Date: July 24, 2023
Current weight: 365.4 lbs
Height: 5 foot 7
As the clock strikes 9:52 pm, I bask in my success, having made it through the day without failing. I’ve taken the audacious resolution to renounce all sugar and flour, a daunting challenge to some, and an unforgivable transgression in the eyes of many health professionals. “You can’t eliminate an entire food group!” they’d exclaim, casting my decision as a mortal sin. The fact is, regardless of one’s standpoint, one can always find research to support it. This phenomenon, known as “confirmation bias,” leads us to favour information that aligns with our existing beliefs.
So, what exactly is my belief? In truth, I can’t be certain. The vast sea of information available at our fingertips, all compelling in its own right, makes it challenging to discern the ideal course of action for weight loss. However, here’s what I do know, or at least what I perceive to be true:
1. Weight loss boils down to the principle of calories in versus calories out.
2. The efficacy of a diet doesn’t seem to hinge on its type, but rather on one’s ability to adhere to it. So whether you choose veganism, carnivorous diet, keto, or simply a balanced intake, weight loss should follow as long as you are in a caloric deficit.
3. A common thread among all diets is the elimination of sugar and junk food.
4. Understanding the above, it’s clear why dietitians advocate for moderation, cautioning against the exclusion of any food group to prevent binging and falling off the diet wagon. It’s an approach I wholeheartedly support—if you’re capable of moderation, embrace it.
5. Personally, I find moderation a Herculean task. My numerous attempts have only been met with intense cravings and a constant mental tug-of-war. The incessant negotiations within my mind over the sufficiency of two squares of chocolate, or the irresistible allure of just one more, feels like a self-made prison. The relief from this inner turmoil comes only when I’ve completely cut out sugar and flour. It may take 1-3 weeks to reach this peaceful state, but when I do, it’s blissful and much easier to sustain. It’s only when the whispering suggestion of “maybe you can try moderation now” creeps in that I falter.
With these thoughts, I’ll sign off for now and surrender myself to sleep, welcoming the hastening of time that sleep gifts us with.
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