I think my bottom line will be drinking more water, remembering to drink as much as possible to maintain a full feeling throughout the day. I find when I work in an office at a computer I am more compelled to boredom eat, which is that I mindlessly shovel things into my mouth. Sunflower seeds seem to work well with mindless eating because aside from the massive amounts of sodium, they’re somewhat harmless and I would consider them an activity that keeps me from shoveling more food in my mouth. Does anyone have any ideas of quick on-the-go type foods that I can prepare maybe even a week in advance? I need change, I can't be a salad everyday person, I need more than that, variety. Studies have shown your body needs the difference to to avoid boredom of the brain/stomach.
Now here is also where I have an issue with food. I enjoy food, not just to comfort me, but the tastes, creating it and presenting a meal. I post pictures on Facebook about my random Martha Stewart moments. So I have a hard time accepting that I can’t just eat food like my skinny friends who have high metabolisms (yes that means you Brandalyn) do. And I think this is something I have the biggest time wrapping my head around.
One of my favorite things to do when I go out on adventures (as I call them) is eating. I enjoy eating food from an area or a place I’ve never been. To me that’s what the experience is all about. Well, that and getting there. When I was in Philly, I had to have an original Philadelphia Cheese steak, the first time I had one in Philly, and it was terrible. But then Trish, Daniel’s step-mom introduced me to what real Philly cheese steaks should taste like. I was hooked.
Or when I’m at the Jersey Shore – There are so many different things to taste and sample (Zeppoles... mmm fried dough or fried Oreos…mmm fried.) I suppose being in Michigan, I can avoid Zeppoles, fried oreos and cheese-steaks to some extent, but that's not to say that if I travel some where else, there wont be something I want to eat (Garret's Popcorn.)I know it’s all about portion control and knowing that whatever a restaurant serves you is much more than you should be eating.
It really is hard to train my brain to only allow myself portions. While my life was rocky, I didn’t have as many treats or good food that other kids had, so when I was finally able to go out on my own and purchase my own foods, I went a little crazy. Like, Oh-man-I-must-eat-all-the-chocolate-kisses. And “Hey look, there’s a taco bell, I shall have some.” It was like a total freak-fest for me and a reason for a lot of my weight gain in the last years of high school and after.
I’m really frustrated with all of this re-wiring that I have to do with my brain. When I see people post things on boards to other people who are fat that state things like “It’s easy, get up and walk around” I get incredibly irritated. Because I recognize that it’s not just a matter of walking to get the fat off. It’s so much more and everyone has their own demons to fight. Do I think being skinnier will make me happier? I really couldn’t say, I’ve never been skinny to understand that happiness, and the few people I know that are skinny are obsessive. I don’t want to be an obsessive person.
I want to be able to enjoy life without the obsessiveness.
I like the suggestion that Jess gave me when she told me to select a day of “free-for-all”, where I allow myself to eat whatever I want. Everyone’s entitled to food, perhaps I should only allow this if I do what I have planned to do, rather than just allow it. Make it a reward system from the week before. If I complete the goals I have for the week prior, I allow myself a freebie day where I can nom on some pizza and other random indulging foods (Carmel Macchiato from Starbucks…)
I like the idea of lettin yourself cheat but you have to be careful with that. I am a binger so if I have a cheat day, I tend to do more than cheat a little!!! Maybe allow one cheat meal a week or earn your cheat meal with 15 minutes extra on the bike or something. If you have to work out extra you may just choose its not worth the treat and thus the rewiring begins!
ReplyDeleteAllow yourself treats, but not free-for-alls. Kelsey is definitely on the right track on this one. A complete free-for-all for the dieter often winds up being like "just one drink" for the alcoholic. You can go get your caramel macchiato, but maybe get a smaller size, and consider the "skinny" version. If you must have the regular full calorie version of something, make sure it is the smallest size, and enjoy it slowly, savoring it as you go. The guilt that sets in after bingeing will only set you back, and often trigger an "I give up, what the hell, I already blew it" attitude.
ReplyDelete-Liz
Hi Jenn - I have a day of the week where I pick one meal and eat whatever I want (and it's usually going out for dinner on Thursday's after my Weight Watchers weigh in) and then I am back on the wagon with Friday's breakfast. There are several key things here: 1. it's not a reward, 2. I do not consider it cheating (negative connotation), 3. it is just something that is part of my schedule, and 4. I do it regardless of whether I had a good or bad week (will not "punish" myself with deprivation...for me, that leads to nothing good). That of course, is in a perfect week, and with all the traveling I do, I rarely have a perfect week and usually pay for it on the scale if I do not increase my workouts in both frequency and intensity (gained 4lbs in AZ over the holidays...big surprise, right?). A cheat day could undo all the success you did in the previous week and that could easily derail you. As you set short and long term goals, I would recommend tying some non-food rewards that will motivate you to each goal. There are lots of ideas of non food rewards if you google it. Keep finding ways to be inspired!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3UyRCm
ReplyDeleteIdeas for snacks...on the go...grapes, grapes, grapes...an amazing fruit , sweet and less sugar content than I thought. also I suggest an antioxidant mix. almonds, cranberries, and dark chocolate. A little goes a lot..use that when you got the sweet tooth cravings. other suggestions for myself, sugar snap peas, celery and peanut butter, yogurt and string cheese. All these are things I eat all the time anyways I just make sure they are available on the go. I suggest getting an ice pack lunch bag. What I do is set out these snacks and that is your snacks for the whole day...its amazing what you don't eat. bring it back..do it again tomorrow. Once you ration yourself out your mind goes into survior...I eat all this now...I won't have some for later. It worked and is working for me. in my bag at work.. for my mindless desk eating, string cheese, pear, banana, sugar snap peas, antioxant mix, and yogurt...I eat regularly for breakfast ham, veggies and eggs with a little cheese, and for lunch its my biggest meal of the day because I'm not much of a morning eater. but then dinner I eat but portion it out. That is what has worked for me in the past but just like any ridged ride sometimes you fall off the wagon. I have fallen off countless of times, but this method seems to work for me.
ReplyDeleteI allow myself treats, but only so much.
ReplyDeleteI love ice cream. Ben and Jerry's FTW! I usually try to only enjoy a portion of it, and then immediately go put it away and drink some water to get the taste out of my mouth (dirty) but it helps. I also calculate in my head how much running I'll have to do to even myself out. I don't obsess about the numbers too much, I just know moderation is key. It's hard at times.