Once on the Lips, Forever on the Hips

I think we've all heard the saying before, "Once on the lips, forever on the hips". Although it may just seem like a catchy saying, I believe there is some truth behind it. I'm not talking about the actual placement of the weight going to the hips, but the truth behind the comparison. I'm referring to the short amount of time you actually enjoy the food compared to the long amount of time it seems to stick with us.

Let's look at this a little deeper. Someone can easily consume 2,000 calories with one entrée alone – without a drink, appetizer, side salad or desert. Burning 2,000 calories is another story. It may take you fifteen miles to burn that many calories.

The bottom line is that the few minutes your taste buds enjoy the meal can equate to hours of exercise needed to burn off those calories. If you aren't willing to do what it takes to burn off the extra calories or don't live a lifestyle that affords you those extra calories, then a little simple pleasure can literally stay with you forever.

It's like a debt that is never paid. It won't go away until you pay it off. Our weight basically fluctuates based on charges and payments. We make pricey charges with every high-calorie bite we eat. The payment is what we must do to erase the debt. For many this is a lifelong struggle. For others, it is a lesson learned; a lifestyle change that is required – a lifestyle centered on limitations and living more responsibly.

My husband's favorite saying is "being skinny feels better than any food tastes". The coolest part about that saying is that feeling skinny also lasts longer than the taste of food. Believe me, when I eat chocolate I hold it in my mouth as long as I can before I swallow it in order to savor every bit of flavor - and it still only lasts a minute or so. You are stuck with your body for the rest of your life – whether you like or not.

Next time you are being tempted, maybe reciting the saying "once on the lips, forever on the hips" is not a bad idea if it helps prevent you from making a mistake.