Much has been written and said about the oft reported, but unsubstantiated premise that college students gain fifteen pounds during their freshmen year. This phenomena is commonly referred to as the "Freshmen Fifteen". Their unsupervised access to the "all you can eat" buffets and desert bars in the university cafeterias are typically the cause of this meteoric rise in weight.
End Of The Year Calories Don't Count
A much lesser known, but equally serious condition, is the "December Fifteen". It happens to most of us every single year.
It starts at halloween when we let our guards down and indulge in the candies and sweets that we have successfully avoided since the beginning of the year. Then at Thanksgiving time we gorge on the wonderful pies and trimmings that accompany our healthy turkey dinner. Finally, at Christmas, our defenses are destroyed and we find ourselves eating holiday treats instead of exercising. We tell ourselves that the end of the year calories don't count and we allow ourselves the opportunity to eat whatever we want.
Is it any wonder that the most popular New Year's resolution is focused on losing weight. The end of the year binge is fresh on our mind and we are ready to do something about it.
I Subscribe To Responsible Bingeing
I confess. I thoroughly enjoy the freedom to sleep in and eat savory (ok unhealthy) food during the holiday season. I don't mind the weight gain or the fitness loss. I admit that the older I get, the harder it becomes to step back into the rhythm of daily exercise and eating unsavory (healthy) food, but I don't care. I love the chance to eat without guilt.
The opportunity to cut loose suits me well. By the time New Year's day rolls around, I am actually feeling sick of all the sweet and rich food. I find myself ready to return to my healthy diet. The fact that my pants no longer fit comfortably inspires me to get back in the gym. Rested and well fed, I enter the new year with a desire to pursue my physical goals.
This re-kindled fire usually motivates me to hit it hard until the next Halloween arrives. Then I happily slip into binge mode again.
To Your Health
I want you to be healthy. I want you to be active as you advance in years. I think it is possible to take a break from all your hard work, as long as you are responsible. Unless you have very little resolve, I am certain that your commitment to a healthy lifestyle will not be destroyed by a couple of weeks of feasting on a high calorie taste filled diet.
My friend Peter Urmston recently said that his New Year's resolution is to gain enough weight so that he can be on the Biggest Loser next year. Of course I am not recommending that for everyone, but Peter is an Ironman Triathlete and I seriously doubt he will reach for this new goal with the zeal he went after his Ironman training.
I guess what I am saying is that you don't need to have killer abs. They require much more work than they are worth. It is very important to strengthen your core muscles, but we must live a little along the way. We can be fit without denying ourselves the occasional pizza or chocolate chip cookie. Just leave the bingeing for the end of the year.
I Know I'm Crazy
Feel free to write to tell me I am crazy, but please be advised that I already know I am, and I won't deny it. I firmly believe that it is this kind of thinking that keeps us all sane. Life is too long to always deny ourselves a double bacon cheeseburger with onion rings and a vanilla shake. Every once in a while we need to splurge. I give you permission do it without feeling guilty.
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