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LMQC Boomer Blogger Alan Sivell shares his sage advice and ponders the challenges of holiday revelry without losing too many belt-notches.

By Alan Sivell

There is a new school that takes a “Don’t worry, be happy” attitude toward diet.

However, I’m from the old school. Even when I’ve got nothing to worry about when it comes to staying food disciplined, I worry.

LMQC blogger, Alan Sivell, shares his advice on striking a balance between eating and exercise.

The holidays can be dangerous

So I’m always anxious at this most dangerous time of year. It begins with a long weekend of turkey, stuffing, pies, and endless leftovers, followed by another month of baking and fudge making. And the attitude, “What the heck? It’s Christmas!”

It’s also dangerous for what some people will attempt in January after they’ve overindulged in December.

I know that at this time of year, my brain should be filled with thoughts of the blessings I have. And indeed, in some remote corner, those thoughts are there.

But most of the room up there is filled with a debate: “If you eat this delicious, delectable treat that you only get once a year, you’ll regret it tomorrow.” That’s a truncated version of a much longer argument that goes on as I try to decide between pecan or pumpkin pie. Or simply a cup of coffee.

The struggle is real

I come by this “eat, don’t eat” struggle honestly.

My mom had done some modeling before getting stuck with four children and reinventing herself to become a great cook and baker. She didn’t mind the praise she got for her pizzas, lasagnas, and baked goods, but she did mind what they did to her figure.

In those days, however, most people didn’t hit the gym for an extra hour to battle the bulge. They just ate less. And in the case of my mother, one time, it was a lot less.

Someone gave her a copy of “The Ten Day Fast Program For Losing Weight” by Lindsey R. Curtis, M.D. The author was respected for his specialty – OB-GYN – but, writing in the 1950s and 60s, he also gave weight loss advice to women so they could be more attractive to their husbands.

The title alone says this diet isn’t a good idea. But a quick scan of the Dos and Don’ts assures you of that:

#1. Start now! Beginning right now, eat absolutely no food for ten days.

#3. If you develop a headache, take an aspirin or two to relieve it.

#5. (My favorite): If you become too nervous, ask your doctor for a mild barbiturate or tranquilizer to help you until this nervousness is relieved.

Yikes!

(Voice inside my head): Dr. Curtis guarantees weight loss to those who have failed to lose on all other diets. (The other voice inside my head): Duh. If you don’t eat anything for ten days, you will lose weight. But it’s NOT healthy.

I was a distracted teenager when my mother tried this “diet,” so I don’t remember how long she stayed on it. But my mother wasn’t one for tranquilizers (or aspirins, for that matter), so I doubt she lasted more than a day, if that.

Alan’s secret to surviving the holidays (and all those calories)

My goal for this dangerous time of year is moderation, not deprivation. I am going to choose the pecan pie when it’s offered and with a dollop (two, actually) of whipped cream.

But it’s only going to be one slice that I will have to offset in the gym. And I’m OK with that. Rather than a crazy diet to help me achieve diet balance, I’ve got the elliptical and dozens of true crime podcasts.

By Alan Sivell

There is a new school that takes a “Don’t worry, be happy” attitude toward diet.

However, I’m from the old school. Even when I’ve got nothing to worry about when it comes to staying food disciplined, I worry.

LMQC blogger, Alan Sivell, shares his advice on striking a balance between eating and exercise.

The holidays can be dangerous

So I’m always anxious at this most dangerous time of year. It begins with a long weekend of turkey, stuffing, pies, and endless leftovers, followed by another month of baking and fudge making. And the attitude, “What the heck? It’s Christmas!”

It’s also dangerous for what some people will attempt in January after they’ve overindulged in December.

I know that at this time of year, my brain should be filled with thoughts of the blessings I have. And indeed, in some remote corner, those thoughts are there.

But most of the room up there is filled with a debate: “If you eat this delicious, delectable treat that you only get once a year, you’ll regret it tomorrow.” That’s a truncated version of a much longer argument that goes on as I try to decide between pecan or pumpkin pie. Or simply a cup of coffee.

The struggle is real

I come by this “eat, don’t eat” struggle honestly.

My mom had done some modeling before getting stuck with four children and reinventing herself to become a great cook and baker. She didn’t mind the praise she got for her pizzas, lasagnas, and baked goods, but she did mind what they did to her figure.

In those days, however, most people didn’t hit the gym for an extra hour to battle the bulge. They just ate less. And in the case of my mother, one time, it was a lot less.

Someone gave her a copy of “The Ten Day Fast Program For Losing Weight” by Lindsey R. Curtis, M.D. The author was respected for his specialty – OB-GYN – but, writing in the 1950s and 60s, he also gave weight loss advice to women so they could be more attractive to their husbands.

The title alone says this diet isn’t a good idea. But a quick scan of the Dos and Don’ts assures you of that:

#1. Start now! Beginning right now, eat absolutely no food for ten days.

#3. If you develop a headache, take an aspirin or two to relieve it.

#5. (My favorite): If you become too nervous, ask your doctor for a mild barbiturate or tranquilizer to help you until this nervousness is relieved.

Yikes!

(Voice inside my head): Dr. Curtis guarantees weight loss to those who have failed to lose on all other diets. (The other voice inside my head): Duh. If you don’t eat anything for ten days, you will lose weight. But it’s NOT healthy.

I was a distracted teenager when my mother tried this “diet,” so I don’t remember how long she stayed on it. But my mother wasn’t one for tranquilizers (or aspirins, for that matter), so I doubt she lasted more than a day, if that.

Alan’s secret to surviving the holidays (and all those calories)

My goal for this dangerous time of year is moderation, not deprivation. I am going to choose the pecan pie when it’s offered and with a dollop (two, actually) of whipped cream.

But it’s only going to be one slice that I will have to offset in the gym. And I’m OK with that. Rather than a crazy diet to help me achieve diet balance, I’ve got the elliptical and dozens of true crime podcasts.

Alan Sivell

Alan Sivell

St. Ambrose Professor, Pizza-lover, Bulge Battler

Alan is a communications professor at St. Ambrose University and a former reporter for WQAD-TV who has exercised – and dieted – his entire life.