02/09/2010 02:52
Sticking To It
Well, it has been just over a month since I started my weight loss plan, and I'm so proud of myself for sticking with it! I've lost about 12 pounds, which is principally a reflection of how many calories I had been consuming in the last quarter of 2009. Cutting my calories to a semi-normal amount has created a drastic change that I know will slow down eventually, but for now I'm happy.
What I am worried about is the subconscious, instinctual behavior around food that I'm starting to notice. I just can't eat enough at night, and this is the same behavior that I experienced before I started this diet, but then I had a house filled with terrible foods or, more likely, I didn't have any food in the house and would go get fast food or order delivery. But this sensation is really quite disturbing... this feeling that I can't ever get enough food inside my body. That I need to be eating all the time. I root around in the kitchen looking for food and trying desperately to talk myself out of eating the ice cream my roommate's boyfriend left in our freezer or spraying the whipped cream into my mouth (I failed on both counts, and also failed to talk myself out of taking a spoon to the hot fudge sunday) all weekend long, but fortunately I also worked out a lot.
This anxiety, edginess, unsettled feeling that tells me to eat, though, is pretty disconcerting and frustrating. It wouldn't be so bad if it said "eat carrots!" or "broccoli! need broccoli now!" Alas, no amount of food coloring makes chocolate into vegetables!
Posted By: wayward_esquire
02/09/2010 11:17
I hear you!
I'm the same way! I have to force myself to eat breakfast and remind myself to eat lunch. But after dinner, about 8 or 9 pm, I get the munchies!
I have a couple of things that help most of the time, but not always. The first is, I keep my hands busy. If I am munchie but not "hungry" then I will go play a video game, crochet, read a book -- anything to take my mind off and busy my hands. And drink a big glass of water! Sometimes it's just thirst! If that doesn't work, I have a list of things that are fine to snack on. Sugar free Jello, single serve reduced fat Jiffy Pop or a piece of fruit (I love green apples) are good ones.
If that won't cut it, I allow myself a "treat". Nothing is off limits, just portion controlled. 100 calorie packs of chocolate covered pretzels or cookies usually take care of my chocolate cravings, a portioned handful of nuts or even chips (hopefully baked or reduced fat) are good if I need crunchy. And if I ask myself what I REALLY want and it's ice cream? I have ice cream. I just tell myself that I can have a certain amount, dish it out and put away the container and then savor the ice cream. I think my downfall is when I say, I'll just have a bite of this or a nibble of that, because in my mind I didn't really "eat" it. You've got to mentally allow it and satiate your mind, as well as your stomach.
And not to play therapist, but sometimes it's my mind that plays tricks on me. My mind tends to start running in the evening when I'm winding down. All the stress from the day that I've held at bay seems to start releasing after I put the kids down and take a deep breath and start to relax. Sometimes I think my munchies are my mind's way of trying to make me listen to it! If it feels like I'm just running back to the kitchen over and over, I'll sometimes try to journal or just write down some thoughts. It's usually some silly thought that keeps running through my head and if I can get it down on paper I can let go of it. Blogging here is good, but a piece of scratch paper is good if it's too personal.
CONGRATULATIONS ON 12 LBS!! Amazing! And congrats on sticking with the activity. Sometimes that's the hardest part. Yea Erin!
