Everyday Systems

That's an old joke about army food, that I remember from my childhood.

But more than once, I have found myself overeating BECAUSE the food was so unsatisfying. As if some instinctive level I believe that I haven't really been nourished, and if I keep eating, it will be enough.

As I become more used to "real" food - and more used to satisfying meals - I really notice this phenomenon. I'm starting to think of "bad food" (meaning, anything that I would classify as "unsatisfying") as a warning to be more vigilant.

Anyone else notice this?

KCCC wrote:
But more than once, I have found myself overeating BECAUSE the food was so unsatisfying. As if some instinctive level I believe that I haven't really been nourished, and if I keep eating, it will be enough.

Anyone else notice this?

I noticed it before No S.

I used to swing by a couple of my "favorite" (I used that word advisedly) fast food joints and pick up a sackful of my favorites, usually some large subset of burgers, fries, nuggets, fried chicken and chocolate shakes. I would scarf them down and still be hungry. And then go buy more unnourishing food and scarf that down, and still have the munchies. Curiously enough, the more unsatisying the food, the more that food became one of my "favorites". It is as if internally, I was was saying, "This time, the Chicken McNuggets are going to do the trick, I just know it!" The only thing that would stop me from continuing to try to get satisfied was that I was so physically full, I just couldn't eat any more.

Upon starting No S, I immediately--and without any consious effort on my part--became very choosy about what would go on my one plate of food. I know that if I don't feel satisfied after my one plate, it will be hours before I get another chance to eat. So, quite instinctively, I have begun to include vegetables and fruit and other food that really makes me feel fed in lieu of junk food which only makes me feel full.

My undergrad work was in economics, so I am endlessly fascinated to watch my choice patterns change as I move from an environment of unlimited wants and unlimited resources (unlimited trips to the drive-thru) to an environment of unlimited wants (that hasn't changed) and limted resources (3 plates a day).

This phenomenon is one of the little bits of magic about No S that amazes me and for which I am constantly thankful. My relationship with food is changing right before my eyes.

Thanks for the great post, KCCC.

I've read that since we started eating so much food that is nutrient-poor, we instinctively eat more food in search of the nutrients we need. If you eat food that is naturally more nutrient dense, you'll eat less food. Although it might take awhile to cut down on the amount because you're so used to eating a larger volume of food.

I have made it a point since starting No S to eat only things I enjoy. Of course there are times (when I'm eating something new at a restaurant, where I'm eating at someone else's home) when I find that I've plated a meal I don't like. The internal whining begins: But this shouldn't count! I don't even like it! I should be able to go home at at least eat some buttered toast..... and on and on. It's one of the circumstances in which I am most tempted to failure.

There are many components to food satisfaction, all varying with what I'm looking to eat. Regardless of how much I love potato soup, if I want to taste something cool and spicy, it's not going to satisfy me. No S makes meals much more important, and I do a better job of figuring out what I want instead of just stuffing myself with food, knowing that there's always more available.

Starla wrote: It's one of the circumstances in which I am most tempted to failure.

Me too. In fact, it was just such a failure that prompted this post. (At least I have "failure-events" instead of "failure-days" these days.)

And I'm thinking about this phenomenon in terms of S-days (since today is one) - how it relates to looking for "truly satisfying" treats instead of just eating stuff-that's-there...

We went on a Mediterranean cruise this past October. The cruise was 12 days long, and the food was absolutely divine. The portions were mostly small, though - but I never felt deprived in the least. And we had dessert every night. But the desserts too were small - maybe 2 tablespoons or so. End result - I felt like I was completely indulging myself throughout the whole vacation, and came home 2 lbs lighter than when I left!

Now I just have to learn to cook like that so I can be satisfied with smaller portions!

I've often heard the inverse version: "The bad news is, the food is terrible! The good news is, the portions are *enormous*!" (I think Billy Crystal used to use this one.)

DaveMc wrote:I've often heard the inverse version: "The bad news is, the food is terrible! The good news is, the portions are *enormous*!" (I think Billy Crystal used to use this one.)

Fits any fast food place...