HOW TO STICK TO A DIET
I’ve been trying to eat healthy for over two weeks now. I have no idea if I’ve even lost any weight yet – I don’t do scales -, but I have noticed a bit of a change around my love handles. Yes, a little.
I must admit that I strayed off track somewhat this week and –okay fine- binged like no other. I went out with my good friend Lauren and we made the wise choice to order Martini’s on the rocks instead of cocktails. A pat on the back for both of us. When we headed out the door to leave, I got a text from another friend of mine. “Keeks, I’m eating a cheese soufflé*. And it is to die for.” Seriously, I’m a sucker for cheese soufflés.
Yet I found myself standing in front of a fast food joint fifteen minutes later.
Nope, I wasn’t going to do it. Abort abort abort. The ‘snacking after clubbing’ routine had been permanently removed from my list. Everybody knows that calories are tiny monsters that live in your closet and sew your clothes a little tighter each night. So I said no. Yet I found myself standing in front of a fast food joint fifteen minutes later. And, weak as I am, I don’t settle for just the cheese soufflé. I add a fucking plate of fries covered in sauce to my order too. I am NEVER going out again. I will NEVER eat another cheese soufflé ever again.
But let’s be honest here. Nothing makes us more human than giving into temptation. Healthy resolutions and willpower are often no match against our favorite junk food. New studies have shown that it’s better to say “I’m going to eat this every once in a while”, than say “I’ll never eat this again”. Researchers at Houston University served their subjects a couple of tempting, but very unhealthy junk food.
Their desire for junk food decreased while eating significantly less.
Results show that denying our desires is all but effective. The participants that managed to stay heard headed and say no during the first serving ate more of the junk food in the end. Other subjects were asked to tell themselves: “I’m going to eat this again sometime”. Their desire for junk food decreased as well as eating significantly less.
Right, you know what you have to do. For the time being I’ll just tell myself: I’m definitely going to eat a cheese soufflé again sometime.
*A Cheese soufflé is a traditional Dutch snack that consists of melted cheese inside a thin dough-based wrap which has been breaded and then deep fried. De-lish.
Written by Kiki Düren
