I can’t tell you how many times I hear a skinny woman insist that she doesn’t diet, and when pressed to reveal the secret of her success, she swirls the fork in the air and mentions casually: “Oh, I eat pretty much everything, but in small amounts. The key to success is to eat everything in moderation”.
Cross my heart, I would love to believe her. But just by looking at her emaciated face, I know there’s something wrong with this logic.
For starters, a small amount of potatoes is (to me), four or five, not half a mini pomme-de-terre. So, if your idea of small amounts is to have three bites for lunch and five bites for dinner (binge!), you have finally found your Holy Grail.
Me, I like my portions a little bit more generous so I’ll skip it – the strategy, that is, not the potatoes.
The second problem with the “Eat everything in moderation” technique is that it’s a complete lack luster – there’s no pleasure whatsoever in the eating.
Point in case: this system only works wonderfully with foods that you don’t give a hoot about. Of course I can eat lettuce in moderation! Or rolled oats, or dandelion roots – or lard, for that matter! Seriously, who in their right mind would gulp down 5 heads of radicchio in one sitting? Or a pound of pig feet?
I rest my case.
For other foods, unfortunately, moderation is a tricky business. This is especially true of the yummy things that we really like to eat, those that nourish us on a different level, because they are emotionally charged. How easy is it for you to eat only a spoonful of ice cream? Or to stop after two forkfuls of homemade lasagna?
For me, in case you haven’t guessed yet, that special food is chocolate. It tastes of divine Gods, enormous pleasure, and I can’t possibly stop at one little square of whatever-teensy-shape-it-comes-in (note to Godiva et altri: stop making them so small! Thank you).
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought one of those beautiful boxes with only 12 pieces inside and promised myself firmly: “You can have one after dinner for the next two weeks” – only to find myself a couple of hours later snarfing down the whole box like a truffle pig. Where did the one-after-dinner plan go? Moderation, anyone???
I’m sure I’m not alone here – you probably have your own list of forbidden goodies, whether you know it or not. If you’re not sure, let me give you a hint: it’s usually the foods you tend to binge on: bread, sweets, or anything that has great memories attached to it, like the roast beef your grandma used to cook every Christmas. Those are the foods we find hard to resist, and that’s where the “Eat everything in moderation” doesn’t work so great.
So my friends, don’t despair: eat all the lettuce in the world (in moderation?), and when it comes to foods that give you pleasure, fear them not. You will not die of a chocolate attack, I promise.
The more you listen to your body, the more you will be able to enjoy each and every bite of your yummy food, and your senses will start to tell you when enough is enough.
How do I know? I stopped worrying about counting each and every bite, and I’ve got two bonbons left in the box. But not for long
