I have learned Deanna takes her meals in moderation. It is truly a lesson we can all learn. It does not matter the meal, or how much she loves it, she is never going to finish everything on your plate.
If you have had the pleasure of meeting her, she is very thin with long legs, a typical dancer’s body. She does not require much to sustain her energy, maybe a yogurt, breakfast bar, two nuggets and a good old PB&J sandwich. It does not matter the time of day or the food in front of her, she is not going to finish it. She has the perfect internal gauge every dieter dreams of and it has nothing to do with willpower. Two spoonfuls of yogurt, three bites of a breakfast bar, half of a nugget, and a fourth of the sandwich will always be left when she is finished. She always wants desserts but what she really wants is a bite or two, not a whole dessert.
I have read many books on dieting, why dieting does not work and how you should change your habits if you want to lose weight and it all comes down to portion control. The best book I ever read on the topic was called French Women Don’t get Fat; it is very specific about the way French women eat. They do not deprive themselves of anything, especially the most delectable pastries, and yet most French women have very thin bodies and are overall healthy.
We all need to find the path to eating that is going to fulfill us and sustain us. What I have learned about myself is I can’t stray away from my typical meals. This is true for many athletes as well. Athletes learn what food items allow their body to become high performing and they stay true to that specific diet. Many of their meals are exactly the same day after day. I am no athlete, but I can attest that eating the same breakfast and lunch allows me to focus better, gives me sustainable energy, and I never feel sluggish or too full. I have also learned from the French ladies and a very smart five year old – everything in moderation. If you don’t deny yourself, you won’t crave it; just put the fork down after a few bites.
