There is no person so annoying as the person who tries to manage your diet, whether that person is a friend, enemy, spouse, child, or even a company.I believe in good health. I wish I had been more vigilant with my own. But that doesn't mean that I want the diet police at my home or job or in a restaurant.
You know that ones I'm talking about, right? They're the ones that give you that sorrowful look and and ask, "Is that cracker/ice cream/cheesecake/chocolate on your diet?" or "Are you supposed to be eating that piece of toast?"
As the individual on the restricted diet, I'm the most likely to know whether the answer to the questions above are "yes" or "no". As I found out over the last few weeks there are a host of incorrect perceptions about what I can eat--or not eat. And I'm also the person who knows what the consequences are if I eat something I'm not supposed to eat.
It's pretty much the same thing as those people who smoke or drink or pour salt on everything they eat. Yep. Almost everyone does something they shouldn't do. We all pay the price when we do. And when paying the price we learn a valuable lesson. "Just say NO!"
The thing is... there really are a minimal number of things I cannot eat. Chicken--violently allergic. Corn--shoots my sugar into the stratosphere. Decaf anything--sets off an allergic reaction that cuts off my air supply. Other than that I can eat ANYTHING.
However as with just about all the other people in the good old USA, it's all about portion control. Nasty words. Nope most of us really don't need a ten ounce steak. Most of us don't need a potato the size of Idaho. Most of us don't really need to supersize anything. See? That was easy.
If I want to eat 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes as one of my carb choices, well, okay. Personally, I would rather have a bowl of broccoli, but hey, that's just me. If I want 1/2 cup of ice cream for dessert... that's okay, too. That's pretty much the way life is.
Now 1/2 cup is not much. But it's my "not much." So for the diet police out there--bug off. My joys might be small, but I still want them. If I'm good this week I can even have 1/2 cup of cheesecake!
anny
Yes ma'am.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer the words "portion control" to the word "deprivation."
ReplyDeletePortion control means that I don't have to sneak those spoonfuls of ice cream, as you mentioned, or that cookie. It's much more manageable and makes me less prone to go completely off the wagon.
And no one should butt into someone else's health unless it's your doctor, or someone else you've *asked* to help (nutritionist, spouse ["honey, give me a kick if I take an extra dessert"], trainer, etc.).
Good job, Anny. Sounds like you've got everything under control....portion control:)
ReplyDeleteI admit to asking folks sometimes because I'm honestly curious: "Wow, you can eat that and you're diabetic? Cool."
ReplyDeleteYou know the ones that crack me up? I go to Burger King and get the Whopper Junior meal and they ask me if I want to supersize it.
I realize this is just rote questioning on their part, but ... one time a clerk did look up, grin , and say, "Well, duh, I suppose not, right?"
Good kid.
Half a cup of cheesecake sounds pretty darn good actually. Sometimes just a little taste is enough. Of course, sometimes it's NOT.
ReplyDelete"Why? Isn't it on yours?"
ReplyDeleteHELP!!! I'm gonna start typing this line at the end of each blog... "If you thought this blog was about you, you're wrong!"
ReplyDeleteHeh. Or maybe it just got your attention. I don't know. It just seems to me that the most positive thing you can say to someone when they're trying to change their life is "I'm proud of the changes you're working on."
I always struggle with telling anyone my age or older than I'm proud of them. I feel like it's condescending. Like "yes, you finally have my approval. well done." So I can't say that to you or anyone else.
ReplyDeleteWhat I can say is, I think you are amazing. I think you are inspiring and as a person, Ms. Cook, I am thoroughly impressed by you.
Oh, Wow! That works!
ReplyDelete1/2 cup of cheesecake sounds fabulous to me. *g*
ReplyDeletePortion control is the key to maintaining health. It doesn't do any good to deprive yourself of things you really want.