Easter has done it again. Not only did the entire family indulge in Easter candy, but it is still lurking around the house. It is in a cupboard, a leftover Easter basket, or a plastic egg that my daughter has yet to find (Kyle didn’t take stock of where he hid them). Luckily, the candy will stay there causing moments of temptation, but most likely, will not get eaten and will eventually find its way to the garbage. Why would we throw out perfectly good candy? Here are some thoughts on indulging and how you can change your mind and your body.
A few years ago, a study was conducted on people’s eating habits and the motivation behind their actions. The participants were broken into two groups: people who diet and people who don’t. They took the groups of dieters and non-dieters and one by one brought them into a room. The people conducting the study asked them questions and halfway through the interview, made up an excuse to leave the room. What they left behind in the room was the true test of the study: a plate of cookies. They wanted to see how the two groups of people would react to a plate a cookies left at their disposal.
Here is what they found:
The group of dieters hesitated from grabbing a cookie. But after some hesitation, dove right in. Not only did they have one cookie, but they had several.
The group of non-dieters went for the plate of cookies, had one, and stopped there.
Why did the “dieters” eat more cookie when they were supposed to be watching what they ate? The study pointed to two very different mindsets when it comes to food.
Dieters tend to look at food as the enemy. “If I could only stay away from candy, I could lose weight.” “If I stop eating all carbohydrates, I will get skinny.” “I need someone to put meals in front of me that are healthy. I can’t make them for myself.” Why did they eat more cookies? The study found that the dieters looked at the day as being “ruined”. The food had won, so why not give in to indulging and eat the whole plate. They had a “Since, I already eat one why not eat the whole thing? My day is shot anyway” mentality.
The non-dieters saw the cookies for what they were, a treat. Something to enjoy in moderation.
What does it all mean? As I have stated before, eating healthy and working out isn’t a diet, a quick fix, or something that in six months you will stop doing. It is a mindset, a lifestyle, and with that comes a shift in how you view what you put in your mouth.
Next time you reach for a cookie think about how you view eating it. Are you going to order a pizza for dinner because you already indulged in the cookie, so why not indulge in something else bad for you? OR are you going to allow yourself to have something sweet every once and a while and not feel guilty, BUT not continue to indulge the rest of the day?
So, my Easter candy will stay where it is for now. In a week or two after Kyle has eaten a few more chocolate bunnies, we will most likely throw it out because we had our fill. My butt won’t be bigger, my jeans will still fit, and I will have enjoyed a little bit of candy on a holiday that insists we all take a moment and be thankful for the life we’ve been given.
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