How many diets have you been on? Are you on one now? Are you about to go on one? Did the last one work? When you buy food in the supermarket  you know that for every chocolate biscuit there is a diet to counteract it. The magazine racks are stacked with articles laying claim to the latest ,best, fastest, healthiest, simplest, cheapest, most delicious etc..

I’ve never really had trouble with my weight and I know people who are overweight and have never had a problem with their weight, it’s all a point of perspective. But this doesn’t mean I haven’t tried the odd “diet” or two. The first ever I tried was a liver cleansing type which my wife and I  under took a few months before our wedding. This diet consisted of cutting down our eating habits over eight weeks into three blocks. First block 2 weeks, second and strictest 4 weeks, then 2 weeks at the end to ease you out of it. We found it time consuming to prepare meals in the afternoon after work although having no children at the time we managed fine. This type of diet is always on your mind because you are strict with what you eat, if you want to (do the right thing). A trip to the shop was different, to say the least and tempting as your favourite foods passed by. I was faced with temptation going to a corner store during work one day whilst on this diet.

A corner store wouldn’t be classed as a healthy food type of store and this one was no different. I was in the shop because of a job we were working on in the nearby neighbourhood. Two of my work colleagues decided it was the perfect spot to grab some lunch. I had my lunch, an apple and some nuts for protein, in my bag but could still eat if given the chance. The shop had that lovely smelling chicken/ hamburger smell that made my mouth water. I was too far into the diet to weaken at that stage, so I searched for an alternate option that was considered to be ok. I looked and looked but under the diet  basically nothing was going to suit. My workmates had ordered their chips and burgers and were waiting for the food to be prepared. By now I had enough, I have never been on a diet and in a situation where I couldn’t buy food, it became stressful for me. Finally, out of frustration, I found an orange juice in the fridge and paid for it. That was my desert you could say. I told the other guys I was on an eating plan and this was all I could have. Then one said  ” All these diets and eating fads do more harm than good, the worry and stress that you get by being on one is just as bad as eating the food you avoid if not worse , I don’t care what I eat I am happy with what I eat, no stress no worries.” This has stuck with me and I believe he had more than a valid point.

To go on a diet and be constantly thinking about what you are eating is something that a lot of people endure everyday. The television has skinny, young, so called glamorous people that are portrayed as role models. Young girls are plagued with eating disorders due to this.

When all the fanfare is stripped away and you see that the quick fix doesn’t work why not put the mind to rest because it is your mind that causes all of this, your mind not your stomach. Try feeding your body any food it desires, however make sure it is in moderation.  It is easy if you are willing and puts all the stress of what you, couldn’t, shouldn’t, didn’t, wanted and did eat to rest.

The peace in knowing you aren’t constantly consumed in thoughts about what food you eat is worth it.

Posted: May 17th, 2008 under Contentment.
Comments: 1