Have you ever had an argument with a friend (boy or girl), sibling, classmate, or spouse who was trying to tell you what to do and you countered with the response “You’re not the boss of me?” I think most of us have thrown that phrase out to someone at some point in time (hopefully you weren’t under 18 and saying it to your parents). But (and this is a big but) have you ever used that phrase on yourself?
As part of a new work-related project, I’ve been thinking about how mathematics can be used to promote health and wellness. I decided to compare the square footage of my mouth to the whole of my body (I know this is a weird segue, but stick with me here).
To figure out the square footage of my body, I used the same formula you use to calculate the square footage of a rectangle (width x length). Our bodies look similar to a rectangle, so I multiplied my height (66 inches) x my width (for most people the widest point is going to be across their hips). Since my hips measure 39 inches around, and you only need to go across, the final equation was 66 x 19.5. Using one of the square footage calculators on the internet (remember, these numbers are in inches—you will need to click on inches in the calculation box) generated the information that the square footage of my body is 8.94 square feet.
Repeating the same calculation with my mouth (I went with a 2 x 1 measurement), the result was .01 square foot. So do you see where I’m going with this? In essence, you’re letting a miniscule part of your body tell the rest of it what kind of fuel, and in what quantity, is going to come down the pike. The 99% of your body that doesn’t get to decide what gets eaten should be irate. It should be yelling at your mouth saying “You’re not the boss of me!”
Let’s be real. When you have a craving for pizza or a hot fudge sundae, it’s not your arms and legs asking for those two items. It’s your MOUTH! Now when my mouth wants donuts or a third piece of pizza, I yell at it (mentally) and tell it “you are NOT the boss of me.” It’s ludicrous that such a small unit of our body has such a huge influence on our weight, our risk for chronic disease, and on psychological issues such as self-perception and self-esteem.
Rebel with a Cause
This defiant attitude towards my mouth (I call it the Pie Hole Rebellion) has enabled me to lose 10 pounds over the last six weeks. I realize we are hard-wired to crave certain foods by other entities in our bodies besides our mouth (brain, eyes, nose, hormones, blood sugar, etc). But for most of us, the mouth is the driver, the “big Kahuna,” the “head honcho” of our food choices. It is the gateway for fuel to gain access to the rest of the body.
I’ve put mine on notice. “My mouth is not the boss of me” is my new mantra. It will occasionally (probably) still try to take charge, but I’m bigger (and meaner). Vive la révolte!
Written by: Donna Green, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County, green.308@osu.edu
Reviewed by: Beth Stefura, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Mahoning County, stefura.2@osu.edu
Resource:
https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/construction/square-footage-calculator.php
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