Don’t be boring, Enjoy Yourself!!” is what people that are serious about their training and nutrition often get told at work, social functions and from family members.
It happens all year round, on birthdays and other functions, but is especially worse at this time of the year, when the ubiquitous mince pies and jumbo sized tin of quality street come out for christmas.
Since when is it so important to gorge yourself on sugar- laden confectionary to conform and “enjoy yourself”?… Its a real sign of the times, that so many people equate eating this type of food with enjoyment. What about enjoying a healthy body all the year round.. Isn’t that a better way to enjoy your life? surely more than the brief indulgence that a plate of mince pies and cake bring, followed by feeling bad afterwards?
What annoys me most is the “bullying” and the peer pressure that accompanies such moments when the offer is politely declined. If I am going to have a cheat meal, I’d like it to be on my terms and not forced down my throat. I don’t have that many cheat meals, so please respect my right to keep it personal and choose something that I really, really like and not something that I have to do just to make someone else feel less guilty about what they’re sticking into their mouth.
Of course, you can poo-poo how I feel. But i don’t care, because in my opinion, if you make an exception for every “special occasion” and “live for today”, then you are eating like an average person; And if you eat like the average person, then I’m sorry… but the best you can hope for is to look like an average person!
Toby Clay
EPTI