Old Habits, Old Foods

"Oh, I didn't eat any of the cheesecake (steak, ice cream, pizza, donuts) at the party. If I take even one taste, I'll go back to my old habits, and regain my weight."

I read this, or some variation of it, several times a week on the Weight Watchers message boards. So many folks, it seems, are afraid of going back to their old habits and gaining it all back. I can understand that; I sure don't want to go back to the days of mindless eating, myself. That would not be a very good long-term maintenance strategy, now, would it?

But I think there's some confusion going on here. "Old foods" are not the same thing as "old habits." Sure, those old foods -- the good stuff you used to eat back before you started watching your weight -- are associated with old habits. But habits can be changed, and change doesn't necessarily require cutting yourself off completely from the foods you love.

Food is food is food. It's neither good nor bad, unless eaten to excess, or in the wrong proportions: too much fast food, tons of saturated fat, or too much sugary soda pop . . . or so many carrots that you turn a delicate shade of orange. Food has no power of its own -- no magic. It holds sway over us only when we let it take charge. If we take orders from a cookie, it's not the cookie doing the talking. It's US.

Here's a radical idea: it's not the old foods you ate that made you fat, but HOW you ate them. Eating too many french fries, too much fried chicken, a whole pizza, a half gallon of ice cream, a dozen donuts . . . that'll get you fat, sooner or later.

As with most all things, there really is a happy medium here (or a 'jolly fortuneteller,' as my dad used to say). You can still have your old foods. Nobody is forcing you to consume mass quantities of them, right? So, why can't you eat them in moderation, every once in a while?

Is it fear, perhaps?

We all fear the unknown. I'd venture to say that most of us formerly fat folks have not had a moderate relationship with food, especially with our faves. We're afraid that if we eat those old foods again, we'll lose control and gain it all back.

But realistically, it's difficult-to-near-impossible to go through the rest of your life NEVER having a french fry again, or a piece of cake, or some pizza.

In my opinion, healthy weight maintenance means learning how to eat ALL foods in moderation.

(Now, before you start wondering about my food habits, I would like to state uncategorically that I am not in favor of a junk food diet. I eat basically healthy foods, in large part because it's good for me and doing so helps me avoid a whole host of health problems that my genes are just waiting to spring on me, should I not watch myself.)

Practice, practice, practice. It's how you get to Carnegie Hall, and it's also how you learn to eat reasonable portions. Start small, move slowly. Each time you enjoy success, you will become more confident of your ability to control your intake. You may never be able to keep your so-called red light foods in your house, but you might very well learn to eat them when you're out -- and enjoy them guilt-free.

Remember -- it's not WHAT you eat, but HOW you eat it -- that is, HOW MUCH. Eat healthy, but have a little fun, too. Boring regimens are quickly discarded, and those "old habits" are more likely to return if you're not enjoying your food.

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Comments

[Sandra Lowry]

I saw "dropthefork" on one of the WW message boards and HAD to check it out - how wonderful! I reached goal on August 1st and am now in maintenance headed for lifetime! Some of the things I have read today fortify my decision to keep my weight at a healthy number and lead an active lifestyle. A few years of health issues led me to WW and now I feel better than I have in years.

Thank you so much for all the valuable information. And by the way, you look great in pictures and I love the jewelry.

Sandra

[Debbie]

Aw, thanks so much! It's sure great to feel great, isn't it??