Special Edition Posting: The "D" Words

Some random thoughts: Dieting and Dating

Disclaimer: This is not meant to be preachy or to give the impression that I at all know anything about dieting or dating. I am a fan of alliteration - I don’t know why, I just love when there is a play on words that all start with the same letter and yes I realize that I’m a geek. But I digress.
The other day while I was writing in my food and activity journal I was thinking about the word dieting (and lately I've been thinking a lot about how long its been since I dated anyone seriously) and it occurred to me that dieting and dating are similar in a few ways. Then I laughed because dieting…dating there goes that alliteration I love. And I kept thinking about how the two are related and ever so similar.
So there you have it, that is where this “Special Edition Post” comes from. I’m sure this is no great revelation and that there are many people who have come to the following conclusions, but I thought I would share some of what I came up with. Mostly though, I am writing this because simply put, it just made me laugh.

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So here we go in no particular order:

1) We diet so that we can feel and or look more attractive thus making it easier to date. But dating can be stressful and at times heartbreaking which usually ruins a diet. And (we've all done this) once we get into a relationship, we get comfortable and slowly stop doing the things we did for our “dating diet”. Then the “diet” goes out the window…It’s a vicious circle.

Mostly I included this picture because it is the vicious cycle of dieting and dating (Diet/Date, Famine Response, Fall Off, Feast Response, Repeat).

2) When dieting, we usually “go without” the bad stuff. But then we get that craving because its been so long and we end up gorging ourselves on the bad stuff. It’s the same with dating…go too long without and you jump feet first, eyes closed(even though you know you’re doing it) into something with the bad stuff. And by the way, this is goes for women AND men.

3) Dating the right person is like eating the right foods. You want it to be mostly good and healthy, but you can’t live on a sugar free, sodium free, fat free, low carbs, high protein diet for the rest of your life-its just not healthy. Your body needs a little sugar, a little sodium, some fat (and yes there are good fats in food), carbs and protein to function properly. Sometimes bad is good for you. Same with the “right” person - they can’t be totally perfect (you’re not so why should they be??). They have to have some bad qualities. It’s all about moderation and finding the right balance for your health (in both dieting and dating). I guess the keyword is…moderation in both dieting (which is really a horrible word because we say that we are “going on a diet” which implies temporary change in habits until we get to the desired outcome) and dating. A nice mixture of good and bad keeps us healthy and happy. And bad is not always well…bad for us.

4) In the beginning of a diet we are totally excited and committed to making it work…this time. The time before was just a trial run, a practice to figure out what doesn't work for you. Then after the first couple of weeks go by you realize that you actually have to work at dieting and weight loss, you have to make some long term lifestyle changes not just superficial ones, reality sets in and the glow of this “new you” that you’re going to become fades a bit (usually life gets in the way). Its kinda the same with relationships (and new cars)…its great and fun and shiny in the beginning. You’re getting to know each other, the sex is great ‘cause its with someone new, there’s new stories to hear, new restaurants to try and new friends to meet. Then after some time, the new wears off and you realize that you actually have to work at being in a relationship, you have to make some long term lifestyle changes not just superficial ones, reality sets in and the glow of the honeymoon period fades a bit.

Hope this made you laugh a little.