Ban the Pan

It may occur in your place of work. It could be at the park or anywhere outdoors. It may be held in the cultural hall at church. Perhaps, a popular local eatery will be the choice to host it. It might take place in your very own home. What is it, exactly? It is a celebration, of course! Regardless of our diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, nationalities, and ages, indeed, everyone loves a good party to commemorate significant dates, milestones, or holiday events. Anywhere a group of family members, old friends, new friends, neighbors, co-workers, casual acquaintances, or even strangers gather together there is much fun to be had by one and all. I don’t wish to crash your party and burst all your birthday balloons, however, I do want to help you take a sneak peek at something that I know is the source of your current personal struggle. Some of the celebratory traditions at these wonderful get-togethers are cause for concern. For the sole purpose of helping you attain your stated health and fitness goals, I wish to address one of them today. This particular issue is a sharp stumbling block for many on this wonderful journey into a new world of wellness. Painful as it may be, it is time that you came to grips with your role in this problem.

I am certain that this is of no surprise to you. The official diagnosis is an acute case of sweet tooth syndrome. Typically the signs of this disorder are exaggerated in a party atmosphere. However, they can occur anywhere at any time regardless of the size of the crowd. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: extreme salivation at the sight of any sweet treat, disorientation and confusion when multiple “goodies” are presented for possible consumption, severe sweating resulting from the strange attraction to anything with frosting, inability to make correct decisions due to chocolate on the brain, overblown displays of laughter and self-deprecating humor caused by rationalization, and total loss of control resulting in anti-social behavior such as plopping your chair in front of the dessert table.

It may sound harsh of me to suggest that you continue to contribute to the problem. But, I am absolutely correct. Other than your sugar addiction, you insist that you have a clean bill of health. Well, that doesn’t make much sense, does it? This is a serious addiction with devastating short and long term consequences.  The reality is that despite the marvelous progress you have been making in other areas, this is proving to be your Achilles heal. It can and will be your downfall if you do not “ban the pan”! Why do you insist on baking that which you understand you should not be partaking? So, yes, I’m saying that the cookie pans, the cupcake trays, the pie tins, and any other thing you use to make the tantalizing treats should be banished indefinitely. At this point, is there any other way? Personally, I don’t think so.

You would do well to cut out the sugar completely from your D.I.E.T. You desire to reach optimal health. You need to promote it to others as well. You do this by not participating in foolish traditions. No, I am not saying celebrations are silly and without purpose or merit. I am declaring that the obsession with the entire concept of dessert is problematic for you. Dessert has traditionally been a sweet concoction of some form which concludes a hearty meal. It is not an exaggeration to say that in some cases the dessert of choice far exceeds the caloric value of the initial meal itself. So, essentially, one is consuming another meal. If it is such an integral part of this tradition, why not just begin with the sweet meal? Of course, that would be breaking with conventional observance. We must not do that. There are many customary practices that are quite worthy of being passed down from generation to generation. This unwritten code involving the need to make a dessert every single time that people gather together is not one of them. So stop perpetuating this long-established ritual by saying “No!” Am I saying “Never”? That is for you, alone, to decide.

Why do you tempt yourself in this fashion? I clearly do not understand. I am keenly aware of the power that sugar has over people, and you know this as well. So, why do you tempt others with your sweet contributions to the party table? Let’s define the word tempt. As a verb, it means to purposefully entice or allure someone to acquire something (your fudge brownies) that they find very attractive but know to be wrong or not beneficial. Hmm, “not beneficial”, does that sound like dessert to you? Bingo! What are you to do?  You can start by avoiding it at all costs, because it will cost you that which you desire most. This journey you are on is too important. For you to continue the wonderful progress you’ve made and to be a good example, even a role model for others, you must get this obsession in check. The old you would devour everything in sight at any celebratory function. The new you has the motivation and the will-power to start a new, healthy tradition in your own home, in the workplace, at the picnic in the park, and in the restaurant. If you’ve had a slip-up and indulged in some sweet delights, please know that you are forgiven. You are capable of steering clear of that which offers nothing more than momentary pleasure followed by a taste of terrible guilt. The desire for instant gratification cannot exist in the heart which longs for lasting happiness. You are not yet, now, what you will someday become. I implore you not to delay another day in doing away with any traditions that are holding you back from reaching your full potential.

 

photo credit: High Fiber Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies via photopin (license)