Sins of the Writer
They say that confession is good for the soul. So here is mine for the activities of this past week:
1. The brain does indeed use glucose as its primary energy source (ketones when glucose is depleted). However, eating an entire pint of butter pecan ice cream from Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe in one sitting does not relieve writer’s block. Just gives me a huge sugar high and than makes me take a nap--no writing gets done.
2. When doing something mentally taxing as writing a dissertation, it is important to keep a steady glucose supply to the brain. However, eating an entire tray of cookies does not make the writing go faster or better—the brain can only use so much glucose despite the frenzied mental activity.
3. Speaking of cookies, every time I write one sentence of my dissertation does not warrant a “reward” ratio of one chocolate chip cookie. I will not even mention how many cookies one page added up to. A reward ratio of 5 pages to one small cookie is probably ok.
4. Staying up late to work on my dissertation does burn extra calories than a typical day of going to bed at a normal time. However, it does not burn enough extra calories to warrant a Big Mac on two consecutive days. Maybe running a marathon might warrant those extra calories and fat, but writing a dissertation, no.
5. Again, getting up a few hours early does not warrant the extra fat and calories in a sausage McGriddle. See confession and point number 4.
6. Eating a box of truffles is not considered proper pharmacological intervention for depression and anxiety.
I repent. I realize that “destroying” my body is not going to help the dissertation writing. Leftover cookies go in the freezer. It is back to healthy eating to make up for this week of sins.
1. The brain does indeed use glucose as its primary energy source (ketones when glucose is depleted). However, eating an entire pint of butter pecan ice cream from Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe in one sitting does not relieve writer’s block. Just gives me a huge sugar high and than makes me take a nap--no writing gets done.
2. When doing something mentally taxing as writing a dissertation, it is important to keep a steady glucose supply to the brain. However, eating an entire tray of cookies does not make the writing go faster or better—the brain can only use so much glucose despite the frenzied mental activity.
3. Speaking of cookies, every time I write one sentence of my dissertation does not warrant a “reward” ratio of one chocolate chip cookie. I will not even mention how many cookies one page added up to. A reward ratio of 5 pages to one small cookie is probably ok.
4. Staying up late to work on my dissertation does burn extra calories than a typical day of going to bed at a normal time. However, it does not burn enough extra calories to warrant a Big Mac on two consecutive days. Maybe running a marathon might warrant those extra calories and fat, but writing a dissertation, no.
5. Again, getting up a few hours early does not warrant the extra fat and calories in a sausage McGriddle. See confession and point number 4.
6. Eating a box of truffles is not considered proper pharmacological intervention for depression and anxiety.
I repent. I realize that “destroying” my body is not going to help the dissertation writing. Leftover cookies go in the freezer. It is back to healthy eating to make up for this week of sins.
posted by Katie at 8:25 AM
2 Comments:
Yikes. Well, confession is good for the soul, they say! :) Have you tried Trader Joe's chocolate mint UFOs? I think that's what they're called; kind of like Hershey's kisses, with approximately 25 calories each, only much better flavor. If you rewarded yourself with one of those for every, say, five pages of dissertation, you'd still get some glucose but not so many calories. ;) For what it's worth. (To supplement my brain-splitting algebra studies I've been eating cheese cake all week, thanks to a "friend" who likes to give me high-calorie gifts. I think I need to go to TJ's and get some chocolate UFOs!)
Miz Minka,
Thanks for understanding. I have come to the conclusion when doing a mentally taxing activity, you lose all control over any other discipline in your life. You yield to any temptation that comes along--or go looking for temptation!
I will give the TJ's a try! Thanks!
Post a Comment
<< Home