
I am so mystified and intrigued by my own behavior. And I can’t help but feel like the project itself is bringing back some old dieting type behaviors. Old thinking I really need to rid myself of.
As my spirit guide told me, “You need to make good choices EVERY TIME you eat. Not just most of the time. Every time!”
I was out running errands on Thursday. I was buying bananas, eggplant, mushrooms and almond milk. My mind was on the healthful menu of the next day. I was thinking maybe some ratatouille for dinner – tasty, good for you and almost no fat and no bad stuff at all! I think I am going to go simmer the eggplant when I’m done here. Anyway, while walking past the bakery I could smell the sweet dough cooking. The powdered sugar. The custard. I walked by and went to various other areas of the store and then, got to thinking about how I would be recording my food the next day. About how if I got hungry for a donut or cake, I would have to keep everything so controlled. I am so exhausted right now of control – mostly of my feelings with my separation going on and trying to just take steps in a good direction. But to do that, you have to swallow a lot of emotions. I kept smelling those donuts.
I ended up buying four and during the next few hours ate three Shoppers Food Warehouse “collossal donuts.” It was really more like two and a half because after a few bites of one of them, I didn’t care for it and tossed it back in the box and I shared one with Jade (bad mom). I got four different types to satisfy whatever craving I was worried I would have in the near future and be unable to indulge.
What is wrong with this picture!?!
Know what’s really bad? I wasn’t even craving them at the MOMENT. The smell inspired me to want them, but if it had been any other normal day, I don’t think I would have eaten them. I just wasn’t dying for one, ya know? I was more worried about a FUTURE craving for one. Why do I do that? Do you ever do that?
Now the “fat acceptance” camp would tell me that there is no bad food. But I don’t believe that. I think eating almost three whole giant donuts when you are possibly pre-diabetic is a bad choice. I still haven’t had my bloodwork done, so I don’t know for sure, but for now I think it’s better to work on the premise that I could get diabetes. Even if I am not officially pre-diabetic per the lab results, I still am at risk because of family history at least. And my weight has some bearing on that.
What was going through my mind? Why did I do this? Is this part of my mental illness? Is it simply a matter of lack of will power?
Then I went ahead and had a Chickfila sandwich and fries for dinner. When I am tracking my food I eat the grilled chicken sandwich with no sauce and no fries and an unsweetened iced tea. I had the regular sandwich with extra pickles – like I used to when I was pregnant and later when I was working at the computer store with Robert when Jade was a toddler. And I went ahead and had the fries. I had still had the unsweetened tea though. But what is going on here? I was having food based on future cravings and nostalgia. I think I was eating from a very emotional place on Thursday instead of listening to my own body and what it wanted and needed. It wasn’t even logical.
The weird thing is, that when I’m not counting my food and in the years previous to Weighting (but after my eating disorder, from about 2001 and on) I hardly ate fast food! Only when we were traveling did I stop at Wendy’s or Hardee’s. On our way to Virginia Beach mostly.
I also keep trying to decide if I should focus on losing weight along with healthful eating habits or if I should just focus on healthful eating. When I think about my weight, I tend to get more neurotic. I think I still do anyway! I’m not sure. I haven’t set a goal weight since I started this project because that isn’t what it’s supposed to be about. But I do feel good when I have had a great week eating healthy foods and exercising and the scale reflects it. I worry about how that makes me think about myself. But is there a point in worrying about it, or just do it?
Should I set a goal weight? Should I just keep trying to eat good food and stay away from bad food? What am I doing? What are my goals?
Well, my goals have been healthy cholesterol level. Healthy blood sugar level. Healthy hormone and vitamin levels – remember that super low vitamin D?
I tried going meat, dairy and gluten free a week ago and got a horrible headache. It took me down in the middle of a party and I had to lay down. I felt like I would be sick. I’ve rarely had a headache that bad. I think I need to eat enough to be full, but not overdo it. I think I need to make sure it’s quality food. But I don’t want to cut out everything I love.
Yesterday I didn’t write down my food but I paid attention to what I was eating, but even so still ate one peep and and about an ounce of chocolate. Now, chocolate isn’t on the no-no list – it has anti-oxidants! But, it needs to be quality chocolate and in small amounts. If I could have tasty chocolate that had no sugar, I would – but it doesn’t exist!
Yesterday I ate red pepper hummus and made fruit/almond milk smoothies for Amy and myself. I had a turkey sandwich with lots of tomatoes and some light dressing on whole wheat bread. But, I need to record it because by the end of the day, I will end up thoughtlessly snacking. I need to keep it all written down – my exercise too. I was doing so well when I kept it all written down. Made myself accountable. But I do get tired of all that constant control. I’m a relaxed, emotional sensualist – I don’t like having so many controls over my life – but there has to be a balance between doing what I want and enjoy and what I must for my health and the people I love.
I need to think of them when I consider eating a donut.
WEIGHT April 16, 2010 — 249.8
WEIGHT February 21, 2010 — 251.2
Loss: 1.4 lbs.
FIRST WEIGH-IN May 29, 2009 — 259.7
TOTAL LOSS: 9.9
In almost a year I’ve lost only 9.9 lbs, even though during most of that time I was trying hard to eat healthfully. I find it interesting.
Recently on Dr. Phil there was some discussion about weight and fat acceptance and all of that. I found the topics of people who have very weight-loss resistant bodies. There was some really great points made from both sides. Though one dude was just a total jerk. But that is everywhere.
For the people who have a hard time losing weight, should they starve and feel deprived all the time I wonder?
I know what it’s like to be judged for my weight and size and sit across from a thinner person who can eat a chicken fried steak the size of a dinner plate and suffer very few outward appearance related consequences.
Try to remember each fat person has a story. And just because somebody is thin, doesn’t mean they are healthy. We all have our own story. And our bodies are all different.