It was just another Monday morning, like countless others, where I awoke with a fresh sense of determination that this week would be different. I was ready to embrace healthier eating habits and finally shed some of the baby weight that had lingered for the past two years. There would be workouts, hydration levels high enough to keep me running to the bathroom, and yes, even kale. I promised myself I would stick to this regimen.
By the end of the week, I had managed to drop a few pounds and felt a surge of excitement each time I stepped on the scale. Yet, the reality was that I was irritable. My head throbbed incessantly, and I had developed a strong aversion to that dreaded kale. I was hangry. My legs ached from all the running and squats, and every trip to the bathroom felt like a precarious balancing act. Looking at my calendar, I could find no joy in the upcoming events; social outings now appeared as temptations rather than opportunities for fun.
But I had set aside a little treat for myself, something to look forward to. I bought a pint of protein-packed ice cream that had received rave reviews everywhere. It was stashed in my freezer, patiently waiting for my moment of indulgence. I’ve walked this path before, and I know that after a week of hard work, I like to reward myself. This would be my guilt-free dessert.
Fast forward to the moment I took my first bite of that so-called ice cream.
I was ready to pen a letter to my congressman, demanding a law that prohibits anyone from calling this stuff ice cream. Ever. That ice cream-flavored concoction went straight into the trash, where it truly belonged.
Frustrated and longing for real ice cream, I reflected on the week. Despite my progress, I was in a foul mood and just wanted to enjoy something without guilt. The phrase that popped into my mind was the most ridiculous one of all: “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.”
What absolute nonsense! This saying is often used to make us think that any indulgence will ruin our progress, or that enjoying food is somehow a weakness.
You know what? Enough of that. I feel empowered! I ate plenty of rabbit food for a whole week and avoided nearly everything I actually enjoy. I didn’t snack or cheat, and I exercised daily. I feel like crap, but I made it through. If this is what that outdated saying refers to, then even kale tastes better than what “skinny” feels like, and let’s be real—that kale is what trees might use for wiping!
There are loads of foods that taste way better than feeling thin: bread, chocolate, cheese, bagels, milkshakes, pizza, french fries, corndogs, tacos, cheesecake, and yes, even bacon. Let’s not kid ourselves—actual ice cream is on that list too.
Now, I want to clarify that there is nothing inherently wrong with being skinny or thin, but it’s the all-or-nothing mindset around diet and health that makes many of us feel like failures for indulging or not meeting arbitrary ideals. I refuse to be “skinny” if it means all my pizza has to be cauliflower-based. A life devoid of indulgence is no life at all. Sure, I might fit into my pre-baby jeans again, but is it worth the sacrifice, like giving up real ice cream? That’s a price I’m no longer willing to pay.
So, the next time someone tells me that “sweat is just fat crying,” they’ll hear my rebuttal: “No, sweat is simply the body cooling itself through moisture to regulate temperature. These tears? Those are my frustrations from burpees—tools of the devil!”
And if anyone dares to utter, “A moment on the lips, forever on the hips,” I’ll explain in detail how that cookie only spends a fleeting moment on my lips before making its journey through my digestive system and ending up in the toilet about 33 hours later. I’m done with these ridiculous sayings.
How about this instead: “Many things taste just as good as healthy feels”? Because, in truth, being skinny isn’t the ultimate goal. The goal is to not dread the number my doctor reads when checking my cholesterol levels, to run up and down the stairs effortlessly, and to live a life where I can make sensible choices without feeling like I’ve ruined everything just because I had some fries.
Healthy is the real objective, and it comes in many shapes and sizes. We can enjoy our cake and eat it too—just in moderation. Instead of berating ourselves for every little slip-up, let’s embrace a healthier mindset. Let’s power through the spinach and quinoa, and then treat ourselves to a cookie or a glass of wine if we desire.
And whatever you do, don’t let a little indulgence make you feel like you’ve derailed your whole journey. See life as a journey, not a destination filled with anger over food choices.
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Summary: This article challenges the idea that “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” advocating for a balanced approach to health and enjoyment of food. By rejecting restrictive mindsets, it emphasizes the importance of finding joy in eating while making healthier choices.