I’m not going to eat between meals and I’m not taking seconds. Just today. And I’m going to try this for a year to see what happens.
And what happens (for me) is that everyday is a struggle. Or I should say that everyday has it’s own struggles. Yesterday it was chips and ice cream — why they called so loudly to me, I don’t know. I go weeks without giving treats like that a thought and then out-of-the-blue, WHAM! I’m struggling.
I struggle and sometimes I don’t win. At least, I don’t always win the way I’d like to say here. Last night I decided that since it was Saturday night I could have a ‘special meal’ and I ate some chips and ice cream. So there. Are you shocked? I’ve said all along that I’m not limited to 3 meals in a day. I just have to think it through and put the food on a plate (or bowl) and eat at the table.
Having an extra meal of chips and ice cream isn’t my proudest accomplishment. But inventing a commitment that gives me the room to do that is. It would have been possible for me to mope and whine my way through the evening without those treats — I’ve done it, so I know I can. But The Commitment isn’t about giving up any food or treat. It’s about control.
And I knew I hadn’t eaten much yesterday. Also, I mowed the lawn and helped with the yard work. And I got my hair ‘done’ at a salon — which is an incredible effort for me (maybe this was the activity that required the treats?) Mindless grazing isn’t allowed, ever. So, I hesitated, giving it a lot of thought. I even read the label on the chips to make sure they didn’t have that fake fat (they were low fat Pringles).
The thing I have to remember is that The Commitment isn’t about punishing myself. I’ve spent enough time doing that and I know it doesn’t work for long. The important thing is to keep everything I eat and do balanced so that the weight I’ve lost doesn’t sneak back on — and maybe I even lose a little more.
Well you know my views on this subject, and you have just said it all better and certainly more succinctly than I ever could.
You did exactly the right thing. If you are craving this or that treat, it is far better to have a small amount of the least harmful version of it (low fat chips, no sugar added ice cream) than to let that craving eat at you, curdle itself into an unwholesome stew of resentment (why me? it’s not fair?), self-pity, and an even more urgent craving for the treat, which makes us all more vulnerable to just losing it and instead of applying those control factors like making sure its no sugar added ice cream and having a modest little serving and thus vanquishing the craving without doing any damage, finding oneself at the Basket Rabbit ordering up a triple superscoop of maximum butterfat and 75 grams of sugar per half ounce.
Especially for ladies in the matter of ice cream, calcium is important, and if you are in addition to controlling shugga, trying to limit calories, it is possible that you may not be consuming a lot of dairy products, so that craving for ice cream may be your body making a very legitimate request!
I’ll bet your body needed salt, after the mowing.
Very kind of you to listen to it!
(I’ve read that when we increase our water consumption we should keep in mind the accompanying salt loss.)
I see there are newcomers, and that is a delightful thing to see.
I hadn’t thought of that as a reason for wanting the salt. It certainly makes sense. It was unusual for me – I haven’t even thought of eating chips today.
Kansas, did you have a good weekend?
Ductape, you’ve made so many contributions today, I don’t even know where to start. And my father has a message for you about Alpha Lipoic Acid. Have you heard about it as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy?
Hi, kb. I had a good weekend, but I’m so far beyond tired that if it were the north pole I’d be the south.
Your eyes are very heavy, very, very heavy. . . and you’re very sleepy. . .
kbird please thank your father for me, I am moved and honored that both you and he think of me
I have been taking 200 mg of Alpha-Lipoic acid 3 times a day since the beginning. I have read messages from people on the internets who say that it has made them symptom free, others say their symptoms are greatly reduced. I had had high hopes for it, but have not had similar luck with it.
Nevertheless I keep taking it, it can’t hurt, and one day, who knows?
Hey kansas! It is good to see you home from your tour! It sounds like you are ready for some serious Pillow Appreciation events
Hi, DTF! Thanks for the welome home. “Pillow Appreciation events.” lol. I’m there!
Where did you find it? Interesting read
Hi Amanda, What is ‘it?’ This is a pretty old post and Ductape doesn’t hang out here anymore….