moods revealed
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 2:48 pm
This is my fourth week back on No S, and it is very interesting to see what this reveals about my moods. I am kind of a nibbler, usually, and there are times when I definitely want to eat between meals. I have noticed several things. First, that I snack when I am bored. Now that I can't snack, I can't help but stare the fact of my boredom in the face and consider alternative (and constructive) ways to deal with it. I could eat, or I could alter my routine and actually improve my life. I'll normally pick snacks everytime (pathetic), but not now. In a way, this shows me that food keeps me boring! 
Secondly, I nibble when I'm anxious or stressed. Another important point: I should DO something about whatever is causing me stress, and if it's nothing, I should consider that, too. Maybe I need a formal relaxation plan like yoga or something. Food hides this need. No S helps me see my life more clearly.
Third: I am anxious when I am truly hungry. Now that I get actual, bonafide hunger pangs when it gets closer to meal time, I can see how my mood coincides with this to create a strong desire to eat. I think this is my body's healthy way of letting me know I need food for survival. The reason this is important is that I had previously arranged my eating in a way that maximized hunger at naturally anxious times, setting me up for overeating. For instance, I would eat lunch at noon, and so at 3:30 when the kids came home and were competing for my attention, asking for snacks, stressing about homework, etc, I was too far away from a meal to resist. Now I eat lunch at 2:30 or 3, and I'm totally full, and calm, when they come home. No more "danger" of snacking, and I am happy and peaceful until dinner time. Also, because I'm full and calm, I am in a much better frame of mind to make them healthy food, because I'm not lured into eating junk myself. This habit also eased my urge to eat while I cook dinner, because of the late lunch.
Previously I would sometimes eat dinner too early, because, again, I was hungry from eating lunch too early, and then if I felt bored at night I would want to snack. Now I'm full from dinner until bed-time, and if I feel bored, I do something interesting instead of eating.
If I never lose an ounce this is just plain old sanity.
Secondly, I nibble when I'm anxious or stressed. Another important point: I should DO something about whatever is causing me stress, and if it's nothing, I should consider that, too. Maybe I need a formal relaxation plan like yoga or something. Food hides this need. No S helps me see my life more clearly.
Third: I am anxious when I am truly hungry. Now that I get actual, bonafide hunger pangs when it gets closer to meal time, I can see how my mood coincides with this to create a strong desire to eat. I think this is my body's healthy way of letting me know I need food for survival. The reason this is important is that I had previously arranged my eating in a way that maximized hunger at naturally anxious times, setting me up for overeating. For instance, I would eat lunch at noon, and so at 3:30 when the kids came home and were competing for my attention, asking for snacks, stressing about homework, etc, I was too far away from a meal to resist. Now I eat lunch at 2:30 or 3, and I'm totally full, and calm, when they come home. No more "danger" of snacking, and I am happy and peaceful until dinner time. Also, because I'm full and calm, I am in a much better frame of mind to make them healthy food, because I'm not lured into eating junk myself. This habit also eased my urge to eat while I cook dinner, because of the late lunch.
Previously I would sometimes eat dinner too early, because, again, I was hungry from eating lunch too early, and then if I felt bored at night I would want to snack. Now I'm full from dinner until bed-time, and if I feel bored, I do something interesting instead of eating.
If I never lose an ounce this is just plain old sanity.
