THIS GRAPHIC POPS UP EVERY YEAR RIGHT AROUND THANKSGIVING (THERE IS ALSO ONE FOR  HALLOWEEN  AND CHRISTMAS) AND I HATE IT!  IT LISTS VARIOUS POPULAR HOLIDAY FOODS, CALORIES CONSUMED AND HOW MUCH EXERCISE YOU WOULD NEED TO DO TO BURN OFF THOSE CALORIES.  I HAVE TWO MAJOR GRIPES WITH THIS GRAPHIC.

FIRST, THE MATH JUST DOESN’T WORK.  WHILE IT IS TECHNICALLY TRUE THAT ENERGY IN=ENERGY OUT (OR THAT CALORIES CONSUMED CAN EQUAL CALORIES BURNED), MOST OF OUR BODIES JUST DON’T WORK THAT WAY.  WE HAVE DIFFERENT METABOLISMS, DIFFERENT FITNESS LEVELS OR RESTRICTIONS, AND DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF TIME TO SPEND ON EXERCISE EACH DAY.  PLUS, DOES ANYONE REALLY HAVE THE TIME TO DO AN EXTRA HOUR OF EXERCISE THE NEXT DAY JUST TO BURN OFF SOME CRANBERRY SAUCE?  ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE ON THE JOHNS HOPKINS ALL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL WEBSITE, “It may take 2 minutes to eat a 350-calorie piece of cake, but someone who weighs 100 pounds (about 45 kg) would need to walk for more than 2 hours to burn it off.”  AND, WHAT IF YOU WEIGH MORE THAN 100 POUNDS (WHICH MOST ADULTS DO)?  ARE YOU GOING TO BE WALKING FOR THE REST OF THE NEXT DAY?  I DON’T THINK SO.

MY SECOND ISSUE WITH THESE GRAPHICS IS MORE ABOUT BALANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.  BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, HOLIDAYS- INCLUDING THANKSGIVING – SHOULD BE CELEBRATIONS, NOT GUILT TRAPS.  YES…IF YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG POST, YOU ARE PROBABLY SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT FITNESS AND ENJOYS EXERCISING AND ALL THE REST OF IT.  AWESOME!  AND, WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHAT WE EAT, HOW MANY CALORIES WE CONSUME AND THAT WE ARE MOVING OUR BODIES IN SOME WAY EVERY DAY.  HOWEVER, WE ARE HUMAN AND, ESPECIALLY NOW, WE HAVE TO ENJOY CERTAIN MOMENTS IN LIFE AND NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THAT.

AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT EATING MASHED POTATOES SMOTHERED IN GRAVY EVERY DAY, HAVING A HELPING OR TWO ON THANKSGIVING, OR HAVING A PIECE OF CAKE TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY, WILL NOT DERAIL YOUR PROGRESS.  IN FACT, IN MY OPINION, ALLOWING OURSELVES THOSE SMALL INDULGENCES HERE AND THERE IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING YOUR GOALS.  IF YOU ARE TOO RESTRICTIVE OR IF YOU SEE FOOD AS THE ENEMY, YOUR SHORT-TERM RESULTS WILL NOT BE SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME.

SO…I’D MUCH RATHER SEE A GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS SOMEONE ENJOYING THANKSGIVING AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, GOING RIGHT BACK INTO HIS/HER REGULAR EXERCISE ROUTINE.  MAYBE SKIP THE SECOND GLASS OF WINE THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY OR PASS ON BREAD AT DINNER TOMORROW NIGHT.  THAT IS BALANCE.  THAT IS MODERATION.  THAT IS SUSTAINABLE.

BUT PLEASE DON’T JUMP ON THE TREADMILL TOMORROW TO BURN OFF THAT SLICE OF PUMPKIN PIE! IT WAS DELICIOUS!  ENJOY IT!