Would You Like Bread with your Butter?

The recent news that the Queen of Butter, Paula Deen, has Type 2 Diabetes (for the past three years!) has me thinking about what it means to enjoy every morsel of life versus depriving ourselves of delicious food just to be thin and, perhaps, healthier.

I think we can all agree one's health is important.  And if your lifestyle is causing you to experience health issues, especially if you are predisposed based on family history, then it's probably wise to take steps to change a few things.  But does that mean having to completely give up all the delicious foods you love for baked chicken and steamed broccoli every night of your life?  There is so much good food out there that it can be really hard to stay the course when you are attempting a healthy lifestyle.

It's no secret the majority of women in America have been on some sort of diet longer than not during their lifetime.  I would guess I've probably lost and regained a couple hundred pounds starting at about age 11, over 30 years.  That's a really long time to feel guilty about every piece of food I put in my mouth.  Lately, though, I've been questioning exactly why I've been so obsessed with losing weight for the better part of my life.  Yes, I have a history of heart disease in my family.  Yes, I am overweight by clinical standards.  And yes, I may have an unnatural attachment to mint chocolate chip ice cream.  But I'm not sure any of those things have to do with constantly feeling the need to beat myself up because I had chips with my turkey sandwich instead of baby carrots.

The truth is being thin is preferred in our society.  Most of us find it hard to let go of the idea that when we are thin, all of our problems will be gone and we will finally be accepted for who we really are instead of how we believe people perceive us - as unmotivated couch potatoes who eat donut burgers three times a day (sorry, Paula).  But you know what I've recently realized?  Being thin doesn't make your problems go away or make you a better person.  If you are a mean fat person, chances are you're still going to be mean once you become thin.  And if you don't make enough money at your job, being a size two isn't all of the sudden going to give you more cash in your paycheck.  Unless, of course, you get a new job modeling size two jeans.

Now, I'm not advocating we all throw caution and common sense to the wind and start eating the foods Paula Deen cooks.  I just think we need to be realistic about how we live and start being kind to ourselves.  We need to stop worrying about what we think others think of us (because it's probably not even close to what they actually see) and be smart about the yummy foods that cross our paths every now and again.  Enjoying everything in moderation is a good rule to live by.  It's not always easy in practice, but as my parents always said, as long as you do your best, that's what matters.