To be a normal eater...

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Last night DH & I were talking about what I really want when it comes to weight. A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to go for a 100-lb. loss, even though I've maintained a 75-80 lb. loss for over a year now. Some would take that as a sign that my body's happy where it's at, because I'm effortlessly maintaining. So, what do I really want?

To have food be a non-issue. To be a normal eater. To be completely relaxed around food.

I have this if-then statement in my head that doesn't follow any logical order. If I lose 100 lbs., then food will be a non-issue. The funny thing is, I've lost 80 lbs. & food's been a issue the entire time!

What do I mean by normal eating anyway? I googled the phrase & found this written by Ellyn Satter in 1987:

"Normal eating is being able to eat when you are hungry and continue eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it -- not just stop eating because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to use some moderate constraint on you food selection to get the right food, but not being so restrictive that you miss out on pleasurable foods. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good... It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful when they are fresh. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. It is overeating at times; feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. It is also undereating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life. In short, normal eating is flexible and moderate. It varies in response to your emotions, your schedule, your hunger and your proximity to food."

If my weight stays the same for the rest of my life but I learned how to be a normal eater, I'd be totally at peace with that.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

REDISCOVERINGME 10/29/2008 3:04PM

Hey! Thanks for stopping by my page! I love that manifestation board. Its great to focus on the positive and see so many other people do it too! As for your page - brilliant. Love the thought processes and congrats on getting where you are today. I am at the beginning of that journey and it is awesome to see another person who has triumphed this far. And, this blog. Food for thought. (oh boy, an unintended pun ) A normal relationship with food is the ultimate triumph. You will get there! Wanting to explore that is the first step I think! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRECECOOKS 10/28/2008 3:37PM

I totally GET the "normal eating" thing. Learning how to do that will be my greatest accomplishment. Report Inappropriate Comment

TAEBOKICK 10/24/2008 11:17AM

isnt that the kicker in life? losing weight and keeping it off? i keep being told, " after you lose weight- keep watching what you eat and work out" the trick is finding the balance. im seeing why sparks people is good place to be- even those who have lost their weight are still on here to maintain focus, which is never bad thing! Report Inappropriate Comment

FITGIRL15 10/22/2008 11:52PM

That is a wonderful definition of what normal eating is supposed to feel like. Losing 80 pounds is not an easy feat, you should be SO PROUD of your transformation and accomplishments of maintaining that loss over the past year... and it's completely normal to want to improve on your current successes... that's called "growth"! Why not use the momentum that you have created by losing the first 80 to help you acheive that last 20? I am SURE you have the strength ans discipline to make it happen, on your own terms! Report Inappropriate Comment

PEACHYLADY 10/22/2008 7:32PM

Food is always an important issue to me, but planning meals and shopping healthy is what I'm concentrating on! Thanks for the comment too. Report Inappropriate Comment

SMYLEERED 10/21/2008 6:40PM

I really enjoy the way you write and express your thoughts....ya know what you're saying here almost coincides with what I'm trying to learn by doing the 100 Days of Weight Loss. If you start out at Day 1 and proceed up to today's which deals with "Slow Down Your Eating" --it took me through all the things you mentioned in this blog. How to recognize when you're satisfied after eating, when to stop. It takes practice. Sorry I rambled on, just trying to steer you over to my blog...you can read some of daily activities of the 100 Days of Weight Loss book. I think it's the best motivator to being successful on any diet plan....you've already maintained your weight loss for a long time but you don't think you're a normal eater....hmmm sounds like me. I count calories, measure everything, but I still worry when I'm around food and I still break down and go on binges every now and then. I too wonder if I'll ever be a normal eater. I wonder if I'll ever get out of the 230's...it's been a long time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You always put things in a different light. I enjoy reading your words. Comment edited on: 10/21/2008 6:39:14 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

MDMNINA 10/21/2008 12:06PM

I really LOVE that definition of "normal eating". Thanks for sharig! Report Inappropriate Comment

New 5K PR!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Doing another Monday re-start with getting food back on track. I've been waaay off course w/ food for the last two weeks & I'm so over it.

Good news: I'm putting my past food discretions behind me & living in the moment. I've got my sights set on my year-end goals & will keep moving towards them.

Even better news: I set a new 5K PR at yesterday's Run Like Hell by finishing in 27:26. That's 90 seconds better than my previous PR of 28:58. My new goal is to shed another 30 seconds off that time by First Run 2009 (done at midnight on Jan 1). I hope that focusing on performance nutrition instead of emotional eating will keep me on track.

Happy Monday everyone!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JENNIFER124 10/29/2008 10:49PM

I REALLY LIKE YOUR SPIRIT AND DETERMINATION!! I AM A RUNNER TOO-- I WOULD LOVE TO HIT 30 MIN.. GREAT JOB ON YOUR NEW PR!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JMCCABE72 10/22/2008 1:41PM

Congrats!!!!!! Doing 5k's and Marathon's are SO MUCH FUN!!! Keep up the Great work!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRAVELINGARTGAL 10/21/2008 9:20AM

Good luck! Sounds like your mind is in the right place to succeed! Way to go on your 5k time! That is really great! Remember to take it one day at a time!! Report Inappropriate Comment

FITGIRL15 10/20/2008 6:44PM

Woo hoo! GREAT times for your run! Congrats on beating your last record! That's so awesome and should feel great! Report Inappropriate Comment

LILHLFPINT 10/20/2008 1:12PM

(i love that logo for the race. the name rocks, too. lol. congratulations on your pr - awesome. i dream of someday hitting a 30 minute 5k.) Report Inappropriate Comment

MDMNINA 10/20/2008 1:05PM

Wow! Nice 5K. And it's always great to beat your previous time. Report Inappropriate Comment

Food day at work

Friday, October 17, 2008

Had a big food day at work & I totally overate. I ate because a) it's a habit to scarf free food; b) I don't want to help my mom pack tomorrow but I will anyway; c) I've got this irrational fear that I'll never be able to eat any of the foods available ever again.

My first reaction is to 'detox' by severely cutting calories over the weekend. That's not going to help anything. Ugh.

Anyone got any ideas? Suggestions & challenges welcome!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NANCYBFULLER 10/18/2008 9:58AM

free food at work is a weakness of mine as well. My rationalization is, I work as hard as anyone else here, I "deserve" to get the same "rewards" as they. I don't like to feel left out. How silly is that?? Report Inappropriate Comment

DEVONLYNNE 10/17/2008 7:25PM

I agree... Don't detox or severely restrict your calories. Just get back on track by eating something healthy for your next meal or snack and go from there. No sense in looking back or feeling down, just keep going forward. Report Inappropriate Comment

MDMNINA 10/17/2008 5:28PM

Above all, don't detox! Resume your sensible eating and put today behind you as best you can. We're here for you. Report Inappropriate Comment

Family drama, self-care

Thursday, October 16, 2008

"Well darkness has a hunger that's insatiable / And lightness has a call that's hard to hear" (lyrics by Indigo Girls)

There's some family drama going on right now involving my mom & sister. Years ago I distanced myself from them as an act of self-care & set necessary boundaries to keep me emotionally safe & secure.

The new round of crap that's come up is bringing up old feelings, & my first reaction is to give in to my old self-destructive/defeating patterns. We all know that our darkness is insatiable; I am going to do my best to keep moving towards the light. Ahimsa, nonviolence, also applies to myself. To give in to emotional eating means I'm harming myself. Just for today I will give myself the best self-care possible.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LILHLFPINT 10/19/2008 9:36PM

(good luck. i know how hard it is to deal with family stuff like this.) Report Inappropriate Comment

MDMNINA 10/17/2008 12:07PM

Speaking as one who deals with the same kind of family issues on a frequent basis, you are making the right choice her. Put as much emotional distance between yourself and the problem as you can. Don't feed the hunger of darkness. Report Inappropriate Comment

FITGIRL15 10/16/2008 6:48PM

Do what you need to (remain distanced from them) to ensure you remain safe and sain! Seriously... Look out for #1! Report Inappropriate Comment

LADY_DONKEY 10/16/2008 12:01PM

Just an observation, but isn't this cr*p between your mom and your sister THEIR problem?? And not necessarily yours? I'm just asking; I've been dealing with family dysfunction for 38+ years, and I've learned to question everything anyone in the family tells me and to know when to step back. (Sometimes not quick enough, though.) Of couse, I'm not in your situation, so I am probably wrong, as I so often am, but I thought I'd throw that out there. Report Inappropriate Comment

More activity requires more fuel

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

I averaged 78.6 minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise over 6 days this last week. I tried to keep my calories low, within the range SP originally set for me - 1200 to 1550 - & felt ravenous much of the time. I binged/overate Friday through Sunday in response to the low calories consumed Tuesday through Thursday; my body needed more food with the increase in both exercise minutes & intensity. Because of the overeating, the scale read +1.8 lbs. higher than a week ago.

I repeat (for my own benefit LOL): More activity requires more fuel. DUH.

After messing around with various calculators (thanks internet!), I've decided to increase my calorie range from 1350 to 1850 since my activity level will remain the same. Hopefully this will result in a lower weigh-in next week.

Here's hoping for the best!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FASHIONISTA71 10/14/2008 11:37PM

That is awesome..I nedd to bump up my exercise at this point. Your doing awsome. that's a lot of weight gone girl! Way to go! Report Inappropriate Comment

FITGIRL15 10/14/2008 5:48PM

Eating is NEVER the bad guy... why do dieters think they need to STARVE to see weight loss results? Starving is NEVER a healthy state to be in, both for your body and your mind! It's the QUALITY of food you choose that makes the difference! As long as you are eating good quality protein, low GI carbs with high fibre, and loads of veggies with some fruit... you shouldn't even have to count calories EVER and you will still lose weight! (Especially if you are doing 80 minutes of activity per day! Seriously!!!) Keep it real girl, and keep that body fueled properly to maintain your PEAK performance level! I know you can do it!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

DEVONLYNNE 10/14/2008 2:14PM

I'm glad you've figured it out before it got too out of hand! I know all to well how it goes.. but I let myself go through the cycle over and over. If you're hungry, you need to eat. And at the same time, less activity usually means less food. I hope upping your calorie intake helps! Report Inappropriate Comment

MDMNINA 10/14/2008 1:47PM

Yep, I just read an article yesterday that said you MUST increase your calorie intake when you increase your activity level. I am guilty of the same thing. And I've had the same result. Duh! Guess I go recalculate my calorie range right now. Since I am doing twice a much exercise as I planned. Thaks for the important reminder! Report Inappropriate Comment