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April 12, 2006
My Skiing Disorder
One of the CR Society Conference participants said that he thought 50% of the list subscribers have an eating disorder. I challenged him on this.
"Anyone who can't go out to a restaurant or eat at a family gathering has an eating disorder," he said.
"Why?" I asked. "You may value going out to restaurants and eating at family gatherings, and as it turns out, so do I. But if one valued keeping one's calories low above these things, why would that be an eating disorder?"
He didn't have an answer.
It's all a question of priorities. We choose what we think is important and act accordingly. For some, the value of eating out at restaurants may be more than the value of keeping one's calories consistent and low. That's fine -- go out all you want. But what if a CR practitioner doesn't put a high value on eating in restaurants, and instead would prefer to save the money, save the calories, know what he or she is eating, and eat at home? What's wrong with that? Is eating in restaurants such a universal imperative that anyone who doesn't care to do it should be locked up in a mental hospital and force fed nouveau American bistro cuisine?
There's a cost benefit analysis involved. If you love restaurant eating, as I do, it's worth the risk of eating more calories, throwing off one's calorie balance, and aging more quickly than strictly necessary. If you don't, then why would you take the risk?
I, for one, am not interested in skiing. People get hurt skiing. Some people die, many break legs. My high school roommate broke her leg skiing. It doesn't look like that much fun to me anyway. It's cold, the clothes aren't cute. Why would I risk life and limb to ski?
Someone who really loved to ski might think my life was terribly empty because I don't want to take the risks involved in skiing. How could a life devoid of skiing be worth living, much less living for a long time? Sure, I might hurt myself skiing, but the risk is nothing compared to the pleasure I might gain.
I disagree. I don't want to ski. I have little to no interest in skiing. It's not worth the risk.
Do I have a skiing disorder?
We all make our choices. The key is to make choices that are in line with your own personal goals. I like to go to restaurants sometimes, so I work my CR practice such that I can. I don't want to go skiing. But if you want to ski, go ahead.
Just don't tell me that I have a skiing disorder because I choose not to ski.
Posted by april at April 12, 2006 6:47 AM
Comments
An email went out to a few people on the CR list, i'm not sure if you were on it? I guess it's the same guy that said it to you at the conference.
Apparently everyone that the email was sent out to was anorexic, or something =/
Posted by: Matt - uk at April 13, 2006 1:18 PM
I have a ball disorder. I hate all sports involving a ball!
Insect just ate a whole dish of white bean chili. That's supposed to be human food right? Cat's aren't supposed to like white beans or beans of any kind.
(She also likes cauliflowers)
Posted by: zeynep at April 13, 2006 1:23 PM
Hah! I hate sports with balls too, Zeynep! I do think some CR folks are pretty neurotic about food - but I don't know if that qualifies as an eating disorder. I score pretty low on the neurosis scale, so it seems weirder to me than it may to others. You should be able to eat at a salad bar without bringing your own food. If you can't, then you are neurotic about food. But then, this is a relatively harmless neurosis.
Posted by: Little MR at April 13, 2006 6:40 PM