Best Of

Yeah I believe due to evolution we are wired to notice potential mates. But good to not creep out any people. also good going getting exercise which is the best preventative and treatment for many diseases and just generally feels good after awhile.

@person said:
When you know the negative aspects of junk food in a visceral way, as opposed to just intellectually. Your subconscious processes will help your conscious mind avoid those unhealthy choices. Not because you have some idea of what your supposed to do, but because your body feels and understands the consequences.

Great point, and I'm guessing you can't force these things; it's an understanding that arises over time through mindful experience.

This winter is looking like a slower work season, so I got a membership at a gym to help keep active. I like going and its easy when I don't have much going on. What is interesting is noticing all the things being there activates in my mind. Or rather all the things in my mind that haven't been let go of going to the gym activates.

I think all these things are fairly subtle movements of mind, but they're things that are usually buried. Like trying not to creep on the young attractive women, or judge the overweight people. There's also a seeming obsession with imagining romantic relationships, or who I'd have a shot with, etc.

On one level its kind of misery making. On another it shows me relatively unexplored areas that need to be resolved and let go of, or worked on in some way.

Pragmatically I allow myself a cheat day where I eat the junky foods that I "shouldn't" eat. It makes it easier to abstain and eat healthy the rest of the week. But I have a tendency to indulge a bit too much on my cheat day.

That aside being mindful of what your eating in the moment and how it impacts you subsequently gives your mind information that helps it make healthier choices. For example, I notice that the first bite of something sweet is by far the best bite and there are diminishing returns as you go. At some point the pleasure will turn into suffering. And I generally don't feel that good the day following my cheat day. So maybe just try having one or two bites?

When you know the negative aspects of junk food in a visceral way, as opposed to just intellectually. Your subconscious processes will help your conscious mind avoid those unhealthy choices. Not because you have some idea of what your supposed to do, but because your body feels and understands the consequences.

I think what I'm saying about mindful eating follows somewhat in line with the idea of intuitive eating. An idea I've been hearing more about recently.

@Ren_in_black said:
Little Debbie is another one. I've stood in front of the Little Debbie display shelf in my grocery store, feeling like two parts of my mind are standing in front of each other with their fists clenched!

Letting go is the way…

You’d have to consider whether the oil in which the donut was fried was vegetable oil.
It’s a tricky subject…

If a donut was put into a renunciates bowl, they would eat it.
If they had knowledge that a donut was killed as a deliberate offering for a renunciate, some might decline that offering as its own teaching.
I think that the middle way in donut consumption is to
Think deeply of the ways and means by which that donut has come.
To consider ones merit in accepting it.
To protect oneself from error by excluding greed from ones mind.
To eat so that one doesn't become lean and die.
To eat so that one might continue practicing.
And perhaps not just do alms wanderings around dessert shops.