There's An Upside to Everything

For some reason, I’ve always been somewhat of an optimist. My yearbook quote in high school was along the lines of “shit happens, but everything works out in the end”. When I was 40 I discovered the ancient philosophy of Stoicism and started studying it. A book that I recommend to everyone is “The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday. My big takeaway from that book was the idea that even something that can be perceived as a negative event can have some upside if you just look hard enough for it. In other words, when a problem or crisis pops up in your life, learn to ask the question “what is the opportunity in this that I can’t see right now”?

So let’s take this shitshow-of-unprecedented-proportions that we find ourselves in right now and run it through that question with the twist of what I know a lot about and like to talk about here - health and wellness. This specific post won’t comment on Covid19 itself (I do have one brewing but I’m trying to figure out how to present my thoughts the right way). Instead, this will try to shine some light on how you can use these circumstances to come out ahead with regards to your health when all of this finally passes us by.

So why do I think that right now might be the best time for you to change your lifestyle, lose some weight and get in shape? First of all, I think that it could easily go the other way as well. This is a great time to put on 20lbs and develop a drinking problem if you’re not careful. For most people it may be one or the other.

The reality right now for most people is that they are largely confined to their homes and their routines are disrupted. As a result, we’ve all had to alter our behaviour out of necessity.To that, I say: “good” (In Jocko’s voice). This forced routine change offers an opportunity to change our behaviour for the better.

For most people pre-covid, their day started with a carbohydrate rich breakfast followed by a trip to an office where they’d be confined to a seat for 4 hours. During that time, they probably snacked on something less than nutritious. At lunch, they pushed themselves away from their desk and ventured outside to find some lunch - usually at a burger or sandwich joint. On the way back to the office they’d pick up a coffee filled with cream and sugar to try to stave off the inevitable blood glucose crash. On they way home they would grab some takeout or prepared/processed crap from the grocery store that could be heated up quickly in the microwave. Pop a couple beers or pour a glass of wine and have a seat on the couch to watch “Survivor” or “The Bachelor” or whatever. 

When people try to make changes to their diet, one of the biggest challenges is the constant and persistent opportunities to fall off the wagon. Everywhere we look we’re surrounded by energy-dense yet nutrient-deficient hyperpalatable processed shit foods. How many fast food restaurants did you drive past on the way home? How many grocery and convenience stores packed with unhealthy foods? Each one presents an opportunity to pull in and grab some of that junk food you’re carving. Once in there, you push a cart past an untold number of food items that may taste nice but are nothing but terrible for your health. Human willpower is only so strong… especially when we’re first starting to make healthy choices. In other words, that little devil on your shoulder suggests “yeah, go ahead and buy that ice cream and those Dorritos” as you’re walking through the store. So what happens if you give into him?

First of all, some people will feel shame for not being strong at the store and for bringing that crap home. But what happens next is the real problem: that little devil on your shoulder that talked you into buying the junk food... Now you have to deal with him every time you walk past the fridge or the pantry. Instead of standing up to him ONCE at the store and saying “no’ there, now you have to say “no” continuously. The junk food is RIGHT THERE. There’s nobody stopping you from eating it - even eating it all in one sitting, if you want to. And if you do? It’s gone… but that’s ok because you’ll be driving past the same store tomorrow, and there is a lot more where that came from.

So how are things different now? With most people confined to their homes, the cycle I just outlined is broken. If you want food, you have to make a special trip to the store to buy it. Once there, if you can manage to get the little devil under control and say “no” to the junk food, once you get home you won’t have to say no to him anymore when you walk past the fridge or pantry. 

“Saying ‘no’ once in the store is easier than saying ‘no’ a hundred times at home.”