Good Sunday Morning...you all know this is my favorite day this time of year...why? the weather and I get to watch hours of the NFL. My predictions will come at the end.
Thanks for the comment debate yesterday...we discussed the concept of people on the workplace maintaining candy dishes on their desks, enticing people to eat them and perhaps derailing their weight loss efforts.
The concept of "self control" applies to many issues in our lives. From not spending money on that pretty paif of shoes that costs 300 dolllars, to not over drinking at a wine and cheese evemt to not getting that second plate of food at a buffet restuarant...all of these are examples of when our "self control" mechanisms are being tested. What it comes down to is that we, the most intelligent organism in this world, is still in the kingdom called "animals" and we do have to some extent an instinctual part of our genetic base that makes us an immediate gratification species.
Buying the large screen tv provides an immediate fun thing whereas redirecting that money to you 401K provides NO immediate gratifcation. Eating that chocolate dessert is much more fun than that thinking that by foregoing that dessert, you may have less chnaces of getting diabetes in the future.
Fighting our immediate gratification urges for the purposes of the delayed gratification of better health and looking better is a very difficult thing to do but a necessary step to acheive long term weight loss results.
Okay.....your Dr Predictions: Giants destroy Oakland even without Eli, Sorry Skins fans...they go down to Carolina by one touchdown, New England defeats undefeated denver, to you Eagles fans, you will have your way with tampa...you will win the game by 3 touchdowns and unfortunately Dallas fans will be very happy with your beating of (?) Kansas City
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Back in the neanderthal days we were hunter gatherers for our food. We had to burn some serious calories just to eat. So here is an idea for that candy jar thing... How about someone inventing a device where you hook up a treadmill or some other exercise machine with the candy jar. Concept... just like a vending machine you are paying for the candy, but not with money, with your neanderthal calorie burn. Program into the device the total calories to burn the candy you want and whala.. it drops out when you hit the number (might even put on some muscle in the process)...
OK.. JOKING.. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. But I wonder if you put a sign next to that candy jar of how many push-ups, squats, time on the treadmill you will need to do for taking a piece... wonder if it might at least allow pause for awareness in our fast paced work environment.
Just from an historical standpoint how many of us from the 50's, 60's and EARLY 70's timeframe remember having an abundance of convenience foods??? I don't remember miniature chocolates on work desks then. Maybe RARELY a sourball jar.
To be honest, my recollections are that if I wanted A (meaning one) piece of candy I had to beg my mom for a nickel and if I was good.. walk or bike (expend calories) to the corner store for what was probably a small pixi stick (would this equal what might happen with repeat trips in the office to a free candy jar?). And to boot.. my being good often meant did I do my chores around the house.. (more moving, calories burned). Yeah, that food reward for behavior thing again...not good.. but at the core of it.. some physical exercise had to be employed.. like the neanderthal.. to get the food.
And lets not also forget something the advertising and marketing industries figured out a LONG time ago. IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE SPENDING BEHAVIORS PUT THE PRODUCT IN A PERSON'S IMMEDIATE FIELD OF VIEW SEVERAL TIMES A DAY (commercials, product shelf placement in grocery stores). And the other neat trick.. GIVE OUT SAMPLES TO TEASE THE CONSUMER'S PALATE WITH YOUR PRODUCT... not enough to make them full but just enough to stimulate their taste and desire for more (we all know those Cosco food sample tables or the mini cereal boxes sent with our newspapers).
So, in a way, I think those employers putting candy jars out are missing a hudge financial opportunity. If the candy industry is going to net sales and money off of your free samples.. you should be making a cut off of their profits. Hey then you could afford to put that new treadmill invention in your office and we could all return to the neanderthal pay system for our calories! What do you know.. necessity again the mother of invention.. but this time an invention to promote health! Love it!
All kidding aside.. cheers to those of you out there making great choices in the convenience world we live in. And standing ovation to the others of you out there caring for us, not making the candy industry richer handing out free samples! Happy Sunday to you! :) DH44
I’ve got to jump into this “self-control” discussion!
I had assumed that most of the people that read or comment on this blog have participated, are participating, or are considering participating in the Serotonin Plus Program or have someone that they care about that is/was in the program. Therefore, I have to assume that the commenters either have or have had weight issues. So I found the comments about self control to be ironic because somewhere along the way these individuals (or those they care about) must have had a lapse in their self control/discipline when it came to the food or liquid calories they consumed. Therefore, these individuals must understand that weight loss is not easy and individuals often fall prey to temptations.
I have been obese most of my adult life and have battled the treat challenge in many an office. Let me be clear -- I do not blame any of the individuals that brought treats into the office and I would not have asked a co-worker to remove their candy dish or limit the treats they bring into the office. However, I do agree with Dr. Posner’s advice.
Think about it. One of the first things you should do when you are starting a healthy eating program is to take control of your environment. Home is easy -- replace unhealthy food with healthy food and get rid of all trigger foods. Restaurants are even easy –ask for food substitutions, share an entree, say “no thanks” to the bread basket, get salad dressing on the side, ask for doggie bags, etc., etc. However, an office environment is not so easy, unless you are the owner or supervisor and establish the rules! Individuals normally spend 8+ hours at a stretch in the office. The work may be stressful, or even boring – both of which can be the impetus for a trip to a candy dish. Speaking from my own experience, pot luck and pizza lunches or the occasional baked goods or vacation candy were not so bad. I only had to avoid the temptation for a little while and the treats would probably be gone. But the candy dish was a different matter – it was always there for when my will power lapsed.
Finally, I do not agree that abstaining from treats is merely a matter of self-control; i.e., “all in the mind!” That’s why the Serotonin Plus program is unique. It recognizes that a serotonin imbalance can contribute to increased carbohydrate cravings and binge eating. I do not know if it works the same for everyone, but for me the Serotonin Plus has eliminated all carbohydrate cravings. For the first time in my life, I can now deal with sweets and other carbs as I believe a “normal” person does. After losing about 35 lbs on the program (primarily using just the supplements, no drugs), I went for a three-week visit to my mother’s home. She is a black-belt chocoholic! Her home is filled with chocolate candy, ice cream, and other sweets. I took a couple Phentermine with me just in case the environment proved too much for me. However, I didn’t need them. Not only didn’t I have any carb excursions, I didn’t have one carb craving and I actually forgot that I was staying in a home that was filled with chocolate. I actually lost another 10 lbs during that visit. Yes, I used self control in making good food choices, but the Serotonin Plus made it easier because I didn’t have to do so while fighting carb cravings.
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