DENNIS PRAGER IS NOT A 'FUN' GUY - BUT HE IS HAPPY

I have spent the past few weeks trying to unravel the enigma of my own mind.  After losing 80 lbs seven years ago - what part of me allowed myself to gain every pound back and tack on nine more?   I have noticed that there are no self-help books at the bookstore with guidelines for gaining weight.  Apparently, most human beings are fully capable of this weight gaining skill without any specialized training.

I cringe when I think about what I have been eating for the past many years.
I cringe when I think about the portion sizes I enjoyed.
I cringe when I think about how often I would get junk from a vending machine late at night.
I cringe when I think that I could find a 'breakfast' in the selections offered by a vending machine.
I cringe when I think about my attitude at a breakfast buffet. (No, it's not an eating contest!)

WHY DID I EAT LIKE THIS?

The answer is quite simple.   IT WAS FUN TO EAT LIKE THAT.
Why would anyone eat a whole pint of ice-cream at one sitting.   IT IS FUN TO EAT.
Why would anyone drink a large high calorie milkshake?  IT IS FUN TO DRINK MILKSHAKES.
Why would anyone eat 10 'Sliders' at White Castle?  IT IS FUN TO EAT SLIDERS.
Why would anyone eat a giant slice of seven-layer chocolate cake?  IT IS FUN TO EAT CAKE. 
Why would anyone visit a vending machine at 11PM at night?  IT IS FUN TO EAT CANDY.

Would anyone feel happier after eating in this fashion?  NEVER. 

In fact, I have been doing the opposite lately.  Certainly it is NOT FUN to avoid tasty, high-calorie foods and drinks and candies and cookies and ice-creams and milkshakes.

I am HAPPIER when I remember to avoid these foods and I remember how much this 'SACRIFICE' is improving my waistline and my health and my attitude.

Dennis Prager, host of 'The Dennis Prager Show' broadcast nationally from L.A.'s KRLA 870 AM radio is my favorite talk radio host, author,  and thinker.   In Prager's 1998 book, 'Happiness is a Serious Problem' (still in print) he addresses this issue:

"FUN THAT DECREASES HAPPINESS 

There is a second type of fun, one that can actually decrease happiness.  I am not referring to anything either immoral or illegal, such as taking drugs.  I am referring to nothing more sinister than, for example, eating fattening food. Eating delicious foods is a great deal of fun, but for many people these foods are more a source of unhappiness than of happiness.  Which group is happier - those who have fun eating all the fattening foods they enjoy, or those who have learned to usually deprive themselves of that fun and keep the body they want?"   (Dennis Prager)

That's it!  That is why I gained every pound back that I had lost.  That is why I gained all that weight in the first place.  It is fun to eat.  It is fun to overeat.  It is fun to eat three slices of pizza. It is fun to drink a giant milkshake.  It is fun to have cookies, cake and ice-cream when planting oneself on the sofa to sit back and enjoy a movie.  Fun is not the same as happiness.  I never felt happier after eating like this.  In fact, the more 'fun' I had eating, the more and more unhappy I became.

Since way, way back on December 24, 2014 I have reversed course.   It is NOT FUN to deprive myself of every sweet delicious food concoction that one can imagine.

As a result of my self-deprivation of junk food, high calorie food and simply too much of all food - I am overwhelmed with a feeling of great HAPPINESS.  

I guess I must admit that I am having less fun - BUT I SURE AM HAPPIER!

The thing is, since I am happier, I am having fun.  
Almost seems to negate the entire premise of my argument.
Believe me, it does not.

And one more thing...I don't know Dennis Prager any better than any of his one million+ radio audience...nevertheless, I am sure he really is a very fun guy! He is definitely a happy guy!

I briefly met Dennis Prager when he was in Chicago on November 3, 2012  (back then I probably weighed slightly under 300 lbs - but who knows - In those days I wasn't jumping onto a scale too often - or at all!)

MONDAY'S MENU

Monday was another low calorie day (DAY 27) as they have all been since December 24, 2014.

BREAKFAST   three poached eggs with two slices of turkey 'bacon'                       280 CALORIES
LUNCH            2 cups Healthy 8 Chopped Veggie Mix, CHICKEN SAUSAGE            200 CALORIES
DINNER            Premium Black Angus Steak Tips 4 oz, 3 Cups Baby Spinach
                            w/two tablespoons of Marie's Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing            255  CALORIES            
                               
 TOTAL CALORIC CONSUMPTION SUNDAY        735 CALORIES

I had Midnight 12:30AM morning 4 mile walk @ 4 MPH for 60 minutes - BURNED 600 CALORIES

Since Monday was a holiday and I was home for the day, I visited the treadmill again in the afternoon.

1:30PM  4 mile walk @ 4 MPH for 60 minutes - BURNED ANOTHER 600 CALORIES.

NET CALORIC INTAKE WAS NEGATIVE 465 CALORIES

I think that I can assume that a lot of the energy needs of my body yesterday came from my extraordinarily ample storehouse of fat cells.

The hardest thing for me to resist these days, is not chocolate, or a Klondike Ice Cream Bar - it IS the urge to step onto a scale.   For the time being, I would like to weigh myself once per week and I am sticking to that plan. 

                     LUNCH  2 cups Chopped Veggie Mix & CHICKEN SAUSAGE  200 CALORIES

DINNER  Black Angus Steak w/Organic Baby Spinach & Vinaigrette Dressing 255 CALORIES