Just come up with a kickass analogy

akf2000
akf2000 Posts: 278 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Think of this in terms of budgets. You're given a daily allowance (calories) but it's hard to know what you spend it on without help from MFP. You wouldn't walk into a store and buy things without looking at the price. MFP tells you how much you have to spend and how much things cost.

So let's run with metaphor! Your excess weight represent DEBT! That's right DEBT! and the interest you pay on this debt (I am SO hitting my stride right now) is the negative impact on your health and well-being.

GODDAMNIT YES!
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Replies

  • dhimaan
    dhimaan Posts: 774 Member
    I don't what a metaphor is. Plus I have no idea what you are talking about.
  • wookiepants
    wookiepants Posts: 40 Member
    Well...I'm well in debt then and my bills are like 1 year or more overdue. I need a multipass.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    $$$ budget and gas in your tank are good analogies. Just don't forget they're analogies which means it's not a 100 % match, they can help an idea sink in but don't always have great predictive power. :wink:

    We use this at home sometimes. "I'm going for a bike ride, should I stop and grab you a banana pudding?" "No, that's too expensive for me today."
  • cross2bear
    cross2bear Posts: 1,106 Member
    I have been using this mindset for a very long time, but its nice to see someone else "get it"!! Sometimes I will look at the calorie count on a food I think I might like to try, and discover that it is too "expensive", or I am not willing to crack open the calorie "purse" and spend the budget on something that is only "meh". If something is going to cost a lot, it better darn well be worth it, and there are very few things I have found that are.
  • rynshermy
    rynshermy Posts: 54 Member
    bigbuffbarry wrote: »
    Help! How do I declare bankruptcy, and start over?

    Ugh, I wish!
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    According to this I am about 35,000 "dollars" in debt right now. Now I'm depressed, lol.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    akf2000 wrote: »
    Think of this in terms of budgets. You're given a daily allowance (calories) but it's hard to know what you spend it on without help from MFP. You wouldn't walk into a store and buy things without looking at the price. MFP tells you how much you have to spend and how much things cost.

    So let's run with metaphor! Your excess weight represent DEBT! That's right DEBT! and the interest you pay on this debt (I am SO hitting my stride right now) is the negative impact on your health and well-being.

    GODDAMNIT YES!

    Yup, I explained MFP to my OH using the calorie budget metaphor and he got it right away :)
  • Dano74
    Dano74 Posts: 503 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Not to burst your bubble but you are not the first to come up with this idea. It has been said many times before.

    Uh... why was that comment necessary?

    Good for you, OP, on finding something that works for you. You've caught fire and that's fun to see, man.
  • frankiesgirlie
    frankiesgirlie Posts: 669 Member
    Dano74 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Not to burst your bubble but you are not the first to come up with this idea. It has been said many times before.

    Uh... why was that comment necessary?

    Good for you, OP, on finding something that works for you. You've caught fire and that's fun to see, man.


    Once again, everything that's being said on these forums has been said before.Bringing that up serves no purpose.
    And yes, OP, I did just say to myself recently that I would be very happy if I was as good at managing my calorie budget as I am with my financial budget.
  • rynshermy
    rynshermy Posts: 54 Member
    edited September 2016
    .
  • ARGriffy
    ARGriffy Posts: 1,002 Member
    Is building muscle like an ISA?
  • endlessfall16
    endlessfall16 Posts: 932 Member
    How does your analogy fit in with the fact that people tend to increase their debts and eventually do a bankruptcy? :)
  • ugofatcat
    ugofatcat Posts: 385 Member
    I like this analogy.

    I think it is helpful to post things like this because everyday more people join MFP and venture over to these forums. It is unlikely they will go through hundreds of threads, but seeing stuff like this front and center can be helpful. If a few new people glean help from this that is great! OP you helped someone new!

    I also like the money analogy and apply it to "starvation mode". Starvation mode is understood that if you eat too few calories, the body thinks it is starving and holds on to fat. But would you put money in a savings account before paying your bills? Of course not, you would pay your bills first, then save what is left over. In the same way, our body will use the calories we eat for function, then store excess calories as fat. It would not store the calories we eat as fat when it needs them to survive! What do you think about that analogy?
  • akf2000
    akf2000 Posts: 278 Member
    edited September 2016
    Thanks for all your replies! I realise it's a blindingly obvious analogy but I came up with it when my sister accused MFP of being 'intrusive'! When I explained it in these terms she came to what can only be described as an understanding.

    Now let me address the individual points raised:
    1. "Is building muscle like an ISA? " - I would liken it to an inheritance from a wealthy deceased aunt.
    2. "So are children like tapeworms then?" - this is stretching the metaphor to its very limits; children are a blessing, now go and tidy your room
    3. "So is having a mortgage like having food poisoning?" - I'm going to say "yes"
  • smotheredincheese
    smotheredincheese Posts: 559 Member
    And you can only pay off your debt by exercising, or living on a tight (calorie) budget the next month.
    Going bankrupt would be getting a gastric band I guess?
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited September 2016
    Oh yes, I love this analogy. I've been thinking in these terms for a while now, especially when there is a buffet involved. When I go shopping I don't just grab everything in sight. I pick and choose the things I like the most and leave the rest on the shelves. That's how a buffet goes for me too, I pick the 2-4 things I like the most (the number depends on the calorie price) and leave the rest alone.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited September 2016
    Well I support the analogy. Everyday I wake up and there is XXX X in my calorie register. Its a mystery how I get a deposit at midnight every night.. :) LOL

    I get to debit the register all day.. and even credit it too. Sometimes there are choices I want that I "I simply can't afford today". and I do take all of my shopping seriously and a bit frugal at times.

    Once the register is empty, no more checks can be written. :) Bankruptcy can be avoided by not writing too many checks.
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    Muscle catabolism is the penalty fee for non sufficient funds.
  • tlflag1620
    tlflag1620 Posts: 1,358 Member
    Exercise is like taking a part time job to supplement income.

    Children are only like tapeworms if they are like mine - they typically take nearly half the food off my plate :D

    Having a stomach bug is like paying taxes.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    Performance enhancing drugs are like winning the lottery?
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Not to burst your bubble but you are not the first to come up with this idea. It has been said many times before.

    yep. the idea of "fitting in your calorie budget" and more is very common and well-known.

    I don't like to think of it this way, but if it helps others who may think it is "intrusive" or "unhealthy" then why not. It's funny to me how some think that calorie counting is "bad" because of the negative connotation that it's been associated with, but have no problem with being completely ignorant about their intake. It's usually either-or with these people.

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