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November 9, 2008
You Could Get Hit By a Bus Any Day!
Have you ever heard of someone actually getting hit by a bus? Other than the guy in the first episode of "Six Feet Under," I never have.
However, it's a common refrain among those who object to CR. Why put in all this effort if you could die young anyway?
I was thinking it because I was thinking that the kind of cancer that Chris has is much like getting hit by a bus. Could happen to anyone.
My initial motivation to do CR was to stop a process that I recognized as acutely destructive. I was gaining weight, feeling awful, getting sick, and lacking the energy I needed to do my extremely demanding job. And it worked! I got energy, stopped getting sick, and felt great.
If I found that CR detracted from my overall quality of life, I don't think I'd do it. Not so much because of some philosophical decision about quality vs. quantity, nor because of a cost/benefit analysis of the chances that CR will work in humans, just because I don't think I could bring myself to go to the trouble if I didn't immediately see positive results. And even if I knew for certain that it wouldn't give me any more years of life, I'd still do it. Having spent the better part of the year in the "healthy eating" but certainly not hardcore CR'd camp, I can honestly say that I feel better on serious CR. There is a weight below which I never, ever get sick. There is a calorie level below which I never experience anxiety (worry, sure, but not anxiety -- they're very different.) I actually like looking thin, even if it means dealing with all the people who say, "You're not all that skinny!" or "We liked you better with more meat on you."
But I would never try to convince someone else to do it who felt like it would compromise his or her quality of life. Now when people have asked me what to do about weight gain or chronic health problems, I tell them about CR and about how I've used CR tricks to help people lose weight in a healthy fashion, even if not going all the way to real CR. But I only tell if I'm asked. I do wonder if some people might like it much more than they think, once they tried it. It's amazing how much, once you get into the groove, it really does feel good. But I have no interest in "converting" anyone. It doesn't help me, and it's annoying. CR is good for me, so onward I go, to the best of my (occasionally meager) ability.
I'm putting together my survival kit for my trip to Texas later this week... it's going to be a very big food challenge, especially as I'm trying very hard to count all my calories. I'm packing a whole bunch of whey protein powder in individual packets that I make up in ziplock bags and can mix into skim milk. I picked up some South Beach diet bars. We'll be so busy that I don't know where or how I'll get food at all, but I figure I can hit the occasional convenience store for a hardboiled egg or some cottage cheese or yogurt. If I'm really lucky I might find a Subway. We'll only be gone for four days so it won't be too bad. It's a work trip, so I'll be totally focused on my work, and I don't like to have to think much about food when I'm working. So I'll pack what I can and probably eat a bit less than I'd like, just because proper food will likely be in short supply. And we will be too busy to eat anyhow. Susie and Jeannie are coming too. I'm really excited.
I will pack many bags of genmai cha. Jeannie tried it on Thursday and loved it. I brought her a tea bag to try on Friday, along with some whey protein.
I'll be very careful to look both ways before crossing the street when in Texas.
Thanks so much, Anne, for filling out your form! Yay! Under 30! And thank you Lin for your thoughts and prayers. You'll be pleased to know that I am eating something cruciferous every day.
Off to shower before yoga. Thanks to all of you for filling out your forms and sending your love and prayers. Who knows how these things work, really, but I hope that somehow all of our energy can help. In the meantime, you'll be rewarded with a recipe later today.
Posted by april at November 9, 2008 5:42 AM
Comments
So, where are you going to in Texas?
Posted by: Little MR at November 9, 2008 5:19 PM
April! Greetings from the past! As I was around to "witness", via your blog, your transition from margaritas to Hello Kitty vitamins :-) and beyond, I'd like to point out this may be an opportunity for all new folks to benefit from a link to your early CR days. I've been away from CR because of my pregnancy and birth of our daughter, but it is always good to catch up and reconnect with those who have "been there, done that"! Best wishes in your endeavors in TX-travel safely!!
Danielle
Posted by: Danielle at November 10, 2008 4:53 AM
"But you could get hit by a bus tomorrow"
This is exactly what someone told me in work on saturday. Someone in work found that I eat really healthy and do calorie restriction so she brought up the topic of what foods are healthy and asked me am I still on this diet. Immediately that got everyones attention had had what seemed like hundreds of questions coming from 5, 6 or 7 people all at once lol. It was funny but difficult to answer questions properly. But the excuse that you could get hit by a bus tomorrow is absurd. I've only ever heard of 1 person getting ran over and killed by a bus at my old high school, but that is one person in 24 years I've been alive. The likelihood is extremely low as you say... and you can lower that risk by being more careful.
Most couldn't seem to get it that CR wasn't about weight at all, and they couldn't understand how I could live my life without things like McDonalds. No, actually I told them, I enjoy my food far more now than I ever have, I love to cook food, the smell of all the natural flavours together, you just get a bigger appreciation for the food you eat. Because cook and prepare our own meals, we're learning a good life skill at the same time rather than just throwing something in the microwave. I started to experiment with ingredients. Now I eat soooo many *new* and delicious foods that I would never go back to eating junk. Early on in CR I tried the old foods, no way, they taste like the junk they are.
It's hard for people to understand how CR can make you feel good, and what amazing foods you can eat.
So while everyone at work is hacking/coughing away, I just sit there quietly with my cup of green tea and do my work :) While everyone at work has been sick about 4 times in the past 20 months and nothing has affected me so far! :D Even everyone gets sick in my house and I don't get infected.
You're right, when things are going good, CRers immune system is amazing. Just don't let the stress, anxiety and other things bring it down. Now I'm calm as can be and my immune system is pretty good relative to most people.
The benefits that we get from CR NOW is worth it, even if it only extends life by 5 years. But I'm sure we will get so much more time than that.
Posted by: Matthew Lake at November 10, 2008 10:34 AM
Actually, several people in Calgary are hit (and usually killed) by one of our C-Trains (light rail transit) every year. They are almost invariably either very drunk or in a drug-induced stupor (or both). Logic would conclude that if you stay sober/straight or keep away from the train crossings when you're not, you'll avoid that fate. :-)
Posted by: Judith at November 10, 2008 4:02 PM
it's actually sad that you have to pack space-ship food when only just going to texas, to another state of america after all, not to outer space.
I mean, it's totally wise, it's just sad that you have to do it.
But I bet you can find eggs, lo-fat cheese and yogurt and some sort of veggies where ever you go these days. That's when globalism is useful only, no where else.
z.
Posted by: zeynep at November 10, 2008 8:50 PM
and, as an answer to judith's comment, someday soon, the technology and mind of the people will be so developed that there will be no bus, train or car accidents, regardless of the mental condition of the people. A drunk won't be able to drive his car because the moment he steers off, his car will be pulled over to the safety line by robots. This is just the gist of zeitgeist. google it, watch it. And judith, cut with the protestant religious ethic crap. it's dated, boring and useless.
z.
Posted by: zeynep at November 10, 2008 8:54 PM
Zeynep, YOU must be drunk to think that the utterly morally neutral and eminently commonsensical advice to "stay sober/straight or keep away from the train crossings when you're not" in order to avoid being hit by a moving railcar is "protestant religious ethic crap."
Posted by: MR at November 11, 2008 4:59 AM
Yeah, I was bewildered by zeynep's "protestant" comment.
Posted by: yvonne at November 13, 2008 7:09 PM
i got hit by a bus this afternoon. it hurts.
Posted by: anon at March 6, 2009 2:19 AM