Can Pavlov’s dog help you drool over healthy food?

May 17, 2017 Ashley 0 Comments

As lunch neared, I could almost taste it.

That decadent, sugary, peanut butter stuffed concoction I tried passing off as a smoothie.

“But… it has half a banana in it!”

And, every time, without fail… it’d fail me. Sure, the initial sugar hit didn’t disappoint. But after that, it was the textbook blood sugar horror story. First, there was the giddy rise in energy. Then, there was the drastic drop into lethargy. And, within two weeks, I was two inches thicker. Yet, though I knew this, I was powerless over that association each lunch day. 2 P.M. meant smoothie time. It even felt like a reward present-me deserved. And, even though I knew future-me would suffer, salivation set in the second my coworker returned from her lunch shift.

This actually isn’t much different from the cruel experiments that scientists Pavlov used to do with dogs.
In one of the less inhumane procedures he performed, for example, he’d ring this bell in front of the pup. Then, he’d feed him. Every time it happened in this order. First, Fido heard the bell. Then, the food would follow. It didn’t take long before the mere chime of the bell led to massive salivation from Pavlov’s furry prisoner. Much like the sight of my colleague coming back from lunch meant sugar-smoothie time for me, the noise of chiming rang the idiomatic bell for Fido, reminding him of supper.

And, believe it or not, we’re all a lot like Pavlov’s pup – especially when it comes to food.

Granted, sometimes this isn’t so bad. Good associations can be made. But, when it comes to stuff like junk food smoothies? That can definitely add digits to the scale. So how can we scale back? Well, experts suggest that we first find out what that trigger is. In previous pieces on “triggers”, I’ve generally mentioned stress at the culprit junk food bullet launcher. And, while that’s often the cause, indeed, sometimes it’s just bad habits we’ve talked our gullible brains into believing. Ever think, “I deserve this…” as you tuck into a calorie ridden daiquiri? Because it feels good? (When, in reality, you know that you don’t deserve to feel the way it ultimately will make you feel?) Those are the kinds of lies in which we place faux faith when we’re addicted to both a ritualistic habit and junk food itself (like sugar or hyperpalatable snacks). Even though we know it’s false, the second that “bell” sends our salivary glands into action, all rational thought’s over.

“It’s not processed sugar. It’s alternatively natural.”

So, what’s the fix after identifying our “bell” trigger?

To put a new plan in place, say the pros. Maybe it’s going for a walk. Maybe it’s journaling. And, if your “trigger” is indeed during lunch, maybe it’s bypassing the snack machine or café that sells those chocolate croissants, and hitting Harris Teeter for a banana. (To be fair, though, it’s probably best to brainstorm these weight loss boosting shoo-ins during a time when you’re not in craving state.) But, when you do concoct your substitutes, really try to think: what snack or activity might make you happy? What can you immediately bring to mind the moment your daily grind break arrives? What can your bell mean?

I’ll be honest. It took me a week of practicing this without feeling at least a little slighted. However, the day I began swapping out my smoothie for stuff like carrots, grapes, and edamame (and, okay, maybe a short sized something-or-ther from Starbucks), I felt at peace. Why? Well, for heaps reasons. First – carrots have this amazing crunch factor that I love, grapes offer some sweetness, and edamame’s always a phenomenal snack. (Obviously.) It’s like a whole party on my palate. Second – I knew I was meeting my protein and carb needs in a natural way (a major motivation, since it meant no refined sugar crash later). Third – I could eat more and fill up (without feeling disgusting within an hour or two) because of the high fiber, water content, and protein in the beans. Fourth – I was saving money (since this’s all stuff I buy Sunday for the week anyway, and hafta toss out when I neglect it and it goes bad). Fifth – this was self-validating in the best way; no one told me to do this. There was no A&E style intervention for my secret, slurpable addiction. I’d wanted to lose the weight the smoothie had added, and now I was taking my bullshiz story by the horns (nunna this “it’s healthy ‘cause it’s called a smoothie” shiz anymore) and making the change.

And sixth? Sixth is that this was a simple fix that, once implemented, mitigated the symptoms of junk food withdrawal. Sure, within nearly no time, the weight was gone. But, better than that, it only took a few days of starting this to feel so much better that I could be patient enough for the weight loss to come. In other words, the way my body responded was worth it enough alone – even if the aesthetic factor didn’t come. But, come it did. And, since then, 2 P.M. is no longer a knell for the sugary spell I’d been under for months prior, but a cheerful chime reminding me to refuel on delicious diesel whole foods.

So, if you’re aiming for weight loss, try some Pavlovian re-conditioning of your own on for size…

And find a healthy habit to drool over next time your metaphorical bell rings!