The Time and Place for Overindulging

So, last weekend I was in Chicago for a wedding. I was only there for a total of three days and I was so surprised at just how much I ate and drank. If you have ever been to a wedding, it is definitely a time and place for overindulgence. There is the rehearsal dinner, breakfasts, lunches or dinners with friends and relatives, then the reception afterwards. It is a time for celebration and joy and one of the ways that we truly invoke that is through food and drink. It was my second day in Chicago and during the reception, which was being held at an Italian restaurant, they served traditional Italian food with at least a 6-8 course meal. There was even certain points during the dinner, that we had to tell the waiter before he even put the food down that we did not want it. Now who would turn down free food? Someone who has clearly overindulged :)

It truly brought up the question for me about overindulgence and do we really know when to say enough is enough. Looking up this word, overindulgence, it is defined as excessive indulgence . The word satiety comes up for me as well when I think of excessive indulgence which means to satisfy fully. When we are fully satisfied with a meal, then there is very little chance that we would want to overindulge. But there may have been times when you are in a party mood, such as at a wedding or if you go to a really great restaurant and may feel overwhelmed by the food that you continue to indulge beyond the point of satiety.

How do you listen to your body? How do you pay attention to your body's many signals that you have clearly had to much to eat or drink and that you should probably slow it down or just stop? How many of you out there actually listen? It took a lot for me, I would have to say, to realize that I couldn't eat any more and to truly slow down and listen to my body. Especially given that I was at a party and having a good time and enjoying the wonderful food. I would have preferred to miss out and feel fine later on that evening or the next day then stuff my face and feel like crap later on completely regretting eating just one more entree.

I will leave you with a quote by Marucs Fabius Quintillian,

"Satiety is a neighbor to continued pleasures."

So, I ask you, whether it be alcohol, food, sex or whatever is your true enticement, do you take the time to evaluate how you are feeling while in the moment of indulging? Do you know when to say enough is enough or do you harbor guilt instead? A question for you to ponder...