At the age of 16, I came out of my 'Fat Suit'. I starved myself --- literally starved myself to the point where my gut corroded with acid --- to lose 20 kilos of a seal's weight that I was carrying on my body. There comes a time when you have to stop listening to Mom who keeps telling you you're the most beautiful girl in your school. So, that happened. And then --- after I evolved as a hot mess [of course my brains were still warped!] --- I spiraled into a lifelong phobia that even breathing in a lung full of air will show a 666 of the Devil on my weighing scale! I mean this --- I was living in Karachi --- and I was starving! I was munching whole wheat toasts and drinking Moong Dal for the love of God! Everybody sat in the cafeteria and ate Biryani and I use to breathe it in through my nostrils and prayed my stomach won't feel anything. Sometimes, 2 chicken nuggets would suffice for lunch. And then I moved to Maryland and Starbucks happened. That's unfair! It's like you put Juliet in front of Romeo and go "She's pretty right? Leave her alone!" That's when I allowed myself ---
You only live [as a non-diabetic] once! Eating a bite of something sinfully delicious is no crime! But be careful you don't use that rule on too many things the same day! You don't have to hog down the whole box of chocolates to enjoy them, you don't have to eat a big slice of cake to know how killer awesome it was, and you don't need to buy a Venti size frappuccino at Starbucks, okay? Life can be enjoyed bite size.
Get the picture? It's pretty amazing.
--- The Bite Size Rule ---
Of course the one French fry you eat comes to haunt you during your PMS! You feel that suddenly all the fat on your body is because of that one French fry you ate a decade ago. Breathe. Unless you want to break down Trunchbull mode on something devastatingly delicious in a moment of weakness, please allow yourself the luxury of enjoying the bite size.
Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteI think "bite size is ok" is a great philosophy! One that can be taken on in more ways than just related to foods that are "bad for you". There are many things in life that we would be better off (and feel better about) if we took them "bite size".
I'm loving your "26 Advices" theme, keep up the good work.
Laith (apx #1712) visiting for April A-Z from Laith's Ramblings (http://laith.wordpress.com/)
Super thanks for visiting! I really liked the alternative perspective you just gave me on "bite size". Glad you find my theme intriguing. Keep visiting! I'll be visiting you too!
DeleteDon't know if you saw that short-lived show with Courtney Cox where she would put a chocolate in her mouth and then spit it out, just to have the taste of chocolate in her mouth but never putting those calories on her hips. You know, "once on the lips, forever on the hips."
ReplyDeleteBite sized is good, in fact the best way to eat chocolate. Don't you lose the tremendous taste after the second or third one?
You know, I thought of doing that once --- chewing and spitting out --- but I got a jolt of realization that countless people in the world don't get to experience the blessing of a real meal in their lives. Me doing that then just seemed like an ungrateful thing to do!
DeleteI agree! That first bit is an undefeated showstopper!
Thats a great rule. Its okay to indulge, but our culture drives us to overindulge.
ReplyDeleteTell me about it! I am South Asian by origin and life there is bout food perfection. Curries, desserts after dinner, Chai time snacking, and etc.
DeleteThat's a trick I learned a while back. I love dark chocolate. I'll get a king size chocolate bar, stick it in my desk drawer and eat one of two squares a day. One bar, lasting a week or two. Economical, low cal and actually good for you they are saying now.
ReplyDeleteRevisit the Tender Years with me during the #AtoZChallenge at Life & Faith in Caneyhead!
Hey, I do that with M&Ms. They appear so harmless. One to two pieces a day and I don't feel a slightest tinge of guilt!
DeleteYessssssss, we've lost all that weight together. Bite size is really OKAY. No, it's the best actually. I need to get back to my bite size is okay rule too!
ReplyDeleteWe take too many bites lately Bestie. We need to STAAP [Gubboo style]
DeleteStaaap :D
DeleteYou know the meme with the GIANT coffee cup and the person who said "I cut down to one cup a day?" Hahaha! So bite size is relative :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to get back on your feet! Many girls aren't that lucky.
Love your blog design! You are an artist!
Good luck with the other letters to come!
http://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/