Opus 2015-13: Healthy Insights: Simple Math

Why is it so hard to lose weight?  Because it demands self control and self limitation.  All of the diet advertisements I hear deny that.  They use words like “easy”.  They tell you that denying yourself is not necessary.  They say you can eat the foods you like and never feel hungry. 

They lie. 

Weight loss is a matter of physics and mathematics.  What you put in the hopper has calories.  Your daily activities require calories.  If you put in more than you require, guess what?  You gain weight.  I you put in less than you require, guess what?  You lose weight.  I am sure there are some people with exotic glandular conditions for whom this does not work but I hate to break it to you:  You are not one of them.

There are some phrases that ruin attempts at weight control.  One is “It won’t matter.”  Another is, “Just this once.”  Another is, “It is only a taste.”  It does matter.  It won’t be just once.  Even a taste has calories and they add up.

Why is it so hard to keep weight off?  Because it demands following long term principles rather than short term gratification.

I lost a lot of weight.  It has been creeping up again.  The reason is, drum roll please, I am eating more than I should.  I begin to estimate instead of measure.  I begin to say, “It’s a special day.”  Whatever the reason, I am creeping up in weight because I am creeping down in honest discipline.  That is the bad news.  The good news is that I have not given up.  I am still committed to the battle. 

I am determined to win this one.

homo unius libri