I don’t know what the exact trigger is for having to go on a diet – different for different people, I suppose.
Possible reasons for gaining weight are we’ve been on the holiday of a lifetime on a cruise ship where the food laid on was deliciously irresistible. Or how about, visiting distant family and suffering emotional setbacks that could only be soothed by comfort foods. Or, maybe just the middle age spread that creeps on a kilogram every year into elderhood.
At any given time, of the six people who live under this roof, every one of us could be categorised as a foody – we like to eat. This week one person, who will remain nameless, started a diet, and I’ve vowed to support this person in all the ways I can…. As an example, not eating chocolate cheesecake in this person’s company, not that I would at the best of times.
We went shopping at Bi-Lo today, and I was painfully aware of all the temptations wanting to leap into our trolley: Lindt chocolates, Doritos chips, roasted cashews, marinated artichokes, and so on.
There are so many healthy choices that can be made in a supermarket, and I usually do make them. Why? For the same reason that I do yoga practice each morning. I know what will serve me in the long run.
I don’t know that I’ve inspired too many people with my simple diet, but I wasn’t shooting for that. I think it’s just something that happened after years of tiny adjustments. I guess the bottom line is that I am avoiding “the pain to come” if I don’t live a healthy lifestyle.

Vita-raga-visayama va cittam

Or by focusing on things that do not inspire attachment.*
*The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, a new translation and commentary by Chip Hartrantf