Food as Fuel
amy19355
Posts: 805 Member
The subject line "Food as Fuel" is a topic near and dear to the root of my personal success. I'm sharing it for however it might be useful to others who are on the journey of good nutrition.
I think of my physical self as an engine, not unlike a mechanical engine in a motorized vehicle.
Foods are equivalent to gas, oil and other fluids.
In practical application of this idea, it means I evaluate the needs of my engine (body and mind) and feed myself according to need. The corollary to this is that if I am not using my body or mind, I don't need to be eating food. (watching tv I don't count as mind-use).
I think of consuming food as an "eating event", and liken it to gassing up my car.
My desired macros are portioned in a balanced way at each eating event, for the purpose of not ending up with weird 'holes' in my daily nutrition and having to eat nothing but fat for dinner.
The upside of removing some food items from my menu has been no more heartburn or acid reflux (none at all!) which leads to better sleeping and a steadier energy level during the day.
Some of the things I've almost entirely eliminated from my diet because they provide so little benefit over a short time frame: beer, alcohol, added sugars/honey, artificial sweeteners of any kind including plant based extracts, bread products, crackers, and chips, most dairy (except yogurt and hard cheeses).
Some might consider my menu somewhat boring and repetitive; and I'd be inclined to agree since chicken, rice and beans, grits and oatmeal, sweet potatoes, plus some kind of green veggies are the everyday staples. My variety comes from spices and seasonings. On the other hand, to pick back up on the car analogy, my car doesn't much care that the gas from one brand to another isn't much different, but the car keeps going strong.
In the last month or so, I'm able to walk down the cookie aisle at the grocery and not be tempted at all by the shiny sugary sweets. There is an unopened container of ice cream in my freezer that doesn't say a word to me. I got such a belly ache from the last piece of pie I allowed myself that I can't even look at pie with any interest.
The longer I go on feeling good from the food I am eating, it is easier and easier to skip over even the hint of a craving for something that isn't fuel-worthly.
I'm an all or nothing kind of gal, meaning I don't do well moderating myself, and for this reason I believe the Food as Fuel concept works really well for me.
Good fitness to us all!
Amyfb
I think of my physical self as an engine, not unlike a mechanical engine in a motorized vehicle.
Foods are equivalent to gas, oil and other fluids.
In practical application of this idea, it means I evaluate the needs of my engine (body and mind) and feed myself according to need. The corollary to this is that if I am not using my body or mind, I don't need to be eating food. (watching tv I don't count as mind-use).
I think of consuming food as an "eating event", and liken it to gassing up my car.
My desired macros are portioned in a balanced way at each eating event, for the purpose of not ending up with weird 'holes' in my daily nutrition and having to eat nothing but fat for dinner.
The upside of removing some food items from my menu has been no more heartburn or acid reflux (none at all!) which leads to better sleeping and a steadier energy level during the day.
Some of the things I've almost entirely eliminated from my diet because they provide so little benefit over a short time frame: beer, alcohol, added sugars/honey, artificial sweeteners of any kind including plant based extracts, bread products, crackers, and chips, most dairy (except yogurt and hard cheeses).
Some might consider my menu somewhat boring and repetitive; and I'd be inclined to agree since chicken, rice and beans, grits and oatmeal, sweet potatoes, plus some kind of green veggies are the everyday staples. My variety comes from spices and seasonings. On the other hand, to pick back up on the car analogy, my car doesn't much care that the gas from one brand to another isn't much different, but the car keeps going strong.
In the last month or so, I'm able to walk down the cookie aisle at the grocery and not be tempted at all by the shiny sugary sweets. There is an unopened container of ice cream in my freezer that doesn't say a word to me. I got such a belly ache from the last piece of pie I allowed myself that I can't even look at pie with any interest.
The longer I go on feeling good from the food I am eating, it is easier and easier to skip over even the hint of a craving for something that isn't fuel-worthly.
I'm an all or nothing kind of gal, meaning I don't do well moderating myself, and for this reason I believe the Food as Fuel concept works really well for me.
Good fitness to us all!
Amyfb
20
Replies
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This strikes me as absolutely joyless, but people vary. I'm glad you've found something that works well for you.28
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janejellyroll wrote: »This strikes me as absolutely joyless, but people vary. I'm glad you've found something that works well for you.
That's the word I was looking for, but couldn't find it...13 -
This would make me sad. I prefer to eat 80-ish% "healthy" and 20-ish% "dirty". Mentally healthy is important, too, and chocolate and ice cream make me happy.23
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janejellyroll wrote: »This strikes me as absolutely joyless, but people vary. I'm glad you've found something that works well for you.
I agree 100%. I fuel my workouts for sure, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the rest of the food I eat. Balance is definitely the key for me, and what has made my progression sustainable.10 -
janejellyroll wrote: »This strikes me as absolutely joyless, but people vary. I'm glad you've found something that works well for you.
I totally get that reaction - it's absolutely not for everyone.
In my personal struggles with food and weight over the years, I have struggled with negative concepts like cheating, or being bad, or suchlike. It upsets me to find myself feeling guilty , or , requiring permission to behave poorly. Many posts in the community talk about tips or challenges in dealing with cravings for certain foods, sugar/sweets being the one that floats to the top in almost every case.
As stated in my OP, with an all or nothing kind of personality such as I possess, there is no room for "just a couple pieces of candy corn". Today, a couple of pieces of candy corn would make me feel unwell, but a couple dried apricots would seem like the sweetest thing on planet earth.
I am often surprised, and others find it hard to believe, how very much I enjoy a bowl of corn grits with two soft fried eggs stirred into it. (guilty pleasure - I lick bowls clean)
The joy that comes from eating differs for each of us, as you already noted.
good fitness to us all, however we find it on our personal journey.
amyfb
5 -
Why can't ice cream be fuel? It has carbs, fats and protein. I just don't get the need to restrict this kind of item in an appropriate dose and in the context of an overall healthy diet.20
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Why can't ice cream be fuel? It has carbs, fats and protein. I just don't get the need to restrict this kind of item in an appropriate dose and in the context of an overall healthy diet.
The reason for ME is two-fold: balanced eating events, and, I'm not going to eat 250 + calories (1 cup of ice cream) of mostly sugar for any reason. Less would be a flat-out tease that would annoy me, and more would be the likely effect of having any at all.
YMMV.13 -
The subject line "Food as Fuel" is a topic near and dear to the root of my personal success. I'm sharing it for however it might be useful to others who are on the journey of good nutrition.
I think of my physical self as an engine, not unlike a mechanical engine in a motorized vehicle.
Foods are equivalent to gas, oil and other fluids.
In practical application of this idea, it means I evaluate the needs of my engine (body and mind) and feed myself according to need. The corollary to this is that if I am not using my body or mind, I don't need to be eating food. (watching tv I don't count as mind-use).
I think of consuming food as an "eating event", and liken it to gassing up my car.
My desired macros are portioned in a balanced way at each eating event, for the purpose of not ending up with weird 'holes' in my daily nutrition and having to eat nothing but fat for dinner.
The upside of removing some food items from my menu has been no more heartburn or acid reflux (none at all!) which leads to better sleeping and a steadier energy level during the day.
Some of the things I've almost entirely eliminated from my diet because they provide so little benefit over a short time frame: beer, alcohol, added sugars/honey, artificial sweeteners of any kind including plant based extracts, bread products, crackers, and chips, most dairy (except yogurt and hard cheeses).
Some might consider my menu somewhat boring and repetitive; and I'd be inclined to agree since chicken, rice and beans, grits and oatmeal, sweet potatoes, plus some kind of green veggies are the everyday staples. My variety comes from spices and seasonings. On the other hand, to pick back up on the car analogy, my car doesn't much care that the gas from one brand to another isn't much different, but the car keeps going strong.
In the last month or so, I'm able to walk down the cookie aisle at the grocery and not be tempted at all by the shiny sugary sweets. There is an unopened container of ice cream in my freezer that doesn't say a word to me. I got such a belly ache from the last piece of pie I allowed myself that I can't even look at pie with any interest.
The longer I go on feeling good from the food I am eating, it is easier and easier to skip over even the hint of a craving for something that isn't fuel-worthly.
I'm an all or nothing kind of gal, meaning I don't do well moderating myself, and for this reason I believe the Food as Fuel concept works really well for me.
Good fitness to us all!
Amyfb
Uhhh... can't it be fuel with a little fun mixed in? Hmmmm.. I was all or nothing once, then came to realize, its nearly impossible to sustain long term. Call me soft I guess...🤔
*edit* I am all for a diet full of whole foods, but come on...9 -
Why can't ice cream be fuel? It has carbs, fats and protein. I just don't get the need to restrict this kind of item in an appropriate dose and in the context of an overall healthy diet.
The reason for ME is two-fold: balanced eating events, and, I'm not going to eat 250 + calories (1 cup of ice cream) of mostly sugar for any reason. Less would be a flat-out tease that would annoy me, and more would be the likely effect of having any at all.
YMMV.
Enjoyment would be a reason. So that not all food is required to be looked at as just fuel.
10 -
The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.20
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MelanieCN77 wrote: »The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.
...and humans aren't machines, and don't function like them.12 -
Why can't ice cream be fuel? It has carbs, fats and protein. I just don't get the need to restrict this kind of item in an appropriate dose and in the context of an overall healthy diet.
The reason for ME is two-fold: balanced eating events, and, I'm not going to eat 250 + calories (1 cup of ice cream) of mostly sugar for any reason. Less would be a flat-out tease that would annoy me, and more would be the likely effect of having any at all.
YMMV.
Oh.... not meaning to be a complete douche, the sugar you get from the fruit you eat gets treated just like the sugar in ice cream.... noticed I stated, "complete douch." Honestly I am one soo.. well.....🙋♂️12 -
If I am a car, then I am a Ferrari and my fuel would be all the food in Italy
16 -
We had pizza and a sundae bar at work today. I did an hour on the ARCTrainer and a little circuit training early this morning and had a banana for breakfast, though it ended up augmented by a donut (also part of the office celebration). I fueled up to the tune of ~1100 calories for lunch. I will eat a light dinner (Sea Pak shrimp spring rolls; 227 calories for 4), still manage another snack and end up in deficit; I am in maintenance but want to be a little lower in my range. Anyway, it was a fun social thing besides being delicious. I turn down a lot of treats and whatnot at the office but I like to join in sometimes.1 -
MelanieCN77 wrote: »The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.
...and humans aren't machines, and don't function like them.
I love analogies for explaining difficult concepts people have trouble understanding using things most people do understand. When people start using them to explain something no one is confused about to start with, it seems like they are muddying the water to make their point seem more reasonable.7 -
I wish I could look at food as fuel. My food bill would be small and I'd be at a weight with loose skin instead of hanging flab.8
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MelanieCN77 wrote: »The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.MelanieCN77 wrote: »The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.
...and humans aren't machines, and don't function like them.
I don't know. I get your points, but I think OP's analogy is a lot better than the anthropomorphizing you see so often that attributes sentience to parts of your body other than your brain, so that it is susceptible to being "fooled" or "confused" by various dieting tactics.3 -
Curious. How long have you been at this particular thought exercise?6
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My meals have a pattern of foods which I eat frequently. For example a protein and two veggies or a big salad or eggs and fixings. Most people would think it’s super boring
However, I only eat food that I love.
When I bite into my food I go mmmmm5 -
I would not enjoy eating such a limited range of food, but I can understand how some one who has an unhealthy relationship with food would find this way of eating useful. Do you plan to eat this way for the rest of your life? Or do you intend to introduce other foods at some point? What do you do when you eat out, or go to parties?7
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The subject line "Food as Fuel" is a topic near and dear to the root of my personal success. I'm sharing it for however it might be useful to others who are on the journey of good nutrition.
I think of my physical self as an engine, not unlike a mechanical engine in a motorized vehicle.
Foods are equivalent to gas, oil and other fluids.
In practical application of this idea, it means I evaluate the needs of my engine (body and mind) and feed myself according to need. The corollary to this is that if I am not using my body or mind, I don't need to be eating food. (watching tv I don't count as mind-use).
I think of consuming food as an "eating event", and liken it to gassing up my car.
My desired macros are portioned in a balanced way at each eating event, for the purpose of not ending up with weird 'holes' in my daily nutrition and having to eat nothing but fat for dinner.
The upside of removing some food items from my menu has been no more heartburn or acid reflux (none at all!) which leads to better sleeping and a steadier energy level during the day.
Some of the things I've almost entirely eliminated from my diet because they provide so little benefit over a short time frame: beer, alcohol, added sugars/honey, artificial sweeteners of any kind including plant based extracts, bread products, crackers, and chips, most dairy (except yogurt and hard cheeses).
Some might consider my menu somewhat boring and repetitive; and I'd be inclined to agree since chicken, rice and beans, grits and oatmeal, sweet potatoes, plus some kind of green veggies are the everyday staples. My variety comes from spices and seasonings. On the other hand, to pick back up on the car analogy, my car doesn't much care that the gas from one brand to another isn't much different, but the car keeps going strong.
In the last month or so, I'm able to walk down the cookie aisle at the grocery and not be tempted at all by the shiny sugary sweets. There is an unopened container of ice cream in my freezer that doesn't say a word to me. I got such a belly ache from the last piece of pie I allowed myself that I can't even look at pie with any interest.
The longer I go on feeling good from the food I am eating, it is easier and easier to skip over even the hint of a craving for something that isn't fuel-worthly.
I'm an all or nothing kind of gal, meaning I don't do well moderating myself, and for this reason I believe the Food as Fuel concept works really well for me.
Good fitness to us all!
Amyfb
I am totally on board with your food as fuel concept actually. I think it is great. I actually wrote an article along these same lines a couple years ago I should dig up. Since being here I have tried to jump on the "moderation" train but I am failing miserably at weight loss. lol So I may join you in this reframing of perspective.
You will get a lot of people who will call it boring - but really - most people don't eat all that much variety anyway. How is your variety of foods any more boring than eating bagels and cookies every day? It's just different.
Personally I totally believe that it is possible to reframe our experience with food, and that we can gain the socialization and pleasure that people often attribute to food from other things, if we so desire.7 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »MelanieCN77 wrote: »The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.MelanieCN77 wrote: »The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.
...and humans aren't machines, and don't function like them.
I don't know. I get your points, but I think OP's analogy is a lot better than the anthropomorphizing you see so often that attributes sentience to parts of your body other than your brain, so that it is susceptible to being "fooled" or "confused" by various dieting tactics.
But that's saying it's good compared to woo. I agree; it will actually work for some people. I just wouldn't encourage it. I think the first response had the right word - joyless.4 -
happymom221 wrote: »My meals have a pattern of foods which I eat frequently. For example a protein and two veggies or a big salad or eggs and fixings. Most people would think it’s super boring
However, I only eat food that I love.
When I bite into my food I go mmmmm
YES! I too only eat food I love the taste of.
I'm not looking for sympathy from those here who enjoy their "fun food", and, i'm clearly failing to express my satisfaction with this plan for myself. I don't feel deprived at all, and, I guess that was my biggest eye-opener about the results of this program in my own life.
My idea of fun food is just different from others. A date stuffed with almond butter for me is like a chocolate sundae for others. I choose fruit for my sweet fix; sugars have a role in good nutrition, and I'm choosing natural over not.
BTW -someone asked how long I've been doing this, and the answer is almost two months, this time around. Beside the positive impact on my weight loss goals is the extra money in my food budget. Making my own meal-starters in two-week batches and freezing them ahead of time is really economical.
Will I never eat cake or ice cream again? i'm not going to be silly and say never again, because I almost certainly will have some. The way my body feels, internally, when I consume sugar is almost unpleasant now; it's like ants running through my bloodstream for about five minutes.
But, I will say that the older I get (I'm 62) the more interesting it is to me that I get the portion and moderation aspect of this under control; the biggest expense in retirement is medical care, and so much of that is related to poor food and exercise choices.6 -
happymom221 wrote: »My meals have a pattern of foods which I eat frequently. For example a protein and two veggies or a big salad or eggs and fixings. Most people would think it’s super boring
However, I only eat food that I love.
When I bite into my food I go mmmmm
YES! I too only eat food I love the taste of.
I'm not looking for sympathy from those here who enjoy their "fun food", and, i'm clearly failing to express my satisfaction with this plan for myself. I don't feel deprived at all, and, I guess that was my biggest eye-opener about the results of this program in my own life.
My idea of fun food is just different from others. A date stuffed with almond butter for me is like a chocolate sundae for others. I choose fruit for my sweet fix; sugars have a role in good nutrition, and I'm choosing natural over not.
BTW -someone asked how long I've been doing this, and the answer is almost two months, this time around. Beside the positive impact on my weight loss goals is the extra money in my food budget. Making my own meal-starters in two-week batches and freezing them ahead of time is really economical.
Will I never eat cake or ice cream again? i'm not going to be silly and say never again, because I almost certainly will have some. The way my body feels, internally, when I consume sugar is almost unpleasant now; it's like ants running through my bloodstream for about five minutes.
But, I will say that the older I get (I'm 62) the more interesting it is to me that I get the portion and moderation aspect of this under control; the biggest expense in retirement is medical care, and so much of that is related to poor food and exercise choices.
I think a lot of people would consider a date with almond butter to be a fun food (I know I would). It's high in sugar, high in fat, and very calorie-dense. Assuming you don't dislike either of those foods, it's a treat. Liking chocolate sundaes and choosing to have them sometimes doesn't mean that one isn't also going to enjoy different foods. I get excited for french fries, I also get excited for roasted broccoli.
If sugar makes you feel like ants are running through your bloodstream, why wouldn't dates provoke that reaction? They're so sweet that they're often used to sweeten other foods.
12 -
janejellyroll wrote: »happymom221 wrote: »My meals have a pattern of foods which I eat frequently. For example a protein and two veggies or a big salad or eggs and fixings. Most people would think it’s super boring
However, I only eat food that I love.
When I bite into my food I go mmmmm
YES! I too only eat food I love the taste of.
I'm not looking for sympathy from those here who enjoy their "fun food", and, i'm clearly failing to express my satisfaction with this plan for myself. I don't feel deprived at all, and, I guess that was my biggest eye-opener about the results of this program in my own life.
My idea of fun food is just different from others. A date stuffed with almond butter for me is like a chocolate sundae for others. I choose fruit for my sweet fix; sugars have a role in good nutrition, and I'm choosing natural over not.
BTW -someone asked how long I've been doing this, and the answer is almost two months, this time around. Beside the positive impact on my weight loss goals is the extra money in my food budget. Making my own meal-starters in two-week batches and freezing them ahead of time is really economical.
Will I never eat cake or ice cream again? i'm not going to be silly and say never again, because I almost certainly will have some. The way my body feels, internally, when I consume sugar is almost unpleasant now; it's like ants running through my bloodstream for about five minutes.
But, I will say that the older I get (I'm 62) the more interesting it is to me that I get the portion and moderation aspect of this under control; the biggest expense in retirement is medical care, and so much of that is related to poor food and exercise choices.
I think a lot of people would consider a date with almond butter to be a fun food (I know I would). It's high in sugar, high in fat, and very calorie-dense. Assuming you don't dislike either of those foods, it's a treat. Liking chocolate sundaes and choosing to have them sometimes doesn't mean that one isn't also going to enjoy different foods. I get excited for french fries, I also get excited for roasted broccoli.
If sugar makes you feel like ants are running through your bloodstream, why wouldn't dates provoke that reaction? They're so sweet that they're often used to sweeten other foods.
yes i don't understand this...sugar is sugar is sugar...so dates should have the same reaction as gummy bears (both being high carbs/limited protein/fat)9 -
CarvedTones wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »MelanieCN77 wrote: »The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.MelanieCN77 wrote: »The car metaphor is nice until you consider your car isn't sentient.
...and humans aren't machines, and don't function like them.
I don't know. I get your points, but I think OP's analogy is a lot better than the anthropomorphizing you see so often that attributes sentience to parts of your body other than your brain, so that it is susceptible to being "fooled" or "confused" by various dieting tactics.
But that's saying it's good compared to woo. I agree; it will actually work for some people. I just wouldn't encourage it. I think the first response had the right word - joyless.
I think that Joy or Joyless are emotional attributes and are very individual feelings for very specific individual reasons.
In the context of nutrition, joy doesn't factor into my decisions. I don't think that eating to be joyful is nutritionally sustainable over the long term.
YMMV10 -
I could never see food as just fuel. So many of the recipes I cook and eat have beautiful memories with them.... making chocolate chip cookies with my great grammy, my moms amazing stuffed artichokes, my grandmothers spaghetti. Every time I eat these things they are delicious and they bring back happy memories and just take me back. I take the time to slowly appreciate these things. I also love learning how to make new things, it’s an art for me. I enjoy sharing delicious food with loved ones, having dinner with my husband every night is so special. I could understand how some people have to think this way if they have a troubled relationship with food. I’d argue no foods are inately “good or bad” , I ran a crazy fast for me 15 miles the last time I had pizza and ice cream for dinner!9
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I feel these boards believe no foods are innately good or bad, until someone cuts out foods that (for want of a better description) are seen as junk food. Then suddenly they must have an unhealthy relationship with food.
At is very basis food is fuel for our bodies. We have been socialized to connect it with comfort, love and other emotions. I think one could also argue that is the unhealthy perspective?
I am not arguing that one way or another, I just find the subject fascinating and I do think there is room for both perspectives. Even of you have no interest in vegetarianism the book "eating animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer is a good read that touches on this topic.11 -
I see food as fuel atm as I am NPO (nothing by mouth) and on TPN and just waiting to clear a bowel obstruction to start my J tube feeds. I am missing real foods a lot. Nothing wrong with eating some foods for pleasure.15
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