Thoughts, Epiphanies, Insights, & Quotables
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I just log in to normalize the cult of normal weight people who log their food!!! Cause people make weird comments about me not needing to do *kitten* like that! Which I and some 🐹s disagree with! 🤷🏻♂️3
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I’m not “normal” weight yet but hope to be someday. If I ever get there I totally plan to keep on logging. What is that old quote? Those who forget their history will end up repeating it. 💕4
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Growing up as the middle child with two thin sisters who cried at the dinner table over “having” to eat 😢- I could never understand their drama and discomfort over having gained a few pounds. After regaining 5 pounds over Christmas, I now get it. It’s not just the number on the scale. I can feel it, my clothes are a little tighter, it’s a bit more to lug around. Why didn’t I feel that when gaining over 100 pounds?3
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I was torturing myself by watching Stanley Tucci In Search of Italy, which was total food porn....and it got me thinking.
Some folks don't really care too much about food. They chow down, not really paying much attention to what they're ingesting, eating almost on autopilot, without savouring or tasting what's in front of them. Quite a lot of 'naturally skinny' folks fall into this category - they're the 'food as fuel' brigade, who could be eating cardboard for all they care, so long as it stokes their engine. Some obese folks also fall into this category - eating indiscriminately, quickly and taking in far more calories than their bodies actually need because they're not really focused on the food, even though they may appear food-focused or even food-obsessed to anyone watching from the outside. But, really, anything that lights up the brain's pleasure centres will do - there's no genuine engagement with the food.
And then there are folks like me who absolutely LOVE food. I mean REALLY love it. Folks like me can go into raptures over everything from a decadently rich chocolate ganache to a simple sun-warmed ripe tomato. We eat with all our senses - savouring aroma, taste, texture, appearance and even the sound of food - the snap of a perfectly crisp wafer, the crunch of a juicy apple, the sizzle of a steak.
Loving food in this way is both a joy and a curse. It's a perennial battle to maintain a healthy weight, because food is source of joy, pleasure, gratification and bliss.
And, try as you might, if you're a 'foodie', you can't switch that predisposition off and metamorphose into one of the 'food is fuel' brigage. Our brains are wired differently.
'Eat like the French' they say...i.e. eat, drink and make merry but in moderation, avoiding snacking between meals, and incorporating a reasonable amount of activity into your daily routine.
Sounds simple, right? It's what I'm trying to do...but it's a lot harder than it seems!
Are there any other foodies in this group? If so, what's your strategy?2 -
Sadly, I am in the non-foodie category. A food gulper. I’ll make a tasty meal and then just swallow whole! Hubby and son are foodies who savor each bite. Honestly there are few foods I truly look forward to or enjoy. I don’t crave a particular food as much as I crave that ”full” feeling.
It’s not the food-as-fuel thing for me. Rather more like I need to fill some emotional, bottomless void. The good news is that I’ve been working on it fairly successfully for over two years. Maybe there is a bottom to the void?2 -
Sadly, I am in the non-foodie category. A food gulper. I’ll make a tasty meal and then just swallow whole! Hubby and son are foodies who savor each bite. Honestly there are few foods I truly look forward to or enjoy. I don’t crave a particular food as much as I crave that ”full” feeling.
It's interesting that you say 'Sadly, I'm in the non-foodie category' as if you think being a foodie is a good thing. It could be considered a disadvantage to be overly invested in food. If I know I have a tasty dinner planned, I actively look forward to it all day. My idea of heaven is to walk round a food market - I don't even need to EAT the food to get enormous pleasure from it! The colours, scents, textures...it's an explosion of sensory input.
You sound as though you're doing really well and making mindful and balanced decisions. I think there's cause for optimism - new habits can be learned!I need to fill some emotional, bottomless void. The good news is that I’ve been working on it fairly successfully for over two years. Maybe there is a bottom to the void?3 -
New habits but I’m an awfully late bloomer.2
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I, too love food…..the entire procedure; shopping for beautiful produce or sweet treats, cooking the food and planning how I will plate it, and of course eating it, savoring each mouth full….the greatest joy is sharing delicious food with people you care about!…I love looking at my well stocked pantry and freezer…..when we used to entertain regularly I loved planning my menu and finding just the right foods to serve….our Christmas open house was usually 60 to 80 guests and I made sure my foods varied from year to year but always included favorite dishes…I prepared most of the food myself and loved doing it….3
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I've run the gamut though currently I would say I'm closer to Yooly than Bella.
Part of it was deliberate and a slow change of focus letting other things displace previously frequent activities.
I've also found to a substantial degree that eating at a deficit substantially increased food ideation and focus. Which decreases/decreased after a long enough period of maintenance.
And can be triggered (to a degree) by eating at a deficit long enough (even if it is a small one)
I would expect this wiring to be substantially individualized. But it is amazing how much food can occupy my mind including senses before the whole thing loosing its luster, if not disappearing, once I've eaten.2 -
I'm not sure it's a deficit-related mindset - or 'ideation' as such - because it's not necessarily associated with EATING the food...so much as appreciation of the beauty of natural ingredients and pleasure that food can bring. That's what I mean by there being pleasure in visiting a food market...or reading a lovely cookbook...or watching a top chef at work with good quality ingredients.
For me the interest doesn't diminish with the satiation of the hunger...I love the markets and cookbooks just as much when I'm full as when I'm hungry...
I also get almost as much pleasure from preparing the food for someone else, even if it means I won't get to eat it.
It's an odd mindset, and if you can control it (rather than let it control you) it can be a useful tool in nourishing your body well. I'll genuinely go hungry rather than eat something that doesn't delight my senses....and as I've increased my knowledge about quality ingredients and good cuisine, I've become a great deal more picky and discriminating. I wouldn't feed my dog with many of the things I would've considered a treat a couple of decades ago, so tastes and appreciations can definitely alter and evolve.
I think it's also true that when food nourishes all of the senses, you need less of it. So, as an example, a small cube of good piquant mature cheese will satiate and hit the spot, whereas half a block of crappy low fat cheese will leave you feeling dissatisfied and still wanting more.
So one one level I think it's beneficial to be a natural foodie...but it definitely also has a downside if you let it spin out of control. There's a fine line between a gourmet and a gourmand...4 -
You do make it sound like a grand adventure! I definitely reduced my food network television time once I started managing my weight! To my overall benefit, I admit. Thought it was a substantial change of focus! But I can definitely see how it would not work for everyone. On balance... I am not sure I would prefer the intense interest. I suspect it would make life harder for me!
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I think you're right and on balance it's probably a disadvantage...
...but if it's your natural bent, I think it's best to work with it and turn it into an advantage as much as you possibly can, using it to steer you towards seasonal food of high nutritional content that's been prepared with care. Which, almost by definition, reduces your tendency to eat lots of crappy processed foods.
Of course it goes without saying that you can pile on the pounds equally well with quality butter, cheeses, oils, nuts, breads etc as you can with highly processed foods...which is where the self-discipline to exercise moderation comes into play. And that's where I think the quality produce has the upper hand, because it satiates better than highly processed foods...
This is just my little theory though, born of trying to make the best of the hand I've been dealt...2 -
Sounds like a good plan given the constraints 🤷🏻♂️
Working with our inclinations... I do that too 😉1 -
"Working with our Inclinations" - I guess we really have no choice and certainly have a better chance of achieving our goals when we are honest with ourselves. I'm kinda halfway between the two - sometimes a "health food nut" and sometimes a "wow there is a big empty spot inside that needs some filling" - what works best for me is if I fill that spot with lots of healthy vegetables.
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Still at 70 I keep hoping when I get up in the morning I will be thin and only crave healthy food…..I went to a hairdresser who had a sign that said she was a beautician and not a magician….life really is not fair!3
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My best solution? Find an uber 🐹 who gets to nudge all the other 🐹🐹🐹 in the direction you want them all to go .... before they know it they will get tricked into heading in the right direction! Probably by using (lower total calories magically consumed) cheese! 😉😘
Except for all the times they still insists on going off the cliff, of course 🤷🏻♂️3 -
That's an intriguing topic you've brought up, @Bella_Figura! I do consider myself a foodie, and I attribute this categorization to be the biggest reason why I'm here on MFP! 😅
Though, as I started this journey, I've noticed I started incorporating more of my "food senses" into munchies time, i.e., watching specific food "porn" related to what I'm currently eating, meal planning every few days instead of weekly to get that food satisfaction from the deciding what to eat stage more often, etc. Doing so helped me hit that satisfaction sensor easier and control my urges when my allotted portion is gobbled up. It also certainly gave me more ideas for my next meal!
I think the biggest contributor to controlling my foodie tendencies, though, was just plain making smaller portions of everything and telling myself it's OK to not go full Asian/big family mode and make a whole batch of one item that lasts a week-long for one person. I finally convinced myself that smaller portions of everything mean I get to try more things (that I don't have to share with others)! Smaller portions = more calories for other stuff!2 -
Luxia - the idea of food senses/food satisfaction coming from more than actually eating really resonated with me. Funny how we can read this same idea written by different people and then suddenly it clicks! I find though they are convenient/healthy/tasty/filling portions normally - eating a prepared meal I've pulled out of the freezer doesn't "satisfy" me nearly as much as the same food freshly prepared. I always end up wanting more - or an immediate follow up snack.
Hmm.
This is a bother! lol. Sometimes there isn't enough time to prepare a meal every meal.
But. Awareness is half of the battle - or more.
I can probably make time most of the time.
Thank you.
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And there is my biggest problem! My stomach is bigger than my eyes! While logic tells me that a lovely meal is more than enough and should be satiating, my stomach is seemingly never satisfied.3
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I try to remind myself in a restaurant that it won’t be the last meal I will ever eat out and that I do not have to eat all of the food!2
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But being willing to leave food behind? Boy/Girl is that ever ingrained--for many of us, I am sure!
I never used to leave anything for later. Though, and it is still the exception, not the rule, these days I DO occasionally DO leave something for later, or even, GASP, for tomorrow!
Dad? Not a chance! BTW: he really likes his CUII! <-- not a clothes-hanger!
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??? you mystify me sometimes, PAV (well often actually, but sometimes it is just your enigmatic way ) 2
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Where's the mystery?🤷🏻♂️🙀
Cuii = cubii the under desk elliptical. Dad is infinite amount more active since it arrived.
Leaving food for later? Something I never used to do! Every opportunity to eat was to be maximized till I could eat no more. Well still willing to overindulge. But not nearly as much nor as consistently for sure. And definitel, while still reluctant to set food aside for later; willing to do it on more than a few occasions.
But able to observe my past behavior when Dad continues to eat even when he's full instead of being willing to leave some for either later or the next day.3 -
Yup - watching your parent is a definite reminder of where your own unfortunate habits originated. In the past few years I’ve managed to inspire son to get to normal weight. No discussions or nagging. Just taking better charge of my own weight issues seemed to be enough to have son re-evaluate his own eating habits. Success begets success!2
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Ah! CUBII - I googled CUII but didn't find anything remotely exercise like - and I maybe missed an early post referencing it. Cool!
Leaving food for later. I can't even attribute that inability to my parents. They didn't seem to have a problem with it. Always lots of goodies/leftovers hanging about - just SITTING THERE!
Must feel very good knowing that your example helped your son. Great parenting Yooly.3 -
Good insights, both of you!
Re leaving food for later...it's possible to re-train your hamsters!
About a decade ago I decided I'd had enough of buying something, gorging on it until it made me feel physically sick (or mentally disgusted with myself) and then sometimes in desperation throwing the last little bit in the bin and squirting washing up liquid over it to prevent me STILL going back for more....only to find myself buying the same thing the following day and repeating the process.
I used to think....why didn't I just save some yesterday, instead of eating a week's worth in one day or throwing it away? Then I could have some today....
I decided it wasn't only bad for my health but also bad for my wallet and bad for the planet. I'm quite 'green-minded' and I hate waste, so that was an important motivator for me.
So over the past decade I've tried hard to embrace the joys of deferred pleasure and delayed gratification. I don't think this is something I'll ever find natural behaviour, but I have reaped the benefits of the approach, so I keep plugging away to embed the habit. Even though I'm naturally this kid in the Stamford Marshmallow Experiment....
Sometimes it backfires though....my husband remembered the box of 48 Cadbury Creme eggs his mom gave us last easter. He had one at the time and then hid the rest at the back of his clothes closet. He tried one of the remaining 47 yesterday and the fondant had hardened and the chocolate was covered with white speckles...he still ate it though. Now he just needs to eat the remaining 46 before she turns up with this year's easter gift in 3 weeks' time...3 -
Well I should have been a better parental example sooner! Mercifully son only got half my genes. Hubby is naturally thin and eats a lot. Part of my problem was eating along with hubby rather than what was good for me.3
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I thought of y'all when I stumbled across this family conundrum in the Guardian today:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/28/you-be-the-judge-should-my-wife-stop-nabbing-all-the-best-biscuits
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Well that one is so obvious! 🤷🏻♂️
Separate them when they arrive into each individual's allotment.
Now, if someone extends a paw into the other's stash.... that's a different issue!
As to stale Cadbury eggs? 🙀 I think they should be recycled into the food compost bin! 👍
And maybe a marshmallow be given as a reward❣️😹😹😹3
