Brillat-Savarin

My doctor just told me I need to lose 40 pounds or I'm looking at diabetes and heart problems. The thing is, I LOVE food. Cooking is my hobby, eating out is my social life, and wine is my way of unwinding. I've tried diets before. They make me miserable. I spend all day thinking about what I can't eat. Food stops being pleasurable and becomes the enemy. I lose 15 pounds, feel deprived and joyless, then gain back 20. My wife says I need to learn "moderation." My doctor says I need to treat food as "fuel, not entertainment." But food IS entertainment to me—it's culture, connection, art. Can I save my health without killing my joy? Or do I have to choose between a longer life and a life worth living?

98 votes

My husband and I make good money but we're constantly stressed about it. We have alot of stuff, a 4400 sqft house with mortgage, my Land Rover, his Porsche, jeep (all with payments), subscriptions to just about every streaming service under the sun, dinners out all week (we're too tired to cook). I've been reading about minimalism which is at times pretty appealing, on paper— do two people really need 4000 sqft? We could cook at home, and maybe spend more time together. Spend time outdoors instead of in front of the TV. Maybe take some dance lessons, or join a bike club (we both like to ride). My husband thinks I'm being extreme about downsizing, and getting rid of stuff. He says we've "earned" our lifestyle and the answer is just to make more money. I feel I'm going to have to push this because the way we're going isn't sustainable for me. But here's the thing: when I imagine a simpler life, I imagine it being boring. I love trying new restaurants. I love hosting dinner parties. I love having nice things. Can you be a minimalist and still enjoy the pleasures of life?

93 votes