I think this may be one of those NSVs??

joyeaann

At least for me anyway... I am starting to view food differently. Okay I hope this strikes a chord with someone, I really was not sure what category to put this in but since, for me, I think it is a real victory - I will put it here.

I am starting to view food as FUEL.
WHAT?!??! FUEL?!?!?!?!
Not a friend or an enemy or comfort... or any of the other numerous ways that I have viewed food in the past. When i was a kid food was a necessity to keep going then somewhere it became a coping device. Now I feel it going back to being fuel and no longer my coping activity. this is huge and awesome to me!!

I still love great tasting food... I still crave the yummy goodness that is some food. I still love all the same foods, but have started to really understand moderation and food being a tool - fuel - a means to a way not the end result.

I am having an easier time with not eating when i am bored or sad or (enter whatever emotion or situation here). I eat when I am hungry and/or when I need fuel... I think about what I am eating and why. and the "why" answer has honestly been "because i need fuel and this is fuel packed" so much more often than "because I want it" or "it is there" or "I am sad" or the worst lie I have told myself to justify food i knew was not necessary or good for me.... "I had a hard day. I deserve this and it will make me feel better" which it never really did in the long run.
I am still not eating all totally good for me food - and i don't plan on ever giving up my love of great food and the wonderful tastes of my favorite foods or ever eating boring plain food because "it is good for me"... but my change in how I see and FEEL about food has changed.

Get that? huh? Food = FUEL? this is a huge mind set change for me! Back to when i was healthy and active as a high school-er. And it has so much to do with MFP and the more active you are the more food you "earn" (although I rarely ever eat all the food they say I can but it is great when i do want to splurge) and helping me make this a lifestyle change and not a diet!
Maybe not a big deal to anyone else but HUGE for me!!
viewing Food as FUEL more often than not = big win! (and big loss - 22 total... 15 since starting MFP in mid-August)
thanks for listening!

elfy66

Yay!!! Good for you

JanetTerry

I like this!!
on a different view, I've kinda started to realize that life isn't all about food. That's helped me lately. But your view on it being our FUEL.... that's awesome. Good job!!

heybrit

I consider this change in thought process to be one of the key parts of a ones LIFESTYLE CHANGE. Congrats!

ejohndrow

Congrats on this major breakthrough Food is fuel, and people don't seem to realize sometimes that you can sacrifice fat and empty calories but you don't have to sacrifice taste. For instance a lot of people like salt-my mother salts everything. I prefer spices such as ginger, cinnamon, peppers etc. A plate full of freshly grilled fish or chicken, fruits and veggies etc. looks beautiful and tastes wonderful too.
You're at a good mindset-just keep at it. over the past week I've realized how useless fastfood is-even if it's only once in awhile, even Subway isn't great everyday.
(That being said, I'll probably never swear it off altogether even though I should).

heybrit

Also, I consider my body to be like a vehicle or my car. When I'm sad, I don't go put more gasoline into my car. When I'm angry, I don't go fill up the tank. When I'm bored, I don't add more gas. There is a level the tank can accept and overflowing it can do damage to your vehicle! You don't usually want to wait until you're on empty to refill either, instead you try to plan accordingly to make sure your tank is never running on fumes (you should do the same with your body!) and lastly, when possible, you probably put the more expensive, cleaner gasoline into your tank because you know it's better for your car (just like with food and your body, you'd put in healthier choices that will make you "run" the best).

Jill_newimprovedversion

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- and a HUGE VICTORY at that! So much of this battle is our mental attitude towards the food,
and a whole new perspective on it- from the healthy standpoint-
is something to REALLY be proud of yourself over!
Great job!

And BEST WISHES to you as you continue on!!! CHEERS TO YOU!

joyeaann

Thanks for the props everybody!
I like the idea of the car=body and putting gas in when you need not when you are sad/bored whatever.
Part of what made me realise this was that yesterday we were out and about and my husband and I needed to eat... so we decided to go get something from Micky D's. Now we have looked at the calorie and nutritional and know what is safe and/or reasonable to get. So we ate it and it was good... but I realized that my body and mind did not view it as 'a treat" I got to go to fast food... now I used to LOVE to get fast food but now it just doesn't seem to satisfy anything other than the need to eat and refuel... I LOVED THAT!
anyway thanks for the props the support and positive energy I get from this site is AWESOME! which means that the people here are AWESOME!!!

sonic_the_cat

I so agree. For me, changing my thinking about food has made a huge difference. The quote on my profile page is:

"Food is fuel, not your friend. "

Great job. Keep it up!