I live in a neighborhood where the streets signs post a 25 mile per hour speed limit. Many people (gulp, including me at times when I am rushed) exceed this limit. My neighbors and I all know that the 25 mph speed limit is a smart and safe one, as there are children that bicycle in the streets, people are running, walking their dogs etc.
This weekend I noticed that one of those police gizmos was set up on the main street in the neighborhood that shows you your speed as you pass by this as well as the posted 25 mph. If your speed exceeds the 25, your number starts flashing whereas if you are 25 mph or below, the number simply shows up without flashing.
Although there is not a cop ready to write a ticket or a camera flashing and capturing your license plate for a ticket in the mail, this radar device is a very good deterrent for people to stop speeding. Often, we are all guilty of not obeying street signs, speeding in particular, especially when we do not believe there will be any penalty for our driving behavior. However, when we can actually see how much we are speeding, this will most likely have the intended impact: changing our driving behaviors to enhance safety.
Now, to the weight control arena: There are no “radar signs” posted next to our dinner table, couch, restaurants and other eating/drinking venues that will “warn” us about our behaviors. If we set a 1-2 drink a week limit on our alcohol consumption and we reach for another glass of wine beyond that limit, how effective would it be to have a flashing sign next to the bottle informing us that we are going over the limit? If we went grocery shopping and there was a flashing sign telling us that are above the carb limit in our basket, there is a good chance that we would not place anymore carb containing foods in the basket.
The body will often send “warning signs” to people when disease is building up. The early stage diabetic will feel thirst and pee a lot. The early stage heart blockage patient may have episodes of chest tightness (angina) before the massive heart attack occurs. The arthritis patient may feel morning stiffness before massive pain occurs.
The point: Try to “obey” the principles of healthy eating/drinking without needing “flashing signs” to change your behaviors. By the time the body “signs” start flashing, there may be lots of damage already done. The “signs” that you should try to “obey” are your healthy BMI and percentage body fat. If those exceed the recommended numbers, slow it down, focus on yourself and take the steps needed to get you to a better place. A ticket and a fine may await you for not obeying street signs. Illness, suffering and even death await you for not obeying the “health signs”.