Consumption
Today, we address consumption—what we load into our bodies. More than forty percent of us are obese, and suffer a multitude of severe health problems for it.
Something has to give; we consume more than the amount needed to maintain our weight and nearly 25% more calories than we did fifty years ago. Moreover, we now eat less nutritious foods and dine out more frequently than eat at home.
We assign too much blame to the aging process for our swollen condition – the dreaded middle-age spread. Admittedly, muscle density decreases, and flesh gravitates towards your waistline or derriere as you age. Still, this reality does not justify your belt’s crease line moving five holes since your high school graduation party.
Those who believe next week’s post on movement will redeem their improper consumption – know that you must run four miles to burn off one slice of pepperoni pizza and a monster cookie.
What to Do
Strict eating programs like keto, intermittent fasting, vegan, or Daniel are effective but unnecessary. The revered Mediterranean diet lacks a rigid structure or prohibition against any particular food. Even Michael Pollan’s famous declaration is imprecise – “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”
Indefinite “balanced” or “all-things-in-moderation” approaches are problematic. An apple does not counterbalance a chocolate-covered sundae. Likewise, moderation is the figurative rope we use to hang ourselves. An “only-one-a-day” glazed donut habit invariably inflates your waistline.
We know that most highly restrictive diet programs are not sustainable, and once stopped, most dieters recover what they lost (or worse) with the added frustration of failing.
A sensible, consistently followed consumption regimen is the only effective, enduring program. “Sensible” is the type and amount of food that allows you to maintain or slowly lose weight. “Consistently” requires discipline1 but allows occasional indulgences in the forbidden fruit.
The Standard
Being someone who never allows a grain of sugar past her lips reflects vanity more than sensible restriction. “Life is short,” and there should be times we enjoy wine with dinner and finish it with molten chocolate cake topped with a softball-sized scoop of ice cream. On the other hand, life will be too short if you eat dessert first.
How do you decide when and what? Like your time, you should jealously guard your calories. You can apply the mutual exclusive standard to consumption. When you say yes to “this,” what are you saying no to?
When faced with an indulgence, I ask if it is worth the caloric cost and the future sacrifice to make my total consumption sensible. Unless it is excellent, it is not worthwhile, and I skip it. I do not drink low-quality wine (even when free). I prefer to obtain my calories at a restaurant with table service, not where a high-schooler passes a bag through my driver’s side window.
If you want to avoid constant decision-making, you can restrict yourself daily and allow yourself a free-for-all cheat day once per week.
Just this once…
You must avoid falling into the trap of creating endless exceptional occasions for indulgences.
Tuesday’s business dinner, Thursday’s PTA meeting with cookie platters, Saturday’s cocktail party, and Mom’s Sunday birthday brunch cannot all be excuses for reckless consumption. You cannot have it all.
You may get some weird looks, but you can bring an apple, orange, and cashews to your friend’s retirement banquet and pass on the gravy-covered rubber chicken. You can watch your granddaughters eat pink ice cream infused with tiny pieces of bubble gum or the cookies you baked together and abstain without diminishing the quality of your family time (though some will regard you as a psychopath).
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The best benefits of sensible consumption are not a lower number on the scale or a svelte figure; you feel better, are healthier, and are more capable of doing the things you enjoy.
Sensible consumption is not a fad diet but the result of consistent, sound decisions. It is not easy, but it is achievable. Thoughtfully use your calories.
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1Some people have exceptional compulsions requiring extraordinary measures like 12-step programs.