Party Pusher Man: Take Control This Thanksgiving
I’m your Mama
I’m your Daddy
I’m that guy
In the alley
I’m your doctor
When in need
You know me
I’m your friend
Your main boy
Thick and thin
I’m your Pusherman…
Curtis Mayfield’s “Pusher Man”
Ever hear of a food pusher?
There are all kinds of pushers out there and food pushers could be disguised as your mama, grandmama, friends, hostesses, and party-goers alike. People that you love and care about can unknowingly be your pusherman. Someone who pushes food upon you like it’s their job. They push food like it’s YOUR drug of choice and they are your pusherman. Hence the song lyrics.
Food can be like a drug or obsession for many. It can be rewarding for you to eat as much as it can be rewarding for the person that made the food too! The brain centers for reward, mood, and appetite can have mixed signals when its come to such a powerful force like food, which is at the center of our lives really. Everyone eats, its central to our survival and has always been involved in social gatherings. It is at the center of many of our holidays, case and point: THANKSGIVING. One week until Turkey Day folks, when it is acceptable to feast away until you joke about ripping your pants or literally, rip your pants.
Well for those healthy living bloggers out there that have been on a weight management journey or weight loss pursuit to AVOID ripping their pants, holidays and pushermen are destructive forces in a quest for balance. One week until the “big day” face-off with Thanksgiving pushers is a perfect opportunity to write about these Pusher Man tactics and ways to overcome their destructive forces!
“You are so obsessed with what you eat”
“You could stand to put on a few pounds really…”
“You are too skinny…too frail…wasting away…“
“Who doesn’t eat meat?”
- They are not you and do not own your body, they do not take you to the gym nor live your life. The bottom line is you are the only one in charge of putting food into your mouth, well, except maybe your significant other when you have a sexy date night. Fantasy aside, if you don’t want something, don’t eat it! Would you go marry the next person that walks in the door because “everyone else is doing it”…?
- Resort to humorous jokes, slough it off and nonchalantly become the life of the party.Use humor and the subject will most likely change. “Alright people, let’s get a few dozen pizzas from Papa John’s STAT… You there–> drive to the closest Burger King and order me 6 whopper juniors.. don’t forget the fries … apparently I need them. Aunt ____, pick up a DQ blizzard, make that 3, 2 for me and 1 for “Pusher” since they might worry themselves skinny….I mean NOW people, let’s move it…”
“I made this and it is SO xyz….” (xyz is temptation words like delicious, creamy, dreamy, sweet, chocolatey etc etc.)
- Say you already tried it and start blabbering about how cheesy it was, how melty, salty, sweet, crispy, gooey etc. it was so that you turn the tables of temptation on them. If they were watching, they are not going to argue with you over whether you ate it or not because that would make them look bad.
- Tell them you are allergic to one of the ingredients, you can’t eat sweet potatoes because you lack the enzyme to break them down. If you can’t eat something, they can’t fight you on it because ultimately no one (host included) wants you to go into anaphylactic shock or spend the night in the ER…
I think the ultimate BEST way to handle a food pusher is to be honest and true to yourself. In reality, this can be terribly difficult especially if you are newly exploring a healthier diet and unsure of how to navigate through temptations, stress, and uncertainty of party settings. It irks me when someone cannot accept what I want to eat or how, especially if its a matter of trying to be healthier or make more conscious food choices.
Have you ever had to deal with a “food pusher” ?
What are best tips for dealing with someone that criticizes your food or diet choices?
