Moderation Not Deprivation: Why You Should Eat That Cookie

Heh, heh, heh…

Eat that damn cookie. Whatever that magical, desirable, unforgettable food is that you dream about marrying just to eat at the alter, eat it. Eat some of it, that is. If it’s cookies that get you going, eat a cookie. Eat one delicious cookie, savor it, really appreciate it and acknowledge it for what it is — an indulgence and a treat. Then put the bag away and go on your merry cookie high way.

When we’re told we can’t have something, it’s all that we want. We obsess about it, we dream about and ultimately (unless you’re Kelly Rippa) you give in and eat it. But you don’t eat just a bit, you binge. This is because:

You’ve been fixating on this food — the forbidden fruit — so when you cheat, you’re definitely gonna go for it, and cheat Tiger Woods style.

You think you can’t ever have it again, so you eat as much as of it as possible now. It’s the same reason a lot of us gain weight right before we start a scheduled diet; we squeeze in as much indulgence as possible, which ultimately sabotages our diet because we shock our bodies and go into sugar/alcohol/whatever withdrawal.

What happens next is the worst part of it all. You feel defeated and like you failed. So you give up. This isn’t because you’re weak, it’s because eating healthy is hard, and it’s a hell of a lot harder when you hold yourself to an unrealistic and unenjoyably standard.

Full story at: Moderation Not Deprivation: Why You Should Eat That Cookie | Greatist.