So Why Not Just Be Fat?

I can hear the argument already: If dieting is so impossible, why not just be fat? Isn't that what hedonism is all about?

The short answer is no. Hedonism is not synonymous with gluttony. Hedonism is about the pursuit of pleasure, and being fat is not FUN. For that matter, neither are most of the activities that result in overweight. Think about it for a minute. Do you really enjoy that greasy fast food burrito purchased through the drive-through on lunch break? Does your mouth actually water at the thought of that monster-size soda? Do you relish the feeling of accomplishment that comes from chasing down every last bland french fry on your plate, and then spending the night in front of the TV staring blankly at "Dancing with the Stars?" Do these things make you smile, make you feel more alive?

Of course not. Given the choice, almost anyone would rather savor a glass of wine and a plate of chicken parmesan, followed by an evening of dancing. And even here, overindulgence is not fun. Too much wine and pasta will make you too sluggish and queasy to dance, to say nothing of the following morning. The pleasure of it all lies in the balance.

Balance is equally important in the area of exercise. In this country, exercise tends to fall into one of two camps: 1) What exercise?; or 2) I spend three hours on the stationary bike every weekend to work off this week's cheesecake quota. Truthfully, the average person strives for category two a few times a year and then falls off the wagon. And why not? It's a miserable cycle.

Think long and hard about the things you enjoy doing. I'm willing to bet all of them are verbs, and only one or two involve the words "watching" and "sitting." When asked to list the things that bring them joy, most people would include walking, hiking, biking, swimming, playing with children, painting, gardening, cooking, fishing, dancing, and skiing. And yet, according to AC Nielson Co., the average American spends 4 hours a day watching TV. That's over 50% of a full-time employee's leisure time spent watching the boob tube! Just about any activity you name will use more energy than watching TV, and be much more fun to boot.

When you really look at the idea, there's just no comparison. Drive-through burrito vs. Blackened Bleu Chicken Salad? Chicken hands down. Hours of mindless TV vs. taking your kids to the playground? No contest. By pursuing real enjoyment and pleasure, I lost 43 pounds and found myself. It's not about losing weight, it's about having fun doing it.