The Dark Side of Optimizing Your Metabolism: When Wearables Become a Weight on the Soul
For wellness enthusiasts, the promise of optimizing one's metabolism is like a siren song - beckoning us to try new gadgets, supplements, and diets that swear to fix our metabolic woes. The latest wearable craze, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), has taken this trend to dizzying heights, with influencers touting their benefits for anyone looking to shed pounds or just stay healthy.
But beneath the buzzwords and before-the-bell hype, lies a more sinister reality - one that sees these devices turning into tools of torture rather than liberation. For those who don't struggle with diabetes or prediabetes, CGMs can be a godsend, helping people track their glucose levels and make informed decisions about their diet.
However, for those like me, who have learned to live with the specter of weight gain and metabolic issues, wearing these gadgets during holidays becomes an exercise in emotional gymnastics. It's the constant battle to keep our platefuls tidy, guilt-free indulgences at bay, lest our glucose levels soar into uncharted territory. The pressure is crushing - can we indulge just once? Will it wreck our entire holiday?
The trap lies not only in how these devices monitor but also in how they reinforce our own self-censorship and emotional policing. Using CGMs becomes an attempt to micromanage every morsel that goes into our bodies, stripping away what's left of the joy in eating. It's akin to a never-ending game of diet roulette, where losing weight is seen as a prize worth risking one's happiness.
I remember Thanksgiving dinner last year - I'd donned my CGM, curious about how it would track my glucose levels during those carefully loaded plates. My relatives were intrigued but cautiously supportive. But what they didn't know was that this new device had become the first thing on my mind as I devoured each dish, scrutinizing every spoonful with an eagle eye.
This wasn't a straightforward exercise in healthy eating; it was more about performance - the performance of being 'good', not just in front of others but also for myself. The guilt and anxiety that followed were palpable. And when my aunt asked me to have another slice, I checked the CGM apps frantically, trying to swing a second plate into my favor.
It took months to realize this wasn't about health but control - an attempt to use technology as a tool of manipulation rather than liberation. My weight loss had plateaued and anxiety had reasserted itself.
The reality is - optimizing your metabolism isn't something that can be done with gadgets alone; it requires a deeper understanding of oneself, what makes you happy and fulfilled. For those of us trying to live healthy lives, the real challenge lies not in how we track our glucose levels or cut out certain foods but in cultivating self-compassion, allowing ourselves space for life's little indulgences and learning to love the company of others over our own self-control.
By acknowledging this dark side, perhaps we can use CGMs more critically - as tools that should be used with caution, not zealotry.
For wellness enthusiasts, the promise of optimizing one's metabolism is like a siren song - beckoning us to try new gadgets, supplements, and diets that swear to fix our metabolic woes. The latest wearable craze, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), has taken this trend to dizzying heights, with influencers touting their benefits for anyone looking to shed pounds or just stay healthy.
But beneath the buzzwords and before-the-bell hype, lies a more sinister reality - one that sees these devices turning into tools of torture rather than liberation. For those who don't struggle with diabetes or prediabetes, CGMs can be a godsend, helping people track their glucose levels and make informed decisions about their diet.
However, for those like me, who have learned to live with the specter of weight gain and metabolic issues, wearing these gadgets during holidays becomes an exercise in emotional gymnastics. It's the constant battle to keep our platefuls tidy, guilt-free indulgences at bay, lest our glucose levels soar into uncharted territory. The pressure is crushing - can we indulge just once? Will it wreck our entire holiday?
The trap lies not only in how these devices monitor but also in how they reinforce our own self-censorship and emotional policing. Using CGMs becomes an attempt to micromanage every morsel that goes into our bodies, stripping away what's left of the joy in eating. It's akin to a never-ending game of diet roulette, where losing weight is seen as a prize worth risking one's happiness.
I remember Thanksgiving dinner last year - I'd donned my CGM, curious about how it would track my glucose levels during those carefully loaded plates. My relatives were intrigued but cautiously supportive. But what they didn't know was that this new device had become the first thing on my mind as I devoured each dish, scrutinizing every spoonful with an eagle eye.
This wasn't a straightforward exercise in healthy eating; it was more about performance - the performance of being 'good', not just in front of others but also for myself. The guilt and anxiety that followed were palpable. And when my aunt asked me to have another slice, I checked the CGM apps frantically, trying to swing a second plate into my favor.
It took months to realize this wasn't about health but control - an attempt to use technology as a tool of manipulation rather than liberation. My weight loss had plateaued and anxiety had reasserted itself.
The reality is - optimizing your metabolism isn't something that can be done with gadgets alone; it requires a deeper understanding of oneself, what makes you happy and fulfilled. For those of us trying to live healthy lives, the real challenge lies not in how we track our glucose levels or cut out certain foods but in cultivating self-compassion, allowing ourselves space for life's little indulgences and learning to love the company of others over our own self-control.
By acknowledging this dark side, perhaps we can use CGMs more critically - as tools that should be used with caution, not zealotry.
... I mean seriously though, these glucose monitors can be super helpful for people who need them, but for others, it's like having a nagging voice in our heads all the time. "Eat this, no eat that"... yawn. It's about finding balance, not perfection. We should focus on nourishing ourselves, not just tracking every single crumb 
. These new wearables are like constant stressors in your life, making you question every little thing you eat or drink. It's like they're watching you, judging you, and it's super annoying 
. People need to take a step back and relax around their health stuff - life is supposed to be enjoyed, not just tracked! 
I totally feel u 
wearables can b a double edge sword 
. 1st they help, but den the pressure to track & control every bite gets 2 much 
. It's like we r living in a never ending diet roulette 
. Can't we just enjoy life without all these gadgets? 
#selfcompassion #mentalhealth
I mean, who hasn't been there where they just want to indulge a bit and then check their CGM for every second feeling guilty as heck? 
Like, my aunt asked me for a slice of pie and I freaked out because I checked the CGM thinking it was a cheat day 
And yeah, I know it's easy to say but like, I'm still trying to work on this too 
I was just thinking about how some of these new gadgets are taking a toll on people's mental health. These continuous glucose monitors are meant to help with diabetes and stuff, but for those who don't have those issues, they can become pretty stressful. It's like you're being constantly judged by your own device. And the worst part is that we're using them more as a tool for control rather than actual health. We need to take a step back and think about why we're doing this. Is it because we want to lose weight? No, it's because we feel like we need to be perfect all the time. 
and honestly, some holidays feel more like an exercise in self-torture than actual celebration 
I mean, can't we just relax and enjoy ourselves without feeling like we're being judged by our devices? 
The fact that they can make you feel guilty for eating or indulge in certain foods is just wrong. We need to take a step back and remember that food is supposed to be enjoyable, not a source of anxiety 
. Time to take off the mask and let food be food again 
especially during holidays when food is plentiful 
I feel like they add this extra layer of stress & guilt 
just to try and lose a few pounds or look good for the gram 
. We need 2 focus on self-compassion & not beating ourselves up over a few indulgences 
. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to turn something that's supposed to help us into a tool for emotional torture? 
It's like, we're using these tools to try and optimize our lives, but in reality, they might be holding us back from truly living. 
It's a beautiful concept, isn't it?
My CGM was literally weighing me down this Thanksgiving (literally!), making me question every single choice at the table. It's like, can't we just have one normal conversation over dinner without the constant stress of monitoring our glucose levels?