Nutrition is to Food as Exercise is to Play
Michael Pollan, journalist and foodie, has coined the term “Nutrition-ism” to mean that food is viewed as a nutrient, or for its nutritive value, instead of simply as food. We eat for many reasons, not just to sustain and nourish our bodies. This is likely an end result. What if, instead of focusing on how much protein, carbs, or fat ratios we are getting, we focused on getting the most QUALITY nutrients we could get? Is a vitamin fortified candy bar better than some raw almonds and an organic apple?
On the same plane of thought is the notion of exercise. We are told by doctors, fitness experts and health gurus that we need to exercise to maintain health, look good, and feel good. In the spirit of Michael Pollan, i have decided to coin a new term: “Workout-ism”. “-ism” is a great suffix because it signifies ideology, even religion in some sense. In this country we look at working-out/exercising as a way to keep our bodies healthy. However, much like this idea of nutritionism, what if we just participated in high quality movement for the shear enjoyment of it? Much like we did when we were kids? When movement feels good and is intrinsically enjoyable, we don’t think about “i need to do this because it’s good for me”, we do it because it’s fun!
What if instead of telling ourselves to workout with the same old routine day after day, we changed our mindset, at least a couple of days a week to “I’m going to go outside and play”? Go for a hike, get some friends together and play soccer or flag football, go swimming, go find some kids to play with (they are experts in play-ism).
When did being healthy become so boring and adult-like? What about doing things for fun? Are we going to continue to prescribe exercise and nutrients like doctors prescribing beta-blockers, or are we going to teach ourselves to enjoy moving and eating?
Yo man! I agree, as usual, with your comments here!
Why not just stick to a simple, basic rule regarding food, like: If it doesn’t come out of the ground/sea, or eat something from the ground/sea, don’t eat it! And let that be that?
I think your post points the way to its own answer…
I think we developed this obsessive/controlling mindset toward exercise and diet for a few reasons: 1. Exercise and diet in this country are regarded as “extras” – business comes first, 2. Exercise and diet are regarded as ways to combat serious illnesses, 3. Americans have no self-control, 4. Media promotes a bizarre idea of exercise as a means to an end (washboard abs).
Time to start playing again. I think structured workouts are great for people with specific goals (athletes, people with health problems, the obsessively focused), but for most people that structure serves as an impediment to exercise. They don’t feel like they can do it at any time.
And what is “exercise” anyway? How about walking? Man, I’ve lost at least 10 pounds since living in San Fran…mostly because of the ultra-walking sessions I’ve done, going to shops, hanging out downtown, or drinking in the Bay To Breakers parade…
Pollan didn’t coin the term. It was coined by Gyorgy Scrinis, an Australian sociologist of science.
Eat food. Not too much. Make sure you enjoy what your eating.
I argue even the mostly plants comments when I look at Eskimos, Swiss natives, African tribesmen etc. Not saying to not eat vegetables but, just enjoy eating food again. Eat seasonal, eat local and love eating and cooking.