26 Cookies, 12 Pieces of Pie, 8 Pounds and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
A local radio station has recently been sharing stats about the holidays as part of a trivia contest. And that’s how I learned the following:
The average number of cookies consumed during the holidays is 26. The average number of pieces of pie is 12. And the average person gains eight pounds each year during the holiday season.
One of my family members is a high school teacher. Last weekend, she told me that her co-workers have an annual tradition called “The 12 Days of Treats” leading up to Christmas. She explained that there are “only” 12 days but there are more than 30 participating staff members. So on the majority of those treat days, there are three different options to choose from.
But if you’re like me, your response would be, “Options to choose from? Screw that, I’m trying all of them.” (I’m very passionate about my sweets.)
Here’s the problem: When I’m around baked goods, I really, REALLY struggle with restraining myself. I won’t cave in and say, “I can’t,” but it’s a fine line and damn, do I walk it hard.
So if I worked at that school, for 12 days in a row, I would be fighting a mental battle in my head. And if I’m being totally honest, I wouldn’t win on most days. I would also be willing to bet a pretty penny that I’m not alone.
We live in a world where the corporate norm is to bring in food to celebrate birthdays, sales achievements and Sheila’s son’s dog-walker’s grand-daughter’s graduation. That is to say, “Does today end in ‘y?’ Let’s celebrate it with sugar!”
I consider myself to have pretty good willpower. And I’m “lucky” (aka I’ve worked really hard for more than a decade) to be in good enough shape that I’ve distanced myself from illness on the Sickness-Wellness-Fitness Continuum.
But they say that sugar is as addictive as cocaine. And while I haven’t tried cocaine, I have tried Reeces Peanut Butter Trees. (Yes, the trees are better than the cups and I will die on this hill.) So let me assure you, if I’ve had one bite of a tree and you asked me to not take a second, our friendship would be at risk. And if that isn’t proof of the addictive nature of sugar, I don’t know what is.
The Mob Mentality.
We also live in a world that’s battling an ever-increasing obesity epidemic and fighting it with Big Pharma. It’s also a world where being in shape is becoming more and more rare, and poking fun at fit people for not being “normal” is actually a thing.
As proof, those same radio DJs who’ve been talking about the cookies and pie are always joking about the gym.
“I’m overweight and I could do something about that but… I’m not going to,” they laugh. “That would be silly.”
It’s like being out of shape is now the norm, so the more we can make people feel okay with that, the better we’ll all feel. We’ve established a mob mentality and here’s the vibe: Everyone is unhealthy, so hey, get on board and grab a Twinkie!
How do we not realize how backwards that is?
And why, when we all know how hard it is to fight the will power battle in our own heads, are we suggesting a 12-day treat fest? Yes, I want camaraderie with my co-workers. And hell yes, I want a freaking delicious holiday treat.
But do I need 36 different treats that will make me gain ten pounds this holiday season? No, I do not. Nor do I need that temptation. And I’m guessing you don’t either. So why are we doing this to each other?
Change Has to Start Somewhere.
I’m not naive enough to believe that writing a blog about this sugar shitstorm is going to affect change in the world.
But I do want to tell you the good news. You get to live your own life and to make your own decisions. You don’t have to follow the norm or be a statistic. There is — and always will be — one person in your life that gets to decide your outcomes.
And guess what? If you actually do want to eat 26 cookies and 12 pieces of pie — today — you can. You are free to make whatever decisions you want in this world, however you are not free from the consequences.
But wait. There’s more.
There’s actually a clever little hack to counteract the idea that everyone around you is enjoying a pleasantly-plump life. Find the ones that aren’t. Surround yourself with like-minded people who reject this societal norm and actually want to live a healthy life.
And even more good news! You might not know this but there’s a huge group of people out there who find the balance between the extremes.
Think of it this way: If one extreme is copious amounts of baked goods and fast food, and the other extreme is grilled chicken and broccoli for every meal, there’s a group in between. If one group is couch potatoes and other is Iron Man finishers, there’s a group in between.
There are people out there who aim to live a healthy lifestyle while actually enjoying life. These are people who make exercise a regular part of their lives and still go out for dinner with friends. They protect their health and still have s’mores with their kids when they go camping.
They’re working adults that manage to find time to take care of their family and work obligations while also taking care of themselves. Because they’re worth it, and they know that their family and co-workers need them.
And they come in all shapes and sizes. So this is your friendly reminder to never judge someone or their journey based on their size. How do you know that the girl you judge as “overweight” hasn’t already lost 100lbs? Or that the “really skinny” guy who had an eating disorder has been working just as hard on his mental battle as his physical one?
You don’t know. Every person has their own life, goal weight, challenges, etc. It’s not your journey to judge, so don’t.
But that right there is the the mob you should surround yourself with. The group whose “mob mentality” means support, encouragement, accountability and fun. They’ll make you realize the absurdity of the more commonplace norms that aim to make you fat and keep you there.
Need help finding your mob? Feel free to reach out. I’m here to help!