I have forgotten which of
the many books on food I have read first pointed out to me that the general
trend of food policy and advertising boils down to Eat More. More is better, right? We want more space, more time, more fun. We want to be more fit, more attractive, and
more special.
Trouble is, we tend to
end up more stressed, more stuffed, and more tired.
I am not going to
advocate more vegetables, more fiber, more meditation, or even more exercise to
attack this problem.
To be “more better,” I
think we need to focus on the right amount.
We need to bring attention to the moment. Let me un-hippie-fy that with an
example or two. Say we’re having dinner and the
conversation is great and the food is tasty and maybe we’re even enjoying a
glass of wine. Allowing some part of our
brain to pay attention to the sensations in our bodies will keep us from
shoveling in another ten bites after we are full. Similarly, when we’re working out, we can
notice the point at which we can’t do another bench press without compromising
form and we can end the set (even if we’ve done eight reps! Ten is not magic!) knowing we have worked our
muscles the right amount.
Both of those examples
are instant. The principle also works
over time. When we notice how we feel
the next morning after a glass or more of wine with dinner, we can figure out
the right amount for next time. When we
are sore for an entire week after a workout, we can know that it’s time to dial
it down a little (or if there is no soreness at all, dial it up!).
More is not always
better. Let’s be optimal!
