The term "Yo-Yo Dieting" was coined by Dr. Kelly Brownell at Yale University in reference to the cyclical up-down motion of a yo-yo with regards to body weight. The dieter is initially successful in the pursuit of weight loss but is unsuccessful in maintaining the loss for the long-term. The dieter then seeks to lose the regained weight, and the cycle begins again.

I am no stranger to the phenomenon. At 13, prior to my Bar Mitzvah, I lost 23 pounds in 21 days to fit into my suit. I gained 40 pounds within the following two weeks.

 The big apple turnover it was. I have discovered Zabar’s Chocolate Babka thanks to my friend, Samara. And so, I turned.

For a moment, I got caught in the underbelly of the city, and felt pinned under its weight. Some people overeat under duress. I starve. Why not just take the suffering a step further? Screw the South Beach Diet, the New York City Diet has me down ten pounds in a week! Mix one part anxiety with two parts depression, follow with a sensible dinner of wine. I think carrying a bottle of wine is always wise in New York ; at worst, you can assault your attacker. At best, you have something to take the edge off when you get home.

Off-topic, and for you to feed on a diet of humor and life experience, I leave you with my journey into a size 34 pant (still hoping for 32). I leave you with my journey upward, onward, and onto take a bite out of the Big Apple. Apples are an excellent source of fiber and provide an array of nutritional value. I hope my bite finds me in smaller pants and more satiated.

But I digress…

"One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it."  -Anton Chekov  

Chekhov's gun is the literary technique whereby an element is introduced early in the story, but whose significance does not become clear until later on. In our society, we tend to view body weight in very different terms; obesity is a problem to be remedied, when in reality, it is a solution to a problem that often does not become clear until later on.