There’s an interesting split among the responses – people who really enjoy eating (like me), getting a great deal of pleasure and joy and emotional satisfaction/comfort from food, and people who don’t, and mostly see eating as a chore. But there’s another split, especially with the last post (#20), that I’ve noticed through my life, among people who do enjoy food a lot – people who eat for comfort and emotional support in rough times, and people who eat as a celebration of life. In my experience, the former (eating for comfort and support) is far more common than the latter (eating in a joyful way to celebrate life), but I’m among the latter. This was most pronounced in my experience in the Navy – life kind of sucks on a submarine, for just about everyone… and one of the few comforts onboard is that the food is sometimes pretty good. So most of the crew gains weight while under way. But I never did – while I was stressed and not sleeping well, I ate even less – eating wasn’t fun, I found. So I lost weight underway. But when we’d pull into port for a few days, or get back home, I’d eat like a pig and gain back all the weight I lost.
Similarly, when I’ve had rough personal times (like ending a relationship or a protracted fight with a loved one), I barely eat and lose weight, while most others I’ve known binge on junk food to comfort themselves in such rough times. And then when things are good I suddenly want to eat all the good food, junky and healthy.
That was me up through my 30’s as well. My metabolism slowed down in the 40’s and now in my 50’s …well, my gut should consider applying for its own citizenship. :rolleyes: I tend to pig out when I’m not happy, but would probably pig out regardless of my emotional state if I got a free pass for 30 days, simply because I enjoy good food.
Since you seem to have focused on my post particularly, I’ll mention that the following factors drove my answer:
While negative physical and social consequences were abrogated, financial consequences were not. Expensive food is still expensive. (Unless you just steal it and claim anyone minding that is a social consequence, I suppose.)
I personally have an extremely low need for variety.
I like potato chips! I like cookies! I like ice cream! And I’m not going to stop liking them in the course of a month. (Presuming I’m rotating around between different varieties of things, anyway.) If I’m already liking what I’m eating, what possibly benefits could there be to branching out?
For the record I in fact don’t eat to enjoy life - I have actual hobbies that fill that need. I do enjoy eating, though. If the food is tasty, anyway.
There’s a big glass case at the Double T Diner in Annapolis with an impressive array of the most tempting desserts. I’ve said that if I ever get down to 170 lbs. again, I’m going there and having one of everything.
There’s a big glass case at La Segunda Bakery in Ybor City with an impressive array of the most tempting desserts. (Different desserts, being a Cuban bakery. The Double T leans towards Greek.) I’m already a big fan of anything in that case with guava in it. I’ve said the same thing about that case.
So if I had a 30-day vacation from the consequences of eating, I’d start with those two places. I’m sure I’d think of others.
I imagine I would eat like I did up until a couple of years ago: basically all carbs, all the time. No breakfast. A cheeseburger, fries, and brownie for lunch every day. Mac and cheese, tuna casserole, pizza, McDonald’s, or super unhealthy frozen food (as opposed to just the regular unhealthy kind) for dinner every night. Potato chips (with dip), donuts, cookies, soft bread sticks, and ice cream as snacks.
Being able to eat like that again without any guilt would be amazing.
Add me to the list of people who would eat nothing. Well, maybe coffee with cream and sweetner, but that’s it. I hate the idea that I have to stop what I’m doing to make food and eat it. I’m usually reading, writing, and listening to the TV, radio or music while I ear.
I do eat whatever I want without any negative consequences. I’ve developed healthy eating habits, that I feel perfectly comfortable with, and I have no desire to overeat or indulge excessively in unhealthy foods. Occasionally I do eat a pint of ice cream or take a second doughnut, but my desire to do so is not frequenter enough to have any overall effect on my health.
well I’m the guy that when my gallbladder went out and the Chinese restaurant/buffet didn’t see me for a month found out I was better made me a 12 course meal of which I ate every thing in celebration of me making it back alive … all on their dime so yeah they made money from me there and after …
But the list of things I would eat would be in quanity and quality … when john pinsetter did his 4 hour joke … that’s me …
I tend to pig out when I’m not happy, but would probably pig out regardless of my emotional state if I got a free pass for 30 days, simply because I enjoy good food.
