Cut Out the Crap

At this time of year I notice that the pudge has began to show after the Christmas bingeing and I realise that it is time to pull in the reins.

I have a lot of friends who follow various diets that have been sanctified by the celebs and those organisations that set themselves up as being authorities. This is all well and good, but there is often a price for this expertise. At the very least it might involve buying in more expensive food stuffs that one wouldn't normally choose in the usual supermarket run, trying to juggle two types of meals in the evening with the family staunchly opposing soused mackrel and bean sprouts for a plate of ham and chips. At its most extreme there is all kinds of calorie or energy equivalent counting, lists of different food stuffs in various quantities that are and are not allowed, books, dvd's and packages, weight reducing evening classes and whatever other paraphanalia that goes with a 'special diet'.

I however seek to avoid all of this as I have realised over the years that the diet fads only make me more obsessed and I have often ended counting calories instead of sheep at night.

I keep my weight in check by following what I call a sensible eating code and this I have in place throughout my life as a way of life. Many people that I know do not believe that I ever had an excessive weight problem and even more strange, it surprises them when I confess that I did, although it is beyond me why I get this reaction. I am human like everyone else and there are many times when I eat junk food, such as at Christmas, hey days and holidays. I love chocolate and crisps, cakes and biscuits, but I cannot eat these to excess without putting on weight. The minute my weight starts to increase, I know that I have to cut out the crap and eat like I usually do. This stuff is after all meant to be a treat. And I do not need to weigh myself either to know if I am putting it on or off, I am aware within a few pounds either way by the look and feel of me and the way my clothes fit.

A long time ago, I retrained my appetite and body to appreciate the difference between being stuffed and being comfortably full. Boy did I have a lot to learn. When I became aware of this, my palate began to behave as well, and I had a moment of epiphany when I realised, for what seemed the very first time just how sweet a slice of unadorned bread was or a carrot for instance. It was a hard, self taught slog and for that reason alone I am proud that 35 years later I still remember my lesson. I do not like to preach and have kept these hard won facts to myself. Now however, I am willing to share the most important one: no diet, just cut out the food junk, we all know what that is.