Lifestyle, Eating Choices & the Pursuit of Happiness

Thoughts from Amit Deshpande, an avid practitioner who experienced 32 lbs weight loss and 3 inches belly fat loss over 18 months.

The desire to be ‘happy’ is probably one of the most primal and universal human traits. The MerriamWebster dictionary defines ‘happiness’ as a state of well-being and contentment. While most humans experience happiness in moments, the challenge is to be in that state all the time or often enough. In that pursuit, people explore various routes – organized religion, meditation, yoga, career progression, bonding with family and friends, social service towards causes of the greater good, and more. Many a scholar, priest, or guru teach different approaches.

Based on the limited understanding, or lack of, of this author, there are 2 hypotheses, or observations, that likely have a strong impact on happiness:

• Can one achieve clarity and make choices that result in strong alignment between what one ‘likes-to-do’ and ‘needs-to-do’ based on responsibilities?

• In situations where this alignment is not strong, can one instill in one-self the discipline and derive happiness from doing what is right, even if one does not like to do it initially?

What one likes-to-do and needs-to-do changes over time as one goes through different life-stages such as being a child, teenager, young adult, married person, parent, and grand-parent. For sake of simplicity, below is an attempt to explain the 4 quadrants or zones through food or eating choice examples.

• 

Easy Zone: Say, one does not like chocolate. It is perfectly fine for that person to not eat chocolate because nutrition that could be had from chocolate could easily be achieved by other food sources and the unhealthy fats and sugar could be reduced by eliminating chocolate from the diet.

Indulgence Zone: However, like the vast majority, say, one does like chocolate a lot. It is fine for that person to eat chocolate, particularly 70%+ dark chocolate. It is a source of anti-oxidants, fiber, key minerals, and has shown to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. However, chocolate is best consumed in moderation. Excess consumption or over-indulgence can lead to negative consequences such as tooth
decay, obesity, elevated migraine risk, lower bone density, and increased toxicity affecting kidneys.

Responsibility Zone: It is widely accepted that vegetables such as spinach, kale, brussels sprouts, or broccoli are healthy and should be an integral part of a balanced diet. However, many people do not like them. Can one make the right choice of eating such vegetables even if one does not like them initially? For good health, it is important that one has the discipline to make such choices. At the same time, it is beneficial for mental well-being if the entire meal is not made up of such tough choices and that there are some items in the meal that one likes even if they must be consumed in moderation.

Bliss Zone: Even if someone does not like spinach (known as palak in India), kale or broccoli initially, can one start enjoying them? May-be not by themselves but in combination with other favorite foods? What if they could be included in one’s favorite recipes? Examples – Our daughter loves palak paneer even though she is not fond of salads with spinach in it. How about including kale in fresh smoothie of fruits and yogurt? Alternatively, say, someone does not like these vegetables in any form initially. Can one start enjoying them after consuming them becomes a habit?

If one can achieve alignment between what one likes-to-do and needs-to-do, it usually leads to a feeling of satisfaction, contentment or happiness. The key is to not be in the Indulgent Zone too much and have the discipline to make the tough choices in the Responsibility Zone. Such discipline eventually leads to the Bliss Zone.

An easier path to the Bliss Zone, at least when it comes to eating choices or physical well-being is to follow the recommendations of Dr. Dixit, Dr. Mattson, and others –

1. Eat 2 times a day, with no other food in-take in between the 2 meals, except for water or green tea.
2. Finish each of those 2 meals, in 55 minutes or less. The recommendation is not to eat for 55 minutes, but to finish the meal in less than 55 minutes.
3. Initially, one doesn’t have to change what or how much one has been eating, but it is critical to restrict to 2 meals. Over time, make more healthy eating choices. It is okay to indulge in moderation.
4. For most people, it is beneficial to have a gap of 14 to 16 hours between the 2nd meals of a day and the 1st subsequent meal of next day.
5. Brisk walk or run or swim or ride a bicycle for at least 45 minutes in a day. Brisk walking is safest.

Please refer to Dr. Dixit’s and Dr. Mattson’s videos directly, for details and caveats regarding who should, or shouldn’t follow such a life-style. This author’s opinions are based on personal experience of following their recommendations: 32 lbs. in weight loss and 3 inches in belly fat loss over 18 months.

Please do share your feedback or questions. Your comments will be used to shape future content.