t's time to come clean. To admit to everyone and myself that I have a problem. Addiction is something that creeps up on you. It starts with a taste, then a bit of recreational consumption and before long its a habit. I have to admit that it's become a problem. My consumption has become an issue and is threatening everything.
I am of course speaking about my love of crisps and savoury bagged snacks. Doritos, Wotsits, Nik Naks plus regular crisps are so delicious. I love them. But I'll happily demolish a so called 'sharing bag' in a single sitting and it has to stop.
It turns out my lack of willpower is actually a triumph of modern engineering. I’m not just a man with a bag of Doritos; I’m a biological system being dismantled by 'Vanishing Caloric Density' and a perfectly calculated 'Bliss Point.' I’m not weak—I’m just outgunned by food scientists.
But before I tackle the problem I feel I must rank those tasty delights...
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| Created using AI |
I need to deal with my problem, but I have to be honest: cutting them out completely isn’t realistic. They are far too delicious for a total exile. Perhaps the answer, then, lies in moderation rather than banishment. From now on, crisps will become a weekend treat—something to be savoured and respected rather than demolished on autopilot. I’ll still allow the occasional mini multipack offering in my snap tin* for a bit of mid-shift morale, but beyond that, I must exercise restraint. It is a difficult path, certainly, but every warrior must eventually face their trials—even if that trial is flavoured with chilli heatwave.
*In Yorkshire, “snap” means food taken to work, and the “snap tin” is the sacred vessel that carries it.
This week, I headed over to my physiotherapy appointment for my back. I haven't mentioned my recovery from the cycling accident back in November for a while, but I’ve been attending private physio sessions for some time now. I’m making solid progress, and the treatment is definitely getting results, though I never imagined I’d still be feeling the effects six months later.
This week’s session was a bit of a departure for me: I had acupuncture. My physio did say I might feel a little prick but I said that's usual for me (didn't happen). It was a completely new experience—painless, surprisingly—and while it hasn't eliminated the pain entirely, it has made it far more bearable. The effects only last a few days, so it’s vital that I keep up with my exercises too.
Thursday saw Magnus, my beloved four-legged companion, celebrate his 5th birthday. He has been such a source of comfort, fun, and companionship over the years. I am so glad we have him in our lives.
The spirit of the Urban Viking—and the occasional absurdity of navigating the modern world—lives on in my webcomic, Northman. 
You can read the latest chapter here:
You do not need savoury snacks Kirt. They are not good for you. That's the simple truth young man. But admitting you have a problem is half the battle. Not that you are looking for advice but my advice is to fill that gap with fruit - fresh fruit, dried fruit or a mixture of both. Are they male or female fingers giving you the acupuncture? It's hard to tell.
ReplyDeleteIt's been part of the sprial I found myself in this year, I've always enjoyed crisps but limited myself to them. The fingers were female but that image is all made up. Felt a bit awkward to ask her to take a snap for my blog.
DeleteYour Snacks of Legend graphic is AWESOME and made me laugh out loud! Wishing you the strength of Mighty Thor himself to resist eating all those salty, empty carb calories!
ReplyDeleteI swear by physio, myself. I had acupuncture once at physio (just a single needle) and it did help. Along with doing all the exercises, of course, as you note.
And happy birthday to sweet Magnus, the goodest boy of all!
AI does have some uses, I was happy how the graphic turned out. The physio is going really well.
DeleteMagnus says thank you, well he said woof.
For me it's ice cream that I find it hard to resist if I have it at home. Luckily I find it easier to just not buy any when I'm ordering groceries online, as I usually do now... So if I get a desperate urge for it, at least I have to go for a walk to get some!!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy an ice cream but I can easily resist. It's those savoury treats I just can't leave alone. There's too many shops close by so I can't escape them!
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