Dieting and control

The problem with dieting is that it is all about control.  It is like creating a prison within ourselves.  We have to eat this food, exercise this much, control our basic instincts.  This automatically sets us up for failure.  Our natural desire is to be free, to be able to do whatever we want.  On the island of Crete, where some of the healthiest people in the world lived, there just happened to be all the right foods on the island for extreme good health and weight control.  The people there felt free, because they could eat whatever they wanted and still be healthy.  They celebrated the wonderful, tasty food and enjoyed it immensely.  Once food began to be imported from other countries they began to eat a bunch of new foods such as sugar, meat, and processed foods.  The children went from being among the healthiest in the world to the most overweight in Europe in just a few short years.  They were given choice and they lost control.  In this country we have tens of thousands of food choices and we have gone completely out of control as well.  The question is how can we eat well and still feel in control.  I think it is by beginning to really enjoy ourselves in doing things that improve our health.  Instead of feeling like we have to eat well, to actually begin enjoying eating well.  It is the same for exercise and all aspects of taking care of ourselves.  If we enjoy it then we will feel in control.  If all we are doing is pushing against ourselves, then we will just stay in the prison with no chance of escape.