Dieting on the right side of the brain

Monday, April 19, 2010

In the 1980's I began to see books about the bicameral mind creeping into the public market. The phrase was coined by Julian James in his book "The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" which I tried to read and found heavy going. The one that hit the popular market hardest, though, was "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards, though my mother, a very fine artist, claimed that most of her ideas were representations of Kimon Nicolaides book "The Natural Way to Draw" which I own and pull out and enjoy every now and then.

Okay - last of the librarian stuff - promise.

I'm really here to report about my experiment with letting my WC right brain actually write to my SM left brain a la Martha Beck's suggestion.

First off, it was fun. It was a wee tiny bit scary but it was also exhilarating. I used her suggested questions from the word dominated left brain School Marm and wrote whatever popped into my head when I switched the pen over to the right brain Wild Child. Here's the conversation:

SM: Hey how are you?
WC: fine thanks

SM: What can I do for you today?
WC: food not hungry (something, something) rest, dog, glad

SM: What can I do to help you eat less?
WC: Play, go, rest, slow, sleep, run run, song, listen, ha ha hahaha

SM: Well, I'll give all these a try. More sleep and more laughter, huh?
WC: Got it, more sleep, gogogo

SM: OK - well, I'll see you tomorrow, we'll talk again - often
WC: Good


Hey - it doesn't take someone with a psychology degree to see that my Wild Child wants more play and laughter and MORE SLEEP! And maybe more time petting my dogs. But the interesting thing was that I could really tap into how I felt the rest of the day - and into the evening - especially about food. I did NOT eat too much - and 90% of it was both healthy and delicious. And there was a sort of calm glow going on.

I can't wait to try this again.

And this morning, when I woke up at about quarter after 4, I didn't rationalize that it would soon be 5 and I might as well get up and go do stuff. I very deliberately turned over and went back to sleep, waking up at quarter after 6, feeling pretty good but wishing I had another day off today as sweet as yesterday's. I really need to schedule some vacation time.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WEDDWT 4/19/2010 7:45PM

I like your Wild Child - but she's not so wild, she's very sensible and so polite! Hope you find more time to talk with her! Like how 'bout now?! Report Inappropriate Comment

SANDY5882 4/19/2010 10:07AM

Which Martha Beck book are you referring to here? I love her books! Thanks for the info. Sandy Report Inappropriate Comment

ELLENB10 4/19/2010 9:10AM

I've read Martha Besk, too, - actually I listened to her on a CD to pass the time ironing. I got more ironing done that week because I wanted to hear her read! But hadn't thought about her for a while - I'll have to find a print copy and review! Thank you! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRAVE_FREE 4/19/2010 8:39AM

I love your posts. I haven't gotten Beck's book yet, but I'm enjoying it through you. Over the weekend I tried talking to my WC like you talk to yours and it kept me from eating more than I needed. You rock! Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 4/19/2010 7:57AM

Very interesting! Glad you slept in. Have a great day! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALEXTHEHUNN 4/19/2010 7:52AM

I'm enjoying Beck's book, to the extent I've gotten time to read it. I definitely want to read more of her writings. The Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was eye-opening to me. That she would tap into the same thing makes perfect sense. Thanks for putting me onto this. Alex Report Inappropriate Comment

Those fleeting emotions are still powerful

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Thank you all so much for the good wishes. We're going to spend the whole day playing together but our biorhythms don't change even for an anniversary so my Night Owl is still asleep while this Lark has a few moments to blog and I have a few thoughts I want to share before I forget them. Sieve brain stuff.

As you all know, I have been devoting a fairly good bit of time to letting my Wild Child and my School Marm duke it out and I am much more aware of fleeting emotions as they flicker through me. The hint of jealousy when a friend tells you of an adventure she's setting out on, while you are just scrubbing the bathroom floor. The pinch of frustration when the 60 watt light bulb is too dim and you haven't any stronger ones and it's 10 o'clock at night. That tiny pinch of anger when the socks are on the bedroom floor instead of in the hamper that is right next to them.

It dawned on me that it's important to acknowledge those twinge emotions because ... I think that tamping them down, ignoring them because we are ashamed of them, because it's polite, because they aren't really important enough to investigate, makes us stop listening to all sorts of emotions - which are our Wild Child's way of warning us that something's wrong. We just placate it with chocolate.

Well. I'll be. hmm. have I had a light bulb moment here?

I also notice about my WC and my SM is that for the most part they like each other and cooperate. Like true siblings they squabble and argue and each can make the other truly miserable. What I realize is that they both want me to be safe, they both want my life to be good and they often embrace.

So, I'm working my way through the 4-day win book, making head changes. I'm about finished my ridiculously easy first 4-day win, which I have accomplished, so long as I eat no more than 2 deserts tonight. LOL Really! That was what makes it so ridiculous. It's been hard to do the daily rewards because I tend to forget about that part, but the 4 day win reward, which is sort of big this time, because it's the first and because we're getting a tax refund, is to purchase some yarn from elann dot com - because they have some stuff I want to buy.

And I am utterly drooling at the idea of writing with both hands, dominant hand asking questions and Wild Child hand answering - so that is going to be my next 4-day win challenge. I'll let you know how it goes. Sounds like an art class to me!

Happy Saturday

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

OPAL50 4/17/2010 8:39PM

Well...great idea! If you are writing with both hands you won't be able to eat. LOL! Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 4/17/2010 12:02PM

Stay in touch with those emotions but let them leave as quickly as they come. Writing with both hands-interesting concept! Have fun and have a wonderful weekend! Report Inappropriate Comment

TAMMS001 4/17/2010 9:00AM

Oh WOW! I love the idea of using both hands to write! I will be curious as to how it goes and I just might give a try too! Great blog! Thanks! Report Inappropriate Comment

JKTENTATIVE 4/17/2010 8:59AM

Very intriguing. Can't wait to get deeper into this 4-day Win book... Report Inappropriate Comment

It's in the stars - but it's also at the picnic table

Friday, April 16, 2010

Do you read your horoscope? Do you scoff at people who read horoscopes? Himself, who is an astronomer, twitches when I read them out loud so, of course, I'm sorely tempted to do it every day just to tease him. I don't, but I'm tempted. My son, who is pure Haile engineer (ALL Hailes are engineers, even the poets among them) says disgustedly "Mom, do you really think one twelfth of the world is going to stub his toe today?" To which I reply - "I do not care about the math. I am only having fun. I also read fortune cookies. I do not base my retirement investments on them. It's play, like cards or hopscotch."

But when a horoscope hits close to home I do like to acknowledge it and boy, look at mine
(and all the rest of my Virgo sisters and brothers battling weight issues) for today.

"You have lately been getting quite an education. You have started to see old familiar situations in a new light. You may not feel any older ... but you are most definitely wiser. Events, this weekend, will enable you to apply that wisdom. You will naturally know that it is safe to stand back and take a philosophical view of circumstances that might once have caused you much aggravation and exasperation. That means you can have power over a factor which once had power over you."

Well. Well and well. Tomorrow Himself and I celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary and we're going to an all you can eat fundraiser meal in our community. I've never been - it's always around our anniversary and it's a bit pricey. But this year we're going and a scant month ago I was pretty worried about being exposed to all that food. I can pretty much guarantee there will be every high calorie fabulous tasting food these farm wives, and daughters of farmers can stir up. The food is aimed at the menfolk 'round here, which means in addition to being tasty it's going to be plentiful.

One of my goals listed on my sparkpage is to be calm around food situations and this is exactly the kind of foodie situation I was thinking about. And do you know? I don't feel nervous about going. I honestly think I have some tricks in my pocket now for facing the high energy sugared and spiced social foodie situation with calm equanimity and the power to make healthy choices. Happily make them with every part of me cooperating willingly to have a good time.

Neat, huh? To have power over food that once had power over me? Sounds good to me. Hope you gain that same power, even if you are not a Virgo or don't read horoscopes.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ALEXTHEHUNN 4/16/2010 8:32AM

Enjoy your anniversary outing. Sounds like it's going to be fun. I like reading horoscopes when I see then, though I never seek them out. As for their occasionally seeming to be "right", a colleague of mine used to say, "Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then." Report Inappropriate Comment

JLITT62 4/16/2010 8:02AM

I've no doubt that tomorrow's report (or the next day's, I guess) will be positive. Have wonderful anniversary! 36 years is something to celebrate. Report Inappropriate Comment

MERALO 4/16/2010 7:23AM

I read the horoscopes when I get a chance...I usually forget what was written as soon as I put the mag down though! Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 4/16/2010 7:17AM

I read horoscopes, laugh about them and move on. Good luck with your eating adventure and Happy Anniversary! Enjoy the day! Report Inappropriate Comment

When a craving strikes - SIN

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Still wallowing in the mind of Martha Beck and yesterday I took her advice and SIN-ed. SIN stands for Substitute Inedible Nourishment. This could be tactile - anything from stroking a pet, to a massage or hot bath, to passionate lovemaking. All wonderful ways to make yourself feel good, but hardly appropriate in an office setting, where afternoon boredom eating so frequently hits. But it can also be intellectual. Our brains love to learn and we are each of us very particular in the things we really love to learn. There are no value judgements on knowledge - what your mind loves is what it loves. So you may love learning heart surgery or you may love learning fly tying. The thing is - in an office setting it's a heck of a lot easier to pick up your favorite hobby magazine and read an article than it is to take a hot bath in the staff washroom.

I love puzzles, quizzes and filling out forms. (even IRS forms hold a certain fascination for me) Yesterday I was working hard on some tedious-but-important-to-my-job writing and when I came to a good stopping point I was assailed by an urge to snack. Fortunately the Four-Day-Win book was on my desk and it's chock a block full of little fun forms you could fill out - exercises she calls them, all of which ask you to come up with mini rewards. So I opened the book, filled out the first form, thought up a little gift to myself and wrote it down and in less than 10 minutes I had absolutely zero craving. I had never been hungry. I just wanted a treat for completing a task.

woo woo. Is this a non-scale victory or what? I would have sworn I was hungry but I just wanted some love. and I gave me some.

So. Go SIN next time you get a craving and see what happens.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

OLSEN9310 4/16/2010 6:59AM

ooooh, I love this concept. I have been craving soda lately....but hate to break my streak (none since January )....I do like crossword puzzles and word games....maybe will try this option when it hits me :) nice one! Report Inappropriate Comment

JKTENTATIVE 4/15/2010 10:35PM

You are an inspiration. I want you to know that I went out and bought that Martha Beck book because of you. Am only in the first chapter ...but will keep you posted and perhaps we can compare notes. Report Inappropriate Comment

4LUCKYMOM 4/15/2010 10:08AM

good stuff Report Inappropriate Comment

CRAVE_FREE 4/15/2010 9:47AM

GREAT idea! I will probably use this today! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRAVE_FREE 4/15/2010 9:47AM

GREAT idea! I will probably use this today! Report Inappropriate Comment

GRAMJANX5 4/15/2010 8:42AM

Thanks for sharing. The book,"Four-Day- Win" sound interesting. Report Inappropriate Comment

HARPER369 4/15/2010 7:50AM

what a wonderful blog, so helpful and so true I will definitly keep that in mind each and everyday, thanks so much for posting Report Inappropriate Comment

IFDEEVARUNS2 4/15/2010 7:45AM

Great tip, I'll have to try this. Report Inappropriate Comment

JLITT62 4/15/2010 7:37AM

Well darn, I needed this last night. Why is it that when I'm in the throes of eating stuff I haven't planned for, I never think to try something else? I guess last night it might've been because I was actually in the middle of doing soemthing else. It wasn't so much a craving as a hungry feeling. Altho my binge looks like this: 2 dark chocolate Hershey's kisses, 1/4 dark chocolate peanut butter bar, and 2 ounces cinnamon chips. All eaten thoughtfully. The dark chocolate peanut butter bar was last, and I must say I was impressed that just that one quarter bar did the trick -- I stopped eating after that. If only today wasn't my WI. Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 4/15/2010 7:28AM

Very interesting! I'll have to try that! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALEXTHEHUNN 4/15/2010 7:27AM

Fascinating. I'll have to try it. Cheers, Alex Report Inappropriate Comment

The body learns quickly

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

So that half a Taco Bell thingy I bought on Monday and saved in the refrigerator at work made a second appearance yesterday for lunch, just as I'd figured. The neat thing is that the Wild Child and the School Marm and the Watcher self all knew that it would be enough to hold me the rest of the day - hadn't I proved that yesterday? - so I had this opportunity to eat in the most carefree way. I knew what I was consuming, I knew I'd feel fine after I finished. It was such fun to eat and then stop and feel exactly right. I actually didn't think about food the rest of the afternoon.

So I tried it again with dinner. I wanted to eat and watch a dvd with Himself yesterday and I'd fixed something I really really like. This can be a real danger zone because I know that when I get engrossed in a movie or documentary I can scarf down a mountain of food without realizing it. Not that I cook a mountain of food, mind you but it's possible for a plate of dinner to disappear and you think you're still hungry and start foraging in the kitchen and before you now it ... disaster.

But I remembered the trick from Monday at lunchtime and before I finished my whole plate of carefully measured out, yummy but nutritious calories (I'd done the homework for this meal) I just stopped. I bargained again with my little Wild Child about waiting a few minutes and then finishing off the plate and even having more if we were still hungry. Evidently the WC is beginning to trust me a little because I was able to pause - and then finish off my dinner and feel just right.

There is a little kernel of wisdom somewhere in this - I'm trying to pull it out and polish it up so I can see it before me all the time. It's all about the portion size ... And taking time to eat ... It's about teaching the body how much is enough and assuring it that More is not necessarily Better but it's There if the body wants it. Wants it, mind you, not needs it. Because the truth is - when I don't get to eat what I want to ... that's when things derail and I end up eating MORE than I want to.

Well. anyway. That's the State-0-Bess today. A little triumph and a little learning. And it's only Wednesday. Who knows where she'll be come Sunday Weigh-in?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JKTENTATIVE 4/14/2010 11:55AM

I always look forward to your thoughtful blogs. thanks for sharing! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHEILA1505 4/14/2010 9:55AM

I'm sure you'll be down - and I look forward to reading all about it next week. Meanwhile, after an excellent day well within my limits yesterday, I still had room when I was in need of (oh, OK then, wanting) a top up of rye crispbreads and butter followed by some 70% chocolate (just a small piece) and that just wobbled over my upper limit. Do I care? Naaah - did an extra hour of dancing today and that took care of that. Still thinking of a suitable name for my PTP and Custard. Keep well and keep smiling Report Inappropriate Comment

HARPER369 4/14/2010 9:50AM

great blog, and great going Report Inappropriate Comment

OPAL50 4/14/2010 9:37AM

My DH and I always talked to our children about the difference between "WANTS" and "NEEDS" while they were growing up. LOL I never thought about applying this to my eating habits...but I will now. Report Inappropriate Comment

CRAVE_FREE 4/14/2010 8:39AM

Oh you lovely librarian, I think you're on your way to writing a book with all these pearls of wisdom. Report Inappropriate Comment

JLITT62 4/14/2010 8:15AM

"It's about teaching the body how much is enough and assuring it that More is not necessarily Better but it's There if the body wants it. Wants it, mind you, not needs it. Because the truth is - when I don't get to eat what I want to ... that's when things derail and I end up eating MORE than I want to." Truer words never written! But oh so hard to live by, sometimes. Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 4/14/2010 7:53AM

Down, down, down! That's where she'll be! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHIMMYHIP 4/14/2010 7:42AM

Great insight! Report Inappropriate Comment