SubscribeGary Taubes Interview with Seth Roberts
Here’s something to keep you entertained and well-read for the day: Gary Taubes Interview. It’s 14 parts and is some of the same stuff from Good Calories, Bad Calories. It’s largely a very conversational skimming of what’s in the book.
Here’s a premise that I’ve heard that always irks me:
TAUBES I have friends and acquaintances who will often say to me at dinner parties, “Well, who really cares about this stuff, because you want to live well, not just eat the healthiest possible meals.” But they’re not overweight, they don’t have cancer running in their family. Their life, rightfully, is a balance between living healthy and living well. But the problem always is that even though those people want to live well, they eventually get to the point where now they’re sick. Inevitably, when you get to that point, you wish maybe you hadn’t lived quite so well. Unless you’re lucky and you have that massive coronary on the golf course, or on your lover, so you don’t have time to think about it. But both my mother and my father died from long, extended, horrible illnesses. There’s a point at which you think, “Maybe if, 30 years ago, I had lived less well and more healthy, I wouldn’t have to go through this,” but I guess we all have to die of something.
Anyone following a healthful lifestyle has heard the inevitable “live a little”. When did soft drinks and cookies become “the high life”? I find that the better I treat my body, the better I live. Frankly, I’ll take a steak and broccoli, liberally coated in olive oil, or a ginormous salad over a Big Mac and fries any day of the week. Living healthfully begets living well. Society seems to have some determination of what “living well” is and it always involves drinking to excess, eating the worst foods, and burning the candle at both ends with partying. I find that having the energy on tap to do whatever I want is better living than my previous junk food eating self ever had. To steal a quote from John Berardi: “Personally, I believe that there are other things in life much more fun than drinking beer and eating hot wings.”
Anyway, read it as you have time and post any thoughts you have to the comments.
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Filed in Obesity and Disease 10 Comments so far
Derek Simonds on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:39 am #
Excellent point. I love steak and broccoli, in fact my entire family loves steak and broccoli that is what both of my kids wanted for their birthday dinners this year.
It is weird the perception of other people, when I am at a business dinner and I pass on the bread I always hear oh you are one of those people. Yes I am. One of those people who eats for health and longevity.
I will confess that every once in a while I do enjoy beer and hot wings.
Kat on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:09 am #
I love eating healthy good tasting foods which I have switched to from the SAD because of health reasons. My friends always think I’m crazy or feel sorry for me. Then they eat my food (at a potluck or dinner party) and “ohh and ahh” over it. The next day they’ll still say that I’m crazy or feel sorry for me. Short-term memory loss? I don’t get it. I don’t feel sorry for me, I’m eating great tasting food that has the added benefit of also making me feel great! They might say “live a little”, I’m living better than they are.
Alex on 19 Mar 2008 at 12:14 pm #
If I had a dollar for every “live a little” I’ve heard. When I’m “off” my regular EF/Paleo/whatever you call it way of eating, I feel awful, my skin breaks out, and I gain weight. How great is that and how great does that make me feel? Is that “living a little?” If so, you can keep it.
Great post and great comments. I’m going to use that line - I’m one of those people who eats for health and longevity - next time I get the “you are one of those people” comments.
Debs on 19 Mar 2008 at 2:01 pm #
I think people have gotten into the habit of thinking bad food tastes good. It has a lot to do with what food you were raised eating; tastes can shift dramatically in one generation. When you’re raised thinking of McDonalds as a treat, it’s hard to break out of that in adulthood. I feel lucky to have been raised eating good, fresh food.
It also has a lot to do with overstimulation. When our tastebuds (and brains) are bombarded with sugar, MSG, and other strong, non-subtle flavors, we adjust to thinking of those as delicious. There’s a strong case for an addiction-like component as well.
Thanks for the Gary Taubes interview link; I’m reading the book, and will read the interview as well.
Food Is Love
DaveC on 19 Mar 2008 at 2:02 pm #
Another hour of lost productivity at work reading the interview–my employer will be billing you, Scott!
Great stuff and it came at a good time. The front table at the office was full of cake and bakery items. I had my apple and almonds for a snack!
Dave
DaveGetsFit
Migraineur on 19 Mar 2008 at 5:51 pm #
I had a family member who smoked and ate the worst foods imaginable. He used to say, “At least I’ll die happy.”
He didn’t die happy. He died a miserable death from lung cancer. For the last ten years of his life, it was a toss up whether it was going to be diabetes or complications from smoking that did him in.
And aren’t the “live a little” people are the same ones who are critical of my lifestyle because it’s too expensive? Buying marvelous grass fed beef at $20/lb is my way of living a little!
“They might say ‘live a little’, I’m living better than they are.” I have to use that line. Thanks, Kat.
Scott Kustes on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:00 pm #
Derek, nothing wrong with beer and hot wings now and again. Gotta “live a litte” (sorry, I had to! :-D). Seriously though, I find that the things I enjoy are actually more enjoyable the less often I have them. When it’s truly a treat and not just another meal, I enjoy it a good deal more.
Kat, most of my friends think I’m a bit nutty too, though I don’t really talk about nutrition to them because they aren’t interested. All we can do is smile and go on our merry ways.
Alex, sounds like all the personal anecdote you need to know to stay on course.
Debs, you nailed it. It’s the overly aggressive sugary, salty tastes that we’ve become accustomed to that keeps us from enjoying the sweetness of a carrot.
Dave, have them mail me the bill.
Migraineur, that’s a sad story and a points out how obvious it is that food and vices don’t make us happy. Few people lay on their death beds wishing they’d eaten just one more Big Mac.
Perhaps we could reply to “live a little” with “you live a little. I’m already living a lot.”
Cheers all
Scott
Terry on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:27 pm #
Thanks for the interview link. I haven’t been able to get Gary’s book yet so I’ve been reading all I can find online related to it.
I have always thought of eating well as part of living well. I’m truly puzzled that anyone would think “living it up” is “living well”. Sure, “living it up” once in awhile is fine and fun but living well has always been a quality thing to me. Eat well(for both optimal health and enjoyment), sleep well, work well, play nice, following the golden rule, don’t make enemies if you can avoid it, stand by your friends and your principles… these are what living well means to me.
DaveC on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:53 pm #
I went back through the interview again this evening while archiving it (Scrapbook is a great add-on for you Firefox users) and something popped out at me that I thought was interesting. Taubes pointed out that although he would like to see his book bring about instant change, that the most likely scenario for it having any affect is that students of today will read it and question their instructors as they go forth. It’s going to take a few years for this one to play out.
Migraineur on 20 Mar 2008 at 10:30 am #
“Most of my friends think I’m a bit nutty too, though I don’t really talk about nutrition to them because they aren’t interested.”
Gee, I thought I was the only person who was opinionated in the blogosphere and kept my mouth shut in private. I’m down 20 lbs now, and people are beginning to notice, but I still don’t tell people how I’ve done it unless they ask. Oddly, no one asks.