Eat To Live, Don’t Live To Eat

Gluttony, one of the Seven Deadly Sins popularized by medieval stories such as “The Canterbury Tales” or the more modern theatrical release Seven , is an enemy to the body and soul. What is gluttony? The simplest definition is “excessive eating and drinking,” but unfortunately there’s more.

Gluttony is an actual disorder that affects certain parts of the brain that control feelings of hunger. It can also be related to low self-esteem, clinical depression, and other psychological problems. Therefore, it is mostly an emotionally controlled disorder, rather than a purely physical one.

Forms of Gluttony

There are two forms, or levels rather, of gluttony: (1) moderate, and (2) high. A person who feels full after devouring a big bowl of pasta yet still goes for seconds is in the moderate level of becoming a glutton.

On the other hand, a person who feels stuffed and still has to reach for another bag of chips, more bread or another plate, falls in the high end of becoming a glutton.

The danger lies there. Excessive eating equals excessive weight gain, which leads to lower self-esteem, higher levels of depression and more stress. It’s a vicious cycle.

Sure, most of us like to stuff our faces once a week every Friday night after a long week of hard work, but for most men, a high frequency of excessive eating and drinking is a normal routine in their everyday lives. Part of the solution is to identify the problem before it gets out of hand…and into your mouth.

Every action has a Reaction

Gluttonous eating, or binge eating as it is called nowadays, stems from several environmental, biochemical, and psychological factors. The main cause arises from clinical depression, stress and psychological trauma, according to Maria Simonson, Ph.D., Sc.D., and director of the health, weight and stress clinic at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore.

“Stress makes you eat more quickly than anything else,” she states. And the foods you want to eat under stress are more likely to be fatty, pleasurable things that are soft or creamy (aka comfort foods).

These cravings aren’t physiological in nature, but stem from emotional responses (chemical reactions in the brain), and they will continue to torment you until you give in. In fact, these cravings can change as quickly as the emotions that drive them.

Researchers found that these cravings follow a predictable curve: they build, peak, then subside. The best way to foil a craving is to take your mind off it, preferably by doing something incompatible with eating, such as going for a long walk.

Try avoiding the television or going out to a movie with friends, where you will definitely be tempted to buy popcorn or open your favorite bag of chips.

Another solution is meditation. Instead of plopping down in front of the TV on your favorite chair, meditate for 15 to 30 minutes. Visualize yourself the way you want to be and keep repeating this image, or even a phrase, for the duration of the exercise.

This type of meditation often reduces any future cravings. If these tips don’t help, however, seek professional help from a physician, therapist, or even a dietician. And most importantly, inform yourself more on the causes of binge eating such as stress, depression and emotional trauma.

There are many useful books available on these topics, but you are probably wondering what you can do solve this problem or prevent it before it happens.

Living la vida Single

Every bachelor has a unique tale of anguish, loneliness, heartbreak, and despair. But all bachelors have one thing in common: they must eat. Unfortunately, sometimes they must eat alone. Statistics show that single guys lead shorter lives than married men do.

Eating habits probably have something to do with that. Here are five simple rules single guys need to follow in order to veer away from the binge eating trap:

Eat 3 times a day
No way? No Time? Then eat smaller portion meals several times a day. This plan might sound unhealthy, but it’s totally up to you to make it healthy. Eat snacks such as fruits and vegetables and force yourself to eat smaller portions. The idea is to never go without food for longer than 5 hours. Brain drain and fatigue result from this, and consequently so does stress and depression.

Cut down on calories
For every 3,500 calories you eat beyond what your body burns, you’ll gain a pound. For every 3,500-calorie deficit, you’ll lose a pound. So from now on, skip those Kit-Kat bars and you’ll already be down to 2,000 calories a day (granted that the average guy should consume about 2,500 calories). If you only intake 2,000 calories a day, you’ll lose about a pound a week on average. Exercise is also excellent, and helps burn even more fat to achieve weight loss.

The Law of Fat
Avoid it when you can. Carefully read the package labels many supermarkets have. Each gram of fat provides 9 calories, so try to keep it under three grams of fat per 100 calories of food you intake, i.e., don’t eat anything that contains more than 30% or more of its total calories from fat.

The Law of Salt
Don’t add salt to anything. The National Academy of Sciences suggests no more than 2400 mg of salt a day, or about a teaspoon. It also makes some people crave more food.

The Law of Cholesterol
If you don’t have a medical problem with cholesterol, then the recommended daily dose is 300 mg — no more. A plate of scrambled eggs provides this amount.

In addition to these rules, bachelors should also avoid drive-thrus and fast food restaurants. And you should always throw out those restaurant pamphlets that advertise free home delivery.

And that’s the bottom line

It is not easy to go through life what with so many stressors encountered in our daily lives. The key, however, is to change your outlook on life. It isn’t so bad after all. Do your best to surround yourself with people that make you happy.

Reevaluate your goals in life and set new ones. Make yourself your first priority and then decide who or what else should follow. Be a bit selfish because it might just save your life and remember to eat to live, never live to eat! Have a great day and God bless!