Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I Can't I'm on a Diet

I would like to take a moment and tell the world just how much I vehemently hate those words.  "I can't I'm on a diet."  Not that I think diets are bad, although you'd think I had something against them by the way I look/eat/spend my life...?  But in reality everyone is on a diet of some sort or another. 

Some choose to focus their eating habits on healthier things, ie fresh vegetables, whole grains, skim milk, and the complete absence of Alfredo sauce. (Gasp!)

Others stay away from carbs and non-natural sugars.

Still others count calories and supplement with hormones.

And then there are those that run their way into eating anything they want or just eat anything they want with out running.

I would like to state for the record that I don't have a problem with any of these dietary choices.  Kudos to all ya'll who can make it work.  I admire your dedication, your commitment to becoming a new you.  Really and truly I do.  I wish I had that kind of dedication. 

What I do have a problem with is the judgement that comes with it.  If I offer you the most marvelous peanut-buttery chocolaty goodness that is a gourmet cupcake and you say "I can't I'm on a diet" and then give "the look".   I just don't know how to take that.  It's as if my life has been weighed, has been measured, and has been found wanting because not only did I eat one, but there are several more sitting on my kitchen counter at home. 

Oh, and how about that apology diet line.  "I can't I'm on a diet because I'm going on a cruise someday and I already indulged in an entire box of cookies and I'm so sorry they look marvelous but I just can't because I'm already too pudgy but you go ahead and enjoy that I really wish I could but you know it's the diet."  I'm not sure what to do with that either.  Feel glad that I'm not going on a cruise and eat an extra one for good measure?

Whatever happened to a simple "No thank you."  No explanation needed.  No judgement.  No apology.

Unfortunately I am as guilty at this as everyone else.  I remember saying the exact same things with the exact same expression and well, I'm just tired of hearing it.  From my own mouth as well as others'.

I just read Tawnya's post and loved the reality of it all.  There is something to be said about being comfortable in one's own skin.  Accepting the reality of your imperfect life and realizing that there's no need to be over dramatic about silly things.  (There's always an exception for the non-silly things that demand over dramatization of course... like crashing computers and mice infested stoves... Drama- Bring it.)  But right now I'm just too tired to put drama in where it just doesn't belong.  (Of course I'm probably tired because I didn't get enough leafy greens and I have a serious love affair with Alfredo sauce... sigh.) 

I resolve to turn over a new leaf.  Should I choose to go on a diet other than the "oh my that looks good can I have some?" diet I solemnly vow to never guilt anyone into joining with me.  I promise to never discuss it while other people are ordering their meals.  I promise to never use my "diet" as an excuse for anything.  I vow to take responsibility for myself and reserve the right to not explain my choices.  With that said, I think I'll make cupcakes.

8 comments:

  1. Beautifully said. Thank you. I would not refuse peanut-buttery chocolatty goodness. EVER. It's against my own personal morals. (But I try not to make others feel TOO bad as I scarf the scrumptious thing down and they sit smelling the peanutbuttery goodness WISHING they weren't on a "diet") In fact, I'd probably ask if I could have theirs too- since they're not eating it :)

    WV: "flite" very fitting for this post as it means "food lite" as in Diet.
    -I'd like a flite BLT please.
    *A what?
    -A flite BLT. You know. Diet BLT.
    *I don't think that's possible.
    -You make it with turkey bacon and it doesn't taste near as good but I'm on a you-know-what so if you could leave off the mayo too...
    *Confused look from the waiter..
    -Oh never mind. I'll have a salad no dressing and a water with lemon.

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  2. I would kill for a peanut-buttery chocolatey goodness gourmet cupcake right now. KILL.

    I think we should all live by the motto "No explanation needed".

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  3. I'm a big fan of "no" w/o explanation. Not a fan of the looks I get when I employ it at church...

    Mmmmm....cupcakes...

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  4. Maggie I love your comment! I can totally hear the dialogue and I had to share with others in the office.

    NO explanation needed might just get stenciled on my wall...

    Cupcakes for the 4th? apparently I'm on a cupcake kick, I've made them three times in two weeks.

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  5. Oh Lora how many times can I say ditto to what you just said to let you know just how passionately I aggree with you on the subject. It was well-put, course you've always had such a way with words. You talented Hubbards you...or should I say we (I am officially a Hubbard afterall) P.S. We got a new phone number...208-356-6698...you know if you ever get an inkling to call that is the number that is listed. :)

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  6. Love what you said Lora. My MIL told me once that there will be alot of people that will be sad in heaven when they can't eat yummy peanut-buttery chocolatey divineness because they didn't appreciate it when they were down here on earth. So, she said, she takes advantage of eating all of it, so she is not disappointed up there just in case! I love what she said, and I think of it often when I see people eating, dry bread with a thin slice of turkey with nothing else on it, because they are on a "diet". I think I am with my MIL I would rather err on the side of caution and enjoy each of the forementioned chocolately yumminess. Speaking of, I better get those on the plate for my YW lesson! :)

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  7. Oh, I'm SO with you on this one! I HATE it when I get that line and 'that' look. It drives me batty.... which makes me look back on the calories I had eaten that day.... which makes me feel guilty. Who has that right? They're not my judge :) There's no need to force your diet onto me

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  8. Amen to it all! thanks for your support.

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