Serious Eats
Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 36: Spousal Wisdom
My wife, Vicky.
I haven't lost weight in a couple of weeks, and I have to admit it's kind of discouraging. But I've been telling myself that it's only a matter of time. My wife does not brook such talk easily. She worries all the time about my weight and its effect on my health and longevity. I guess she really does want me to to stick around for awhile.
But what does she know? She's been thin her whole life, as has her entire family, and in times of great stress she forgets to eat. What a concept!
Earlier this week, my wife let me have it with both barrels. She told me that my love of food and my genetic predisposition for weight gain were not acceptable excuses. I took exception to her characterization of what she obviously thinks is my futile weight loss effort. It was a really difficult thing for me to sit through. I thought I was under attack.
So what should I do? What in fact did I do?
After a sleepless night I decided that what my wife said had some merit. I decided that I really can't let my love of food rule my life.
So this week I have resisted the many temptations that have been put in front of me. We had the Shacktober excursion, and I really did just taste the sausages and the concrete. I went to a party last night at Per Se thrown by Thomas Keller for Ferran Adria and tasted three pass-arounds. I just kept telling myself that all the food I wasn't eating was still going to be around for a next time, and losing weight was going to give me a much better chance of being around for the next time. And the time after that.
I don't have to give up the inordinate pleasure I get from food. I just have to give up the idea that all the pleasure must be experienced immediately. There will be profoundly delicious barbecue and fried chicken and spaghetti carbonara and pizza and ice cream sundaes and pie to be had in the future. I just have to be around to enjoy it.
My midweek weigh-in had me down a pound on Wednesday and even on Thursday. My wife's tongue-lashing seemed to have had a positive effect. So what will this morning bring? Let's find out.
The Weigh-In
244. Down two pounds for the week. I'm thrilled. Psst. Don't tell my wife. I don't want her to think that she was right.