Who's in charge of moderation?
The Wikipedia definition of moderation is: The process of eliminating or lessening extremes. Merriam-Webster on-line sets forth this definition: To lessen the intensity or extremeness of or to preside over or act as chairman of. Moderation. It's a commonly-used word when it comes to eating and drinking. I mean, who doesn't occasionally justify an indulgence with the comment, "Everything in moderation." I'm sure it's a valid point. Eating cookies in moderation is surely better than shoveling them down day after day. Drinking alcohol in moderation? Much better than making a habit out of it. We might even get away with exercise in moderation -- for some, extreme workouts can lead to burnout, injury, and fatigue.
All this talk about moderation has me wondering: Who defines the specifics of moderation? And who exactly is the chairman presiding over this ambiguous term? I tend to think one man's moderation might be another's extreme. If left up to the individual to decide, moderation could be anything from one bite of chocolate per day to a trip through the fast-food drive-through every day. It might even be a few drinks per day when measured against someone else who drinks much more.
It's a subjective word -- moderation -- and guess what? It is up to the individual to define how to put this word to use. There are no rules, no guidelines, no watchdogs, no one doling out moderate amounts of questionable stuff. Sure, there are resources out there suggesting what moderate amounts of consumption might be but ultimately, it's your responsibility to to put this word into practice based on your own personal boundaries and limits.
For me, moderation is dangerous -- because it leads to my wanting more. I can't drop by a bowl of M&Ms and take just one little handful. I'd have to go back for more, and more, and more. So I like to leave moderation at the doorstep and eat just what I know is good for me. That way I'm always safe.
How do you approach moderation?
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