I recently had my annual check-up and was asked a standard question on the form: How much coffee do you drink?
“Three cups a day,” I wrote down.
The young female doctor scanned my answers and told me to cut back to one a day. “Three’s too much,” she said in a scolding tone.
I did what I always do when I disagree with someone. I tell them, “I’m from Europe,” as though that lets me off the hook.
I’m sorry, but there are some habits I enjoy, like my coffee before the gym, my coffee around 10 a.m. with a Danish cookie, and my coffee after lunch.
I refuse to change because statistics show one year that one cup of coffee is acceptable, but three is not. And the following year, caffeine is supposed to be good for you.
Simple pleasures like coffee or tea, should be enjoyed and not used to make you feel “bad” when you’re already doing everything you can to live a healthy life like: working out, eating fresh vegetables, fruit, lean protein and no fast food.
Now that I’ve been able to vent my frustration, time for me to grab my mid-morning Peet’s coffee. If you have not heard the story I wrote called: “My Italian Lover,” (trust me; it’s related,) you might enjoy a laugh.
What are your simple pleasures in life?
Our attitude has such a huge effect on our health. To enjoy a pleasure instead of feeling guilty about it makes all the difference in the world!
These days people are becoming so uptight about their pure diets. That can create tension too. Thanks for this different spin.
I so agree with you, Sonia. Coffee is a real pleasure for me. I didn't drink it until I was 40, and now I am addicted and don't see that changing. I remember your excellent "Italian Lover" and would love to meet him someday.
@alwayswellwithin
Thanks Sandra for agreeing with me that we can indulge in three cups of coffee.
@Jeanie
How could you stay away from coffee until your forties? Amazing!
Does red wine count too? Because my doctor also told me that more than one glass a day is too many. 🙂 That's hard to stick to during the holidays, I'll tell you!
I love, love love your story Sonia! It was perfect! And I'm right there with you on the coffee. I don't think that three cups is too much at all unless your adding lots more caffeine in another form.
Coffee is one of my simple pleasures as well and I drink three cups a day!
Love Di ♥
I once saw an interview with George Burns when he was 99 years old. The reporter asked him:
“Do you still smoke cigars”
Burns: “Yes, I smoke two cigars a day.”
Reporter: “And you still drink, I understand?”
Burns: “That’s right, I have two Martinis a day.”
Reporter: “Well want does your doctor think of that?”
Burns: “My doctor is dead.”
@Julie
Glad you mentioned red wine. "I'm from Europe," does that let me off the hook?
@Diana No, I don't drink Red Bull, only coffee.
@Robert
I love that quote. My dad is 85, lives in Paris, enjoys his simple pleasures as well as traveling around the world. I hope to be like him.
This is definitely one of my favourite stories! I love coffee too, but only drink two cups a day…
Totally agree!!!
The kind of active life you lead, and the positive thoughts you think, an additional cup of coffee or two is reallly not going to make much of a difference. Now if you are like me, and prone to going into 6 cups of coffee a day, that is a different matter altogether- 6 is definitely bad, not 3.
I so enjoyed this post. Although I am not a coffee drinker, I agree that we do sometimes miss out on those pleasure moments by injecting 'em with guilt. I'm sure that anything can be unhealthy if it's treated with the proper amount of disrespect.
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Thanks for the morning laugh with my own cup of coffee! And if three cups feels right to you, trust yourself. We all need a bit of indulgence in some way.
@ladyfi
You're drinking one too many. HAHAHA.
@Rayna
How big is your coffee cup? One American mug, might equal two or three mugs in India. See what I mean?
@Yaya's home
Thanks for the link. I shall check him out. What a sweet unexpected gift.
@Andrea
Thanks. We do need to have a little fun. Don't we?
I'm so glad to hear that you are taking the route to enjoy yourself, Sonia. There is nothing wrong with simple pleasures – in fact, there can't be too many of them, if you ask me.
@Gail
I think you're right. Simple pleasures to enjoy our daily life.
We are often our best diagnosticians. I love the statistic years ago that showed that Wisconsonites (one of my groups) consumed world record nnumbers of sausage, beer, cheese, high-fat dairy, were over-weight, but still lived longer than Californians. The signicant difference? When asked how they felt aout their lifestyle. Almost all from Wisconsin felt good. Californians all wanted to change something.
I'm with you Sonia! Every day they're recanting advice given yesterday. I feel I've lived long enough to trust my gut, and know what's best for me. Now, if someone needed to be told to stop smoking crack, I would understand. Coffee? Wine? no.
Thanks for the post.
@Doctor Eclectic
What a great comparison. Funny how the french don't feel guilty about their wine and rich food, and seem trimmer than those in the U.S.
@ Barbara
I agree with you. Thanks for stopping by during these busy holiday preparations.
I'm Glad i discovered this website.Added gutsywriter.blogspot.com to my bookmark!
Simple pleasures. A good night's sleep. Sitting and watching the world, and the birds. Playing with Miss Sadie. A cool room with lots of blankets. Something thought-provoking and well written.
I'm with you, coffee is my one last vice. And you just can't convince me its bad for me, sorry. Same thing with my red wine…