Thank you, Body!

Aug 31, 2017

It was going to be a long afternoon—the next three hours were tightly scheduled: picking up kids from two different schools, taking one to an appointment and the other a class, fitting in getting gas for the car, cash for the week and picking up my long lost dry cleaning. Check, check and check! The trouble was I had to pee the whole time.

I’d forget about it when I had the chance, and then be rudely reminded at the most inopportune times. By the time I got home, I was sprinting to the door—unlocking it took FOREVER. Just in time—sweet relief (TMI, I know, but stick with me :).

Little kids have “accidents” because they are having too much fun to stop and deal with the bathroom. Adults aren’t even having fun when we deny our bodily need—we hold it because we are too busy. More important things need our attention.

It’s strange when you think about it: We rely on our physical bodies to get things done in the world and yet we often feel dismissive or even resentful of its basic needs.

Bodies need to fuel up, remove waste and rest to recover. Eating, visiting the bathroom, and sleeping—all these things are sometimes seen as necessary evils or a waste of time. It’s a particularly Western way of looking at our bodies.

And it is making us fat.

Not feeding ourselves when we are hungry is denying our body what it needs.

I tell people that if you want to gain weight, it’s easy. All you have to do is have coffee in the morning, don’t eat anything all day, then have dinner. You will gain lots and lots of weight every time.

Why?

Because by the time you feed your intense hunger, one meal won’t do. You want A LOT of food to fill the huge hole of need you created by denying your hunger all day. It’s just like peeing after too long—the need is too intense.

So feed your body regularly.

Breakfast is notoriously important for this very reason—you are starting out the day by acknowledging one of your body’s real requirements and satisfying it.

Of course the trick is fueling up properly. Because a donut won't last as long as a scrambled egg. And it has more calories.

Building a fire works for an analogy: You start with kindling, an easy fast burn, then the logs catch fire for a sustained one. Carbohydrate fuel can be thought of as the kindling in the fire—it gives quick energy but does not last long. Proteins are the logs—a slow and steady burn keeping your hunger satisfied for longer periods of time.

Focus on protein with each snack or meal and you will feel better, longer, throughout the day.

Thank you, Body!!

Thank you, Body!

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