How many times do we hear people say that they are going on a
diet? When Rabbi Dessler wanted to give up smoking, he told
all and sundry that he had done so. Thus he felt obligated,
and by talking about it, he really had to give up smoking --
and did.
Unfortunately, most people are not of the same caliber as
this great man. Eating is an addiction, as is smoking.
However, with help and a great deal of will power, one can
give up smoking. No living creature can give up eating.
Nevertheless, with obesity now putting more and more people
at risk of early death throughout the world, just as many
people are concerned with giving up some food, as with giving
up smoking.
Some years ago, the Which consumer council magazine
published in England, researched the various treatments and
cures of bad backs. Their findings were interesting. They
declare that anyone who has an attack of really acute back
pain will recover after some days with whatever treatment
they choose. Whether it is through an osteopath or a
chiropractor or some other practitioner, the excruciating
pain will subside. Thus, the sufferer will swear by the
efficacy of the treatment they received. In the same way,
there are numerous diets which `really work' according to
their proponents. A person who is really motivated will keep
to a particular diet and will lose some weight. He might lose
a great deal of weight, but will it stay off?
Observant Jews watch their diet all the time and have no
trouble at all in adhering to it. Take chometz on
Pesach, nothing to eat on fast days, no dairy cup of coffee
after the cholent -- the list is endless, so what is
actually the problem?
Partly it is the very Jewish diet which causes the problem.
Is there anything as tasty as fresh challa on a Friday
night? Moreover, this tasty challa is a must three
times over the course of each Shabbos. We have more feasts
than fasts, when we overindulge. Additionally, and this
trouble is worldwide, we train our children to eat the wrong
food, almost from birth. The numerous young mothers who say,
"He just won't drink plain water so I have to add some sugar
or fruit juice" are not doing their child a favor. Besides
which, adhering to a diet imposed by the Torah is easy. It is
only hard to abstain when it is a self- imposed or perhaps
humanly imposed prohibition.
We're all familiar with the famous story of the Berditchover
Rebbe who managed to obtain an unlimited supply of contraband
cigarettes (possession of punishable by a death sentence
which was at that time) from the Jewish community, but was
greeted with astonishment when he tried unsuccessfully to get
a crumb of chometz on Erev Pesach afternoon.
There are numerous books on the market which weigh up the
benefits of various diets. Headlines scream that you can eat
as much as you like with this diet, and yet lose weight.
Others, especially support groups like Weight Watchers, give
you a sensible diet and assert that you need never feel
hungry. There are cakes or cookies on the market which claim
to give you all the nutrients you need in a day. But most of
these are meant to be eaten instead of a meal and not as an
extra!
Whatever they say, if you take in more calories than your
body requires, you will gradually put on some weight. Does it
matter? That is up to the person who is gaining weight. As
one ages, the body needs increasingly less, although it is
just as important to keep to a well balanced diet which
provides enough of the required daily nutrients. Apart from
the health benefits of not being overweight, one feels better
if one looks better. So forgetting about all the fad diets,
sooner or later in life, one has to begin eating less if one
wants to feel good.
The portions we serve ourselves and our children are really
larger than we need. Moderate eating means different things
to different people. Some people can eat a half a chicken at
one sitting, while others balk at even a quarter. Overeating
becomes a habit which is terribly difficult to break. Self
denial does not work for very long. If you really want to
lose weight and keep it off, or just prevent weight gain,
there are some good tricks around:
Firstly, give your children SMALLER PORTIONS. Some mothers
stuff the child till he can eat no more.
Secondly, SMALLER PLATES look full more easily. You are
really fooling your eyes and your stomach, but that is fine.
Then check on the time of the day when you really MUST have
something to eat. This is usually when coming home from work
or from school, in fact, when coming into the house after a
couple of hours absence. This part is more difficult because
carrots or celery, even when attractively displayed on the
counter, do not always fill the need.
A nice piece of fruit will have to do instead, combined with
a hot drink, perhaps, and a substantial dollop of will power.
The best trick going is to write down honestly, neither more
nor less, exactly what you take into your mouth each day.
When you see the list, you will be shocked into abstinence.
Many people can find their own tricks and what works best for
them.
Without motivation, it is a lost cause. A friend was warned
about the dangers of another heart attack if he did not lose
some weight. His wife made beautiful nutritious diet meals
but unfortunately, he went into the local bakery for dessert
after lunch each day.
The basic rules for keeping weight off are simple. Be choosy
about the foods you eat, not just for a week or two but for
life. Life in both senses of the word. If you have had a
glitch and really overeaten, don't give up for the rest of
the week. When one slips up in speaking loshon hora
once, that doesn't mean that we can do so with impunity for
the rest of the week.
Watch your total calorie intake and burn off as many calories
as you take in by walking instead of driving, walking up and
down stairs instead of taking the elevator. It probably means
altering your lifestyle, which is not easy or fun, but it is
so well worthwhile. The quality of life is better and
b'ezras Hashem you will live longer too.
Discouraging Words
by A. Ross
My family and friends are quiet
When I am on my latest diet.
By counting calories I have found
I've only gained about ten pound.
Alas, my dietetic need
Shifts according to what I read.
Yoghurt and cheese, as much as you please;
They say that I will lose with ease.
Perhaps I'll have a week of salads,
Repugnant to discerning palates.
They're dressed with olive oil and thyme
A week will seem an endless time!
I'll change to lamb chops, liver and beef;
This time, the week is just too brief!
When I am straightening out my curves,
I am a bundle of quivering nerves.
I want to be slim, I want to lose,
Yet like to eat the food I choose.
I've always been fat, that's just the trouble,
Ten years ago my chins were double,
Today they call me fortunate (four chinate),
For having too much on my plate.
Weight Watchers, diets -- not for me;
I'm happy to eat, so let me be.
Come, fellow sufferers in distress,
Let's all eat just a little less.
