A different attitude to food

_SABOTEUR_

I've been thinking about my attitude to food and how it has changed since I joined MFP.

Before I started MFP, at best, food was for pleasure. At worst it was for comfort and instant gratification.

Now I think of food as fuel. I still have treats and eat what I want, but within the boundaries of my macros and cal needs.

But I think this idea of food being for pleasure is where a lot of the major obesity issues come from in developed countries.

I realise this isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it has never occurred to me before, even when I have previously tried to lose weight.

Does anyone else feel the same and have there been any articles or studies on this?

Superchas

Enjoy every calorie I consume log it and then burn it off.
Entirely different attitude to exercise for me.
Different strokes

onepillarofsalt

I think the idea of food as fuel is fine, if you're willing to forego the social, religious and cultural aspects of what food has become. In a world of survival, food is absolutely fuel. In the world we live in (those of us on MFP all clearly have internet access in one form or another, therefore I feel confident making the sweeping statement of "we"), where basic survival needs are easily met, food also has other implications. I personally would never want to ignore those things (celebrations, social and religious events generally center around some kind of food, save for fasting phases), because they are important to me. But, for those who choose to look at food as only fuel, OK. It's a different set of priorities, that's all.

CoachReddy

I've been thinking about my attitude to food and how it has changed since I joined MFP.

Before I started MFP, at best, food was for pleasure. At worst it was for comfort and instant gratification.

Now I think of food as fuel. I still have treats and eat what I want, but within the boundaries of my macros and cal needs.

But I think this idea of food being for pleasure is where a lot of the major obesity issues come from in developed countries.

I realise this isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it has never occurred to me before, even when I have previously tried to lose weight.

Does anyone else feel the same and have there been any articles or studies on this?

i'm the same way. i mean, i don't want my food to taste bad, but I'm also not picky. I drink a pretty nasty shake in the morning before my workout, and I couldn't care less because it gets me going!

every now and again, a fancy, delicious meal is fun, but day to day? just fuel me baby!

SideSteel

i'm the same way. i mean, i don't want my food to taste bad, but I'm also not picky. I drink a pretty nasty shake in the morning before my workout, and I couldn't care less because it gets me going!

every now and again, a fancy, delicious meal is fun, but day to day? just fuel me baby!

Shakeology?

CoachReddy

i'm the same way. i mean, i don't want my food to taste bad, but I'm also not picky. I drink a pretty nasty shake in the morning before my workout, and I couldn't care less because it gets me going!

every now and again, a fancy, delicious meal is fun, but day to day? just fuel me baby!

Shakeology?

Now Foods Tru-Food Vegan + Chloroxygen + Oregano Oil

Acg67

I've been thinking about my attitude to food and how it has changed since I joined MFP.

Before I started MFP, at best, food was for pleasure. At worst it was for comfort and instant gratification.

Now I think of food as fuel. I still have treats and eat what I want, but within the boundaries of my macros and cal needs.

But I think this idea of food being for pleasure is where a lot of the major obesity issues come from in developed countries.

I realise this isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it has never occurred to me before, even when I have previously tried to lose weight.

Does anyone else feel the same and have there been any articles or studies on this?

The food reward hypothesis of obesity...

_SABOTEUR_

I think the idea of food as fuel is fine, if you're willing to forego the social, religious and cultural aspects of what food has become. In a world of survival, food is absolutely fuel. In the world we live in (those of us on MFP all clearly have internet access in one form or another, therefore I feel confident making the sweeping statement of "we"), where basic survival needs are easily met, food also has other implications. I personally would never want to ignore those things (celebrations, social and religious events generally center around some kind of food, save for fasting phases), because they are important to me. But, for those who choose to look at food as only fuel, OK. It's a different set of priorities, that's all.

I still eat out at restaurants/family occassions etc. I guess what I was really getting at is people who post about not liking vegetables/fruit and water. It's fuel for your body. Water doesn't excite me, but it's essential for my bodily functions so I drink it and lots of it.

wnbrice

Where a lot of the obesity comes from is A. Almost all of our positvie events are based around food, and B. It is the easiest and cheapest way to get that seratonin or dopamine high that makes ya feel good.

Also most of the food is chemically altered in a way that triggers more receptors, making it so that it seems more satisfying while at the same time meeting none of the nutritional needs so your body is constantly hungry.

Really quite ingenious by the food companies if you think about it. You are eating food that makes you feel good but does not make you less hungry, it triggers the receptors to such a level that healthier foods just don't trigger it at all in the same way. So basically you are constantly eating and constantly hungry. Dont even get me started on most snack foods as well as soda

VelociMama

I actually don't quite agree with this. Food can be delicious and eating can be a joyful experience especially when shared with other people.

The problem I had was my own lack of control. I tried turning food into just "fuel" in my mind, but I'm much happier enjoying things just because they taste good and fit my calories for the day than I did demonizing certain foods. I also find that I no longer have the urge to binge on "pleasure" foods when I get stressed out or upset.

_SABOTEUR_

I actually don't quite agree with this. Food can be delicious and eating can be a joyful experience especially when shared with other people.

The problem I had was my own lack of control. I tried turning food into just "fuel" in my mind, but I'm much happier enjoying things just because they taste good and fit my calories for the day than I did demonizing certain foods. I also find that I no longer have the urge to binge on "pleasure" foods when I get stressed out or upset.

I still find food enjoyable, but it is an added bonus to the fuel factor. And I don't binge at all because I no longer associate with food as an emotional companion.

currierand

I actually don't quite agree with this. Food can be delicious and eating can be a joyful experience especially when shared with other people.

The problem I had was my own lack of control. I tried turning food into just "fuel" in my mind, but I'm much happier enjoying things just because they taste good and fit my calories for the day than I did demonizing certain foods. I also find that I no longer have the urge to binge on "pleasure" foods when I get stressed out or upset.

:flowerforyou: I don't know if you've had your baby yet, but I hope you teach her or him this philosophy of not demonizing food. Its not the food that makes us fat, it's our own lack of control. In today's world, we have such few real pleasures in life. Yes, food IS fuel and I appreciate that aspect of it when it aids in my workouts for example. But to lose out on the simple pleasure of good, fresh food...the smells, the textures, the colors, would be a shame in my book.

But that's just me. Cheers! Kelly.

VelociMama

I actually don't quite agree with this. Food can be delicious and eating can be a joyful experience especially when shared with other people.

The problem I had was my own lack of control. I tried turning food into just "fuel" in my mind, but I'm much happier enjoying things just because they taste good and fit my calories for the day than I did demonizing certain foods. I also find that I no longer have the urge to binge on "pleasure" foods when I get stressed out or upset.

:flowerforyou: I don't know if you've had your baby yet, but I hope you teach her or him this philosophy of not demonizing food. Its not the food that makes us fat, it's our own lack of control. In today's world, we have such few real pleasures in life. Yes, food IS fuel and I appreciate that aspect of it when it aids in my workouts for example. But to lose out on the simple pleasure of good, fresh food...the smells, the textures, the colors, would be a shame in my book.

But that's just me. Cheers! Kelly.

Thank you! No baby yet, but he's coming anytime.

I agree. I think people forget to enjoy their food when they make dietary changes. That can be done with healthy nourishing foods as well as treats. It's all about finding the right balance to achieve what you want with your body (fuel argument that the OP makes is very valid in this regard) as well as still finding enjoyment in it.

_SABOTEUR_

I actually don't quite agree with this. Food can be delicious and eating can be a joyful experience especially when shared with other people.

The problem I had was my own lack of control. I tried turning food into just "fuel" in my mind, but I'm much happier enjoying things just because they taste good and fit my calories for the day than I did demonizing certain foods. I also find that I no longer have the urge to binge on "pleasure" foods when I get stressed out or upset.

:flowerforyou: I don't know if you've had your baby yet, but I hope you teach her or him this philosophy of not demonizing food. Its not the food that makes us fat, it's our own lack of control. In today's world, we have such few real pleasures in life. Yes, food IS fuel and I appreciate that aspect of it when it aids in my workouts for example. But to lose out on the simple pleasure of good, fresh food...the smells, the textures, the colors, would be a shame in my book.

But that's just me. Cheers! Kelly.

Thank you! No baby yet, but he's coming anytime.

I agree. I think people forget to enjoy their food when they make dietary changes. That can be done with healthy nourishing foods as well as treats. It's all about finding the right balance to achieve what you want with your body (fuel argument that the OP makes is very valid in this regard) as well as still finding enjoyment in it.

Umm...I'm not demonising food. If anything I want people to experience more types of food and not refuse to eat something because it is considered a health food and therefore not tasty.

I'm fairly sure I said my attitude to food was the problem and not the food itself. When my attitude to food changed I was finally able to eat whatever I wanted and lose weight. It's just that what I wanted to eat had/has changed.

VelociMama

Umm...I'm not demonising food. If anything I want people to experience more types of food and not refuse to eat something because it is considered a health food and therefore not tasty.

I'm fairly sure I said my attitude to food was the problem and not the food itself. When my attitude to food changed I was finally able to eat whatever I wanted and lose weight. It's just that what I wanted to eat had/has changed.

I think we actually agree here, but perhaps my choice of words wasn't the best.

_SABOTEUR_

Umm...I'm not demonising food. If anything I want people to experience more types of food and not refuse to eat something because it is considered a health food and therefore not tasty.

I'm fairly sure I said my attitude to food was the problem and not the food itself. When my attitude to food changed I was finally able to eat whatever I wanted and lose weight. It's just that what I wanted to eat had/has changed.

I think we actually agree here, but perhaps my choice of words wasn't the best.

I think so too. For an English grad I really don't explain myself well. :laugh: :flowerforyou:

Tetonia

MFP gives me awareness of what I am eating. If I want food to be a joyful or emotional experience today, it can be. I just track it. If I want food to be fuel, it can be. I just track it. If I want to have a binge on whatever appeals to me, MFP allows me to easliy understand how much damage this will do for a day or two, if I want to know (and usually I do). If I want to do some exercise, I can track that too.

I think a lot of obesity comes from not paying attention. Many people say their experience is that weight "just crept on over time". If I had used such a simple a tracking device as MFP 7 years ago, I just don't think I would have woke up one day 35 pounds overweight and wondered how in the world it had happened. I would have seen it coming and hopefully headed it off at the pass, or at least at 5 pounds, not 35 pounds.

I will be a MFP lifetime tracker, because I don't want that 35 pounds back ever again.

VelociMama

Umm...I'm not demonising food. If anything I want people to experience more types of food and not refuse to eat something because it is considered a health food and therefore not tasty.

I'm fairly sure I said my attitude to food was the problem and not the food itself. When my attitude to food changed I was finally able to eat whatever I wanted and lose weight. It's just that what I wanted to eat had/has changed.

I think we actually agree here, but perhaps my choice of words wasn't the best.

I think so too. For an English grad I really don't explain myself well. :laugh: :flowerforyou:

I get what you're saying though, and I think you've made a really good comment about obesity and eating for pleasure. I just find that often those arguments turn into a dichotomous "all or nothing" kind of argument. Often, people will come in and say something along the lines of, "if you drink one soda, you might as well drink the whole 12 pack at once!" kind of nonsense. The middle often gets excluded. I think I just assumed that's what you meant in your original post without asking for clarification. Apologies for the erroneous assumption.

Scrimples

Yep and I still find it sad quite often. I loved the experience of a good meal from the taste to the texture to the smell. I wasn't necessarily being overindulgent, but I really enjoyed every part of it and trying new things and learning about new cultures through the food. Then I found out that a lot of those foods were causing some serious problems (due to allergies) and it was a huge paradigm shift. Food was suddenly no longer "fun." I began to try and figure out ways to replace what I could no longer have, but that was just sad and the imitations were sorry. After too much disappointment trying to work around those limitations I gave up and began to think of it as fuel and focus on the nutrients and ingredients. Once I embraced that, and focused on the things naturally free of the allergens I could not have instead of replacements, food became fuel, but can taste good too. I don't know...perhaps I'm just learning this new healthy life and outlook on food like any of my other food forays.

kimberliiw

I think there's something to what you're saying, but like anything weight related it varies person to person. My DH has always been thin and he regards food as fuel. There are some things he enjoys, but he basically eats to survive. I love the taste of food, cooking food and the look of a nice meal. I don't think it's prohibitive to being on a "diet" though, in fact for me it's a bonus. I can make healthy food that also tastes good and looks beautiful. But loving food to an unhealthy degree, overeating, obsessing, can certainly lead to being overweight. I don't feel my weight gain was necessarily from liking food, although I'm sure it contributed, but was more from not being mindful of everything I was eating and added up over a few years.