Do most people drink wine out of a plastic cup? Nope…they cart out those fancy wine glass and enjoy their favorite Merlot, Chard, Cab or other swirling around in that classy wine glass.
Do most people enjoy a dinner sitting at McDonalds as opposed to dining at a classy restaurant? Nope…they love the candlelit tables, the soft background music and the higher food quality at the fancy restaurant.
“Ambience”, i.e. the character and atmosphere of a situation/place, contributes greatly to our enjoyment and experience related to a situation we are involved with. We feel more relaxed, happier and less stressed when we are in a more favorable “ambience” as opposed to a lesser one.
Frequently, the more superior “ambience” will lead us to behaviors that derail our weight control efforts. That fancy wine glass is used to drink wine, and not club soda. The fancy restaurant will ply us with booze, that warm basket of bread, great tasting desserts and entrees that abound in calories.
During a long-term weight control effort, try to create a favorable “ambience” but refrain from the eating/drinking activities that derail our quest to shed weight. Yes, bring out those wine glasses but place a sparkling water and perhaps a tinge of wine or alcohol to provide that sense of enjoying a “cocktail”. Light candles around the dinner table, yet feast on those lean proteins and vegetables. Place a zero calorie jello with a 5 calorie whipped cream in a fancy dessert dish. Think of other ways of enhancing the “ambience” yet avoiding those derailing foods and drinks.
My wife and I just celebrated our 14th year together and our wedding celebration took place In Las Vegas at a restaurant at the Winn called “Sinatra’s”. Talking about ambience: Wow! Sinatra pictures with various stars adorning the walls and the background music…no need to answer that one, Captain Obvious!
Here is one of the songs I remember from that evening:
