Deception & Donuts

Unfortunately, deception is an element that failed dieters face. Self deception is real and hurtful, but when the deception targets friends and family, the guilt pours on. This morning my wife and I went to a local donut shop before our son’s baseball game. Sweets are my major weakness and donuts are right on the top of that list. My default donut choice is always an old fashion glazed. In my opinion, it is the perfect donut. If there were such thing as a donut-god, he/she/it would be shaped in the form in an old fashion form. A second donut choice doesn’t deviate that much--old fashion chocolate. I don’t do donuts daily, but I’ll occasionally begin the day with one of these because I know there are people who have been up preparing them since 4am and it serves the economy for me to eat my share (only about once a week). Today my wife chooses to eat “good” and ordered a bagel with turkey. I’m sure that’s not “good” for the Nazi-trainer-type, but for our family… that’s real good. While I’d rather her join me in eating bad (misery loves company) I respect her choice. But, between the two of us, she’s always the stronger when it comes to food, exercise, dieting… and well, morality. Because she shares my diet Coke addiction, and this particular donut store doesn’t have fountain drinks, she goes next door to the 7-11 to fulfill our addictions. While I pay for the donuts I notice the sweet lady working behind the counter graciously added a handful of donut holes to keep my old fashion glazed company. I’ve found this to be common practice at some of the higher end donut stores (those with a bathroom inside). It’s kind of like reverse tipping. I definitely don’t complain, and honestly, I’m thrilled that she went on a Diet Coke field trip. Here’s where the deception appeared… I powered thru all the donut holes without telling her. When you do stuff like that, you learn to justify your actions. In this case, I convinced myself that I didn’t lie to her because she ever asked, “Hey, was there any free donuts that Ms. Lee hid in your donut bag?” Had she asked that question I would have said, “Yes! I ate them.” I would have come clean. She didn’t. Plus, she was eating good and I wanted to help her. That’s the kind of husband I am—thoughtful and deceptive.