A couple of weeks ago my middle son and I went to a quiz that my nephew had organised.
It was to raise money to help fund him going to the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea next year.
It was in the local village hall to where they live and I lived at the same age.
It’s also the infamous site of me getting absolutely plastered aged 15 at the Young Farmer’s Dinner Dance that my parents were at and their friend, who was an MP, was talking at and then staying at our house after.
My mate Tom held the door shut while I was in the toilet and I hit the handle so hard it broke and sliced my hand open.
I still have the scar to this day.
My last memory of the evening was my Dad holding me up by the wall outside the main door with a disappointed look on his face.
The next memory is waking up at home, going down stairs and being greeted with some very unhappy looking faces at the breakfast table.
I went back to that Village Hall about 10 years ago and, I kid you not, the door handle was still broken and the broken handle on the window sill next to it.
15 years after it happened.
They must’ve moved it to clean under it and popped it back for 15 years.
All this is completely irrelevant to the story I’m telling here.
I just thought you might be interested.
The relevant bit was the raffle at the end of the quiz.
A few people has been unable to make it last minute.
You know – COVID.
And some had been due to bring raffle prizes.
So a couple of the prizes were, essentially, IOUs.
A bit of a paper with what the prize was written on it.
The last prize was a bit of paper with “Box of chocolates” written on it.
To which the winner replied “Is that the diet version?”
Which caused a little chuckle.
But which also made me think.
Sometimes we work towards our goals by making some tactical swaps in what we eat.
Something as convenient, enjoyable and filling as our first choice but that contributes less calories.
Sometimes we do a bit of portion control.
Just eat a bit less of whatever it is we were eating.
And, sometimes, it’s actually easier not to eat it at all.
At least at that particular point.
To not have it ‘in’ and not be tempted.
The likes of chocolate, crisps, cake, biscuits and ice cream aren’t inherently fattening.
They can form part of deficit or maintenance calories.
But they are quite “moorish” aren’t they?
Super easy to over do.
“Once you pop, you can’t stop”.
Sometimes, maybe it’s easier to ‘not pop’ in the first place.
Or less frequently at least.
We don’t have those things in the cupboard, fridge or freezer and we’re less likely to have them (as much) aren’t we?
Let’s not demonize them as “bad foods” where, as soon as we have them we’ve “failed” and should “write it off” and have loads more.
But maybe, sometimes the the way to achieve results can be to do the equivalent of turning a box of chocolates into a bit of paper (or thin air)?
Much love,
Jon ‘Got another scar on my hand the following year working on the meat counter of the deli in Sommerfield’ Hall
P.S. If you’d like actual help with approaches to changing your eating that don’t just demonize foods you have to “cut out” then make you feel bad when you’ve eaten them……….. www.myrise.co.uk/apply
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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!
