Monday, January 04, 2010

Eating In A Virtually Empty Restaurant

I went to my favorite pizza buffet this evening (all the pizza, pop, spaghetti, and salad you want for $8).



There was only one other party there while I ate. As I was getting dessert sticks, one of the members of the other party mentioned how surprised he was at the lack of people there. I said, "Well, that's more for us" (though all I ever really eat is some thin crust pizza and a few of the aforementioned sticks).

One possible reason for the restaurant being relatively barren is the cold, but that doesn't typically stop people from going out up here. Perhaps it is because on the 4th of the year, people are still trying to keep their New Year's resolutions which typically include things like staying away from fatty foods and buffets. I don't doubt that in a few weeks, on a Monday like tonight, they'll be quite a few more people ingesting as their good intentions give in to the temptation of a Deep Dish Meat Lover's pie.

I've always had a problem with people saying they're going to start a diet next Monday or the first of the month. If something is worth doing, why wait? It reminds me of the Saint Augustine quote, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet!" If I'm looking to get healthier, there's no reason to put it off. Typically, once you start doing something, the desire to continue it will show up. Waiting around for motivation to strike is typically a losing game.

6 comments:

Randy said...

We went to Olive Garden the other night and it was uncharacteristically not full.

(My resolution is to use big words).

Rocketstar said...

Diets are worhtless, people need to start 'living thier lives differently', not dieting. It's a bout a life chnage, not a diet.

ExtraO said...

Hmm... is it a losing game? I'll have to think about that.

Dave said...

I have to admit that I have probably tried more diets than most. I start with the best of intentions but I am happy how I am and find it hard to keep to any diet that doesn't include eating exactly what I want when I want it.

You're completely correct in what you say, the only way is to change your life to include healthy eating not start a diet that sooner or later will end.

However, despite the fact I am fast approaching 50, I just cant find the motivation.

Timothy Smith said...

I was "saved", my wife did the lifestyle change deal. It took a few years to get use to planning out all the meals and finding a large amount of recipes we like but we opted for a life long plan that the kids will hopefully pick up on.

I find it easiest to take it one meal at a time. If you are going to eat some bad stuff just try and limit it. Maybe a burger without the fries or some fries and no burger.

Tom, have you noticed less people at the theater and/or lines for popcorn etc? Last time I went we almost had the place to ourselves.

Thomas said...

Randy, good for you (on both counts).

Rocket, I'm in total agreement.

Dawn, I've found it's much easier to just go on the treadmill than to wait until I'm motivated to do so. If it's worth doing, why wait until I feel like it?

Dave, it is possible to be overweight and still in reasonably good shape. As long as your cholesterol is not out of control and your blood sugar levels aren't too elevated, you could be just fine at the weight you're at.

My motivation to losing weight about ten years ago was an illustration I saw of how the more weight you gain, the more crowded your organs get plus my dad has diabetes and I wanted to lessen the chances of this happening to me.

Though I'm at a healthy weight, it's hard to get away from eating junk food. I am proud of the fact, though, that every evening I have a Healthy Choice French Bread pizza and a V-8 every couple days. Every little bit helps.

Tim, fantastic that your wife was able to follow a path that would ensure her family had ready access to healthy foods yet still indulge a bit from time to time.

I really need to buy things like peaches and corn to have around the house so that I don't always fall back on Spicy Nacho Doritos and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the Cards do this weekend against the Pack. Green Bay's much improved since the Vikings last played them, but the Cards got super-hot this time last year.

This is my favorite part of the football season (4 playoff games this weekend, 4 games next).