I received this hysterical email from Karen who ordered Am I Hungry? as an e-book that comes with a complimentary Journal.
“I made the mistake of printing out a couple of pages of the Am I Hungry? Journal at work. My boss happened to pick it up off the printer. Here’s what happened.
My Boss: Did you print this? (She handed me the blank food journal that said, “Am I Hungry?” at the top).
Me: Yes, it’s something my weight loss coach recommended to me.
My Boss: You’re eating a donut.
So I finished eating the donut and sat there thinking about all the things that I wish I’d said. I sent an email to my friends asking them to pick their favorite reply:
- Oh no. I thought it was a carrot! Quick! Get a stomach pump!
- Here. Here’s my food journal. Would you just keep track of it for me from now on?
- Yes, that’s my new food plan. One donut in the morning and nothing else all day!
- Didn’t you eat one?
- I’m sorry. I thought the donuts were brought in for everyone. Someone should have told me I wasn’t allowed to have one.
- Yes, it’s the new Police Officer Diet.
Might as well laugh but it didn’t feel funny at the time.”
Karen’s boss’ mistaken assumptions about what it takes to reach a healthier weight highlight many of the reasons diets don’t work:
- If you’re on a diet, you’re not allowed to eat anything that tastes good
- Everyone else can have a donut but you can’t
- If you’re overweight, everyone has the right to comment on what you eat
- If you eat one donut, you’ve blown it for the day
- The 200 calories in an occasional glazed donut causes more weight gain than the 200 calories in a bowl of cereal with skim milk and blueberries
- Only thin people can eat donuts in public
Ridiculous! Long term weight management doesn’t require deprivation or perfect eating. That approach only causes shame, guilt, hunger, and rebound overeating. Instead, take charge of your decisions, including enjoying a donut when you really want one. Karen, you are the boss of your body.
For more about weight management without deprivation and guilt, visit http://www.AmIHungry.com.
