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Bodytalk
Question: On Jan. 2. USA Today ran a front page story titled, "There is a way to keep off the weight." It went on to say that researchers have found chronic restrained eating (CRE) can help win the battle of the bulge. These same researchers believe that for most people , CRE is what it takes to "keep obesity at bay." Do you agree? Healthy living starts
with the stomachAnswer: I agree wholeheartedly with the contents of the article, but take exception with the label " chronic restrained eating." That sounds like a diet for someone with an eating disorder. This is too bad because the concept is right on.
Here's what I think. Let's rename CRE "conscious selective eating" (CSE). (This new name comes from a friend who agreed that the other name sounded very negative.)
Basically, conscious selective eating is not a diet, but an eating philosophy. For years I've been proclaiming that diets don't work. Now it appears that the medical community agrees with me. CSE doesn't attach any significant value to a specific food group. It doesn't require that you eliminate any food, it doesn't endorse a product, and it doesn't ask you to measure your food.
Instead, conscious selective eaters manage their body weight by making healthy choices. When it comes to food selection, they choose healthy, most of the time. When it comes to portions they choose moderate, most of the time.
Conscious selective eaters don't routinely overindulge in sugary, high- fat foods. They don't mindlessly stuff food in their mouths when sitting down to a family dinner. They snack wisely and usually don't eat unless they're hungry.
They pay attention to the nutrient content of the foods they eat. Sometimes they splurge, but when they do it doesn't spiral down to an ongoing pigout that lasts for days.
Conscious selective eaters don't let food rule their lives. They eat to live, not live to eat. They don't let family or friends influence either the kinds of food they eat or how much.
Conscious selective eaters want to maintain a healthy body weight; they aren't obsessed with being thin. They eat a little less of everything, if and when they notice their clothes are fitting them a little tighter. They accept people's genetic differences, and they understand that some individuals are genetically prone to be heavier. They don't compare themselves to others; they understand that there is a small segment of society that never has to be concerned about gaining weight, and they recognize the differences in body types.
Conscious selective eaters are physically active, and they usually exercise five or six days a week. Activity is integrated into their lives; it's what they do. Exercise brings them joy, it helps them maintain a healthy body weight, it decreases their risk of disease, it provides them with more energy, it makes them stronger and more independent and it enhances their self esteem. They know that regular exercise makes them more physically attractive. Conscious selective eaters care about how they look.
Conscious selective eaters use cognitive control. They don't allow their eating habits to take control of their lives; instead, they control their eating habits. They don't accept that getting older means getting fatter. They refuse to believe that great American myth that says women naturally gain weight after menopause, or that men are destined to have a middle-age spread once they turn 40.
Conscious selective eaters are disciplined not only in their eating habits, but in their exercise habits as well. They take responsibility for their health.
Health Events
Stephenie Karony is a certified health
and fitness instructor, a personal trainer and the author of
"Body Shaping with Free Weights." Send questions to her at
P.O. Box 262, Wailuku Hi. Her column appears on Wednesdays.