fun of because I chose to live a healthy lifestyle. My friends say, “Ann (Girlfriend) I feel sorry that you are forced to eat with Jason all the time.” Like she’s missing out on “Good” food or something.
I have a friend who ate an Organically prepared meal and loved the taste. When I told him it was organic and healthy he said, “So that was that after taste I didn’t like.” All off a sudden there’s a bad after taste? He should have said it earlier instead of chewing down more servings. Must be a mental thing some people are facing with.
Sadly healthy living is the minority and should be the majority. But I was once like them also before I realized healthy food does taste better. Now my body can not stomach the junk food.
Good post.
I’d like to tell my story. In 2001 I was diagnosed with Colitis. I was working in a career field that I hated. My colitis was mild, but I had to make adjustments and be careful of what I ate while away from the house.
Two years ago I decided to give up the career field I hated for something completely different. At the time of the job change I weighed 170 pounds and was on high blood pressure meds (along with my colitis meds). Today, I weigh 145 pounds, off of my blood pressure meds and the last exam I had, my GI doctor told me that if he did not know my medical history he would say that I DID NOT have colitis. He asked what I was doing to create such a change – diet and exercise. I have cut out almost all processed carbohydrates (sodas, ice creams, breads, cereals). I eat a ton of fresh fruit, alot more fresh vegetables and meats. I kind of make it a game or challenge to find out how to cook things different so I’m not always eating the same thing.
I feel, for me at least, once the mind set is there to do something (in my case to exercise and eat better) it isn’t all that difficult to keep it up. I’m in much better health, I feel I have more quality time with my family, and I enjoy life more. I do not feel deprived at all.
Its definately a great idea to stress the positives about a healthy diet, as you say ross, too many people think healthy food is somehow horrible. Quite the opposite.
People don’t make fun of how I eat anymore. A good amount of them remember me as fat. They get it now.
My newer friends see how fit I am. They get it.
The in between period was harder, I had to (or wished to) explain to the people who commented what my goals were and what I’d accomplished, so far. But, none of my friends made fun or commented negatively twice. Those who would do so, likely have their own issues to deal with.
I’ve cooked for people who are addicted to bad food, after the meal, they commented about the food, suggesting that I’d cooked special “unhealthy” food, just for the occasion. Not so, the food was just good. So they didn’t miss the sugar, breading, and quantities that encourage one to loosen the belt.
Take care!
Roland (converting people, one meal at a time)
I like this ” Eat to live , don’t live to eat” R.E.
Excellent post Ross. You touched on the OCD that so many have regarding clean eating and cheat meals.
Ross, i totally agree with you on the last couple of posts. I’m a trainer at the YMCA and it’s sad when i have very obese clients talking about “cheat meals” It’s the only thing on their mind.. I was just curious however, what would a typical day look like in terms of you’re meal plan?
Ross, I agree with you 100%. Yet my over eating at times is due to depression. I lost my wife in 02 she was young.everytime I get depressed I eat a little more. I’m in shape Yet my stomach could drop 15lbs. My friend former Boxer, now trainer ICE, told me of this site. Thanks. Mike.