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Be Moderate In Everything, Including Moderation
Horace Porter once said to be moderate in everything, including moderation.
Moderation is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes, and is used to ensure normality.
Note the underlined words above. To live a healthy (normal) life, moderation is important. My recent blogs were not intended to promote extremism regarding diet. We only have one chance at life. If you enjoy dining out at a nice restaurant, no one should stop you. As I’ve said before, I’m only human. I too enjoy good food. Who doesn’t? I’ve never met anyone who didn’t enjoy certain foods.
Yet, there is a difference between enjoying certain foods, and craving junk food 24 hours a day. Earlier, I stated that healthy living does not mean deprived living. Trust me, there are more than enough healthy (delicious) alternatives. If you are transitioning from junk however, it’s only natural to experience an initial struggle. Yes, tasty alternatives exist, but you must still overcome the initial attraction towards junk food.
Think of a drug addict. No one said it would be easy to kick the habit, but that doesn’t mean people stop trying. Initial struggles are to be expected. Obstacles are part of life. As Frank Clark once said:
“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”
Life is about more than food. Consider the amount of time that you spend eating within a single day. I’m guessing that most people spend an hour or less actually chewing their food. Yet, that single hour of eating often dictates how you feel for the remaining 23 hours. How do you honestly feel? Are you energized? Do you wake up feeling sluggish?
For every decision, there is a consequence. Ask yourself why you eat your food? Do you base your decisions entirely upon taste? Is taste all that matters? What about health? Much of my eating decisions are made with health in mind. Is it fanatical to take health seriously? I enjoy being healthy. What’s wrong with that? It’s an added benefit that the foods I eat happen to be tasty. I don’t live solely for taste however.
My health and vitality are extremely important to me. Of course I consider health when selecting foods to eat. I enjoy food, but I don’t enjoy it enough to sacrifice the rest of my day (and life).
I see people every day who complain about feeling tired, bitch about one ailment after another, and struggle to function in the world without a never ending supply of coffee. Does anyone actually strive to feel this way? Is it worth it? Is that what you want to be remembered for? Does junk food offer a hidden high that surpasses the crappy feelings (physical) that you experience the rest of the day?
I doubt it…
I’m not suggesting that you never have a treat, but apply the rule of moderation. For example, I enjoy taking my son to a local farm where the ice cream is freshly made each day. He enjoys seeing the animals on the farm. It’s a nice trip for the family. I don’t go every day however, and I don’t wake up dreaming about the next visit to the farm. It’s all about moderation. Enjoy yourself, but realize that there are more important joys available in this world of ours. Also realize that healthy food can be extremely tasty.
And if you find yourself struggling with food, it is useful to think about what you are eating. I recently watched the Fast Food Nation movie. Fortunately, I can’t remember the last time I had fast food (many years). After watching this movie, I’m certain that I’ll never have another fast food meal. The movie made me sick to my stomach. How could anyone actually want to put that kind of “food” inside the body? Forget about moderation when dealing with pure junk. I’ll proudly be extreme when it comes to avoiding absolute crap.
I enjoy waking up healthy and energized. My nutritional habits are largely responsible for this luxury and freedom. I wouldn’t give it up for the sweetest taste in the world.
Fortunately, it’s easy to feel the same way. I don’t have any secrets to share. I don’t have a top secret food source. I eat healthy foods and exercise for approximately 1 hour a day. That’s it.
Ross
16 Comments so far
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Well said…
I am honestly amazed that you have to constantly repeat your point in these blogs. I understood what you said and meant the first time. Why does everyone consider it offensive when you suggest that they eat healthy? It makes no sense.
I personally have a few hard-to-resist cravings, but I don’t wait eagerly and obsess over the one night that I have it (relatively healthy ice cream). I still love it and all, but I have recently been eating ultra-healthy, and now I struggle to eat one of those Wendy’s chicken sandwiches that I used to like.
once again nice article ross!
Spot on!
Burpees – You are also young and fortunate to have a solid grasp on nutrition already. There are others however who have lived (and ate) a certain way for longer than you’ve been alive. It is only natural for someone in this position to experience a greater struggle.
No one purposely struggles with an addiction (or similar problem). Smokers know that smoking isn’t good for them, but that doesn’t mean it is easy for them to quit. Unfortunately, telling everyone to “suck it up” isn’t the best way to convert the masses.
Ross
Ross
I understand that people who have been addicted to junk food will find it probably very hard to just transition to a healthy diet. The thing I didn’t get was why some people misinterpreted what you said about 3 times.
On the other hand, this is a very important topic that, if necessary, must be repeated.
And I know what you mean about many people eating junk for many, many years. I know tons of people who think I’m a rhetard and crazy for being so healthy. I enjoy it more than you think, thank you very much.
Whenever I see them again, I’ll definitely show them some of these nutrition articles. At the very least, they’ll realize the truth about health food and it will “be on their conscience.”
Hi Ross!
Great Article again.
Fact is:
As food is mentioned, it follows the same principle as all addictions do:
No one ever living a fullfilling life would feel the need of giving power to addictions. But the way life looses its perfection, people tend to flee in more or less excessive addictions to give their non fullfilling live some sort of a highlight (as mentioned in the brilliant movie “American Beauty”). As various as the problems people have to make their lives unfullfilling, so can their addictions be various (sex, drugs, junk or Online- Addictions e.g.)
As they say: All our power is locked into our addictions.
And as you mention, it is hard to get out of that kind of vicious circle of addictions and unfullfilling feelings. And the deeprer one is in, the harder is it to get out. That is why I thank you for writing such motivational words:
Once you are “in”, you need someone to pull you “out” or at least give you the motivation to pull yourself out.
Once we understand the “why” we can for sure apply the “how”.
Bringing ourself back to live is taking our power back.
Things that have to be learned and lived on a daily basis. For sure it is not always easy. But if it was, everyone would do so. But once feeling the benefits of a fullfilling live, one would never give this kind of satisfaction back to some addictions.
As it is said in simple words:
Everyone wants to change the world, but yet they are not ready to change their own underpants.
Moderation is for sure the key to a really fullfilling live. But Moderation, explained from the view of fullfillment, is indeed hard to reach for one beeing deeply down. But with discipline comes long term satisfaction, which truly surmounts the short term satisfactions the mind in searching in excessive addictions…
Thank you! All the best,
Stefan.
Another great read Ross.
Excellent post Ross. Your thoughts are always clear and you write them in a concise and clear manner.
Thank you for your help, and congratulations on your new family member. Best wishes for you and your family.
Pablo.
Great article! I really don’t understand how people can’t change their eating habits in order to have a better health and a better life. For example, a co-worker of mine was diagnosed recently with diabetes, and instead of create an habit of eliminate candies from her diet, she still looks for the way of cheating and get candies a couple of times a week or at least get lots of “sugar-free” candies. I can’t believe that a candy or some junk food actually has more power over some people than their minds or willpower itself!
Ross,
You have outlined brilliantly how following sound and correct principles leads to freedom. So many people say of people that are committed or dedicated to a certain way or discipline, ‘you’re not free to do what you want! You’re a slave! Blah blah etc. etc.!’. Well as you point out in your blog, we chose to follow good and correct habits and have, as consequence, freedom from the results of not applying sound principles in life. I enjoyed your words. Keep ‘em coming!
“You are what you eat.” Your Mom has been telling you this since you were a kid, but most people don’t listen. If you eat fast food that is nothing but saturated fat and sodium, you’re body will resemble the ground up cow organs (and hooves) that you’ve just ingested. Why people choose to eat such garbage is beyond my comprehension, especially when they complain about how their joints ache, their clothes don’t fit, their lack of energy, and how they never have a good night’s sleep.
Then, there are people who say, “it’s in my genes! My parents were big and that’s the reason I’m big; I can’t change that.” Apparently there’s medical research that disproves this painfully lazy theory. A study was conducted with a small group of men with early prostate cancer chose to forgo treatment and instead change their diet + walking + 1 hr/day of meditation/stretching/yoga. Not only did they lose weight & feel better (and enter remission), they actually changed their genes.
Now, there are no excuses.
Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25199024/
Life is habit. Your article brilliantly exposes the importance of moderate habits. However, in my view, the natural world is not very moderate. It’s always going up or down, side to side, or otherwise. It never stops. Perhaps living in the modern world as we do stops us from seeing the importance of extremes. Extremes in this case being about the importance of adapting to change. We all have excuses for not changing! Eating unhealthy is a habit just like saving for retirement. Just like the value of managing money is not taught in school, neither is health. I think we should have classes for both, the two most important deciding factors of our lives.
Since reading your article, I’ve eaten healthy. Not a lng time, I know, but I’ve actually done it, and exercised too.
Am making a little chart to record what if any physical training I did in a given day over a month.
Thanks for being a mentor.
Hey Ross, I totally agree with what you’re saying. I too enjoy eating healthy. However once a while i do get that craving. But what keeps me not deprived is finding healthier alternatives for the foods i like. For instance, instead of having a uber-greasy, evil cheeseburger, i’d substitute for extra-lean ground beef, block of low-fat cheese that i grade myself and served on whole wheat bread, with some veggies. Or instead frying chicken, i put it in the oven. I use honey for something sweet as well as being creative with snack ideas. See, my motto is delicious but nutritious. Eat healthy doesnt have to be a chore (it took me a year just to realize that and relax). It just means making better, beneficial choices. You can still enjoy the food you enjoy, just find healthier alternatives! Really you get the best of both words=)
Hey Ross,
The things that you are saying are making sense to me. Back then, I used to have Burger King everytime I go to work, but now, I can’t remember the last time I entered the food court!
I see everything as a personal journey. Yes, I’m not going to lie, I love my burgers and fries, but as the person above me inputted, I can find healthier choices to the foods I like. With every mistake, there is redemption. I’m beginning to realize my-self control and self-judgement. I’m discovering myself, and I feel great when I make the right choice.
I’m starting to enjoy eating healthy, because I know that it will benefit me in the future. Also, I should stop compart myself to other people, and the quite vain fact people lose weight to look good in a bikini.
Which brings me to my next complaint–Nutrisystem! I loathe that infomercial soo much, because IT’S SO FAKE!!! How can you lose weight, just relying on food?! I don’t understand how people can lose themselves onto that! Eat great and lose weight–that’s just baloney. The fact is that you cannot have a great body without exercise and healthy eating habits. People these days just want to lose weight for vanity. They don’t want to work hard to put it off for life. A friend of mine told me that if I lost weight slowly, I’ll never gain it back. I have to stop telling myself that being healthy doesn’t have to fit in a size 2. I have to stop listening to others who say that being thin=healthy.
It’s a self-journey, and if there are no obstacles, there will be no accomplishments.
Hi Ross,
I think one problem is that many people misunderstand how nutrition works – they think they can contribute positively sometimes and that is enough. They have a ‘glass half full’ mentality and seem to think the body’s health level operates like a bank account – I explain this a bit better in this post, if you are interested:
When it Comes to Nutrition, the Glass is Half Empty
Methuselah
Pay Now Live Later