Thanksgiving traditionally kicks off a season of feasting. At least for some of us, there will be plenty of opportunities to overindulge in the next month.
These are often followed by plenty of opportunities for regret and self-recrimination. Why did I have two helpings of mashed potatoes? I shouldn’t have taken that third piece of pie. Oh no, look at the scale! Given all the traditional gluttony around this season, it’s no wonder that when January rolls around many of us make New Year’s resolutions that feature food.
So what is our problem? Why do we do this to ourselves? We all know that if you eat too much you’ll get sick or fat or both. It’s not like we need to be told. The math is as simple as two plus two. Why do we ignore the math and continue to do things that at least we’ll regret and at worst will harm us?
Human behavior is not as simple as a first-grade equation. The ‘why’s of what we do are complex, individual and impossible to generalize. When it comes to eating, it gets extra complicated.
Our relationships with food run the gamut from eating disorders to simple survival, with everything in between. That said:
What I have for you is a suggestion. If you want to do things differently this year, whether it be holiday feasting, Black Friday binge buying, or some other form of gluttony, start slowly and simply by focusing on a single moment. I’m talking about the microsecond between impulse and action. Therein lies the secret to behavior change.
When you see that third piece of pie, take a beat before you reach for it. A single breath, a count to three, whatever works for you to slow yourself down. Restrain yourself, just for a moment. In that pause, your wiser self can rise to the surface.
Perhaps you’ll find yourself realizing that you don’t really want the pie, that your belly is full, that you know you’ll regret spending the money on another electronic device at Best Buy at 2 a.m, or not. You might go ahead and indulge, but if you do you will be less likely to regret it if you have allowed even one moment of consideration.
If you can take it beyond a moment, you might consciously ask yourself, “Do I really want to do this?” Then listen to the answer. You know yourself, and you know what you need. Chances are your better self will come forward given half a chance.
In the moment between thought and action lies a universe of possibility.
Enjoy this season of celebration. You deserve happiness and pleasure and good food. If you can slow yourself down even a smidgen, you might make it through unscathed by remorse. And that, my friend, is a happy holiday.
If you need help please come to Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) or call us at 277-3136 for an appointment.
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Dr. Peggy Spencer is a student health physician. She is also the co-author of “50 ways to leave your 40s.” Email your questions directly to her at pspencer@unm.edu. All questions will be considered anonymous, and all questioners will remain anonymous.
This column has general health information and cannot replace a trip to a health provider.
