My Failed One Bite Rule

Some years ago I lost a huge amount of weight, actually twice before this I have lost lots of weight, so this is my third time.  You naturally thin people often wonder why in the world I gain weight back after working so hard to lose it the first time.  Trust me, I ask myself the same thing.  Just as I am a self-taught expert on losing weight now, I am a self inflicted pro at gaining weight too.

My friend Maricella brought me an article from yesterday’s Wall Street Journal titled, “How to Fend Off a Food Craving.”  Google it to read the whole thing, but there was one paragraph I want to share with you and give you my learned opinion of…

“What is the best way to fight food cravings? Many studies have shown the more subjects try to restrict food, the more they may crave it.  So some experts suggest embracing and controlling the urge instead.”

I am here to attest that as a food addict this is not a technique that has ever worked for me.  In fact I have done a multi year study and proven the opposite.

I love sweets and the longer I go without sweets the easier it is for me to not crave them.  After four months of being off sugar I can be around cupcakes, smell brownies, even have a box of chocolate turtles on my counter that I have not looked at or craved.

The last time I lost a significant amount of weight I created what I thought was a brilliant way to deal with unhealthy foods.  I called it “the one bite rule.”  If I really wanted pasta I gave myself one-bite of it, the same with coconut cake, pizza etc.  But then the size of my “one bites” got a little larger, until I practically was using a serving spoon to gouge out my one bite of cheesecake.  Before I knew it, one bite gave way to three to right back to eating the amounts and the types of foods that my body clearly does not need.

So I would like to refute Mr. Murdoch’s crown jewel the Wall Street Journal and say don’t give into cravings, fight them.  The article does go on to say delaying, distracting yourself and exercise are all other ways of dealing with a craving.  Those are techniques I endorse.  In fact the article says smelling a strong smell such as “Jasmine helps occupy the same aroma receptors that are a key part of food cravings.”

Now I have a new scheme to start growing jasmine and selling whiffs of it as a food alternative, for a premium price. If it works I may be opening a jasmine smelling truck right near the next Food Truck Rodeo.