Why I eat?
My thoughts on a poll from last week
I ran a poll last week.
You can still vote if you haven’t already.
I asked what you believe to be the main reason you eat?
I’ve thought about this for many many years when trying to decide what diet/nutrition plan would work best for me.
Unfortunately I found that praying but eating poorly just didn’t work well enough for me.
There are many different reasons why we eat but what I have noticed is that it is rarely for true nutritional needs, not that many agree on what good nutrition is….
But besides that….
Let me tell you a short story.
Up until about 11 days ago, I was not being as good an eater as I should have been. I still felt fine but my weight had shifted up about 5-7 pounds higher than I like. If you know me 5-7 lbs on my frame would be noticeable.
Of interest though was that everything still fit exactly the same. Pants, belts, shirts, hat size…
The only thing that didn’t fit was a COVID mask but they have never fit so……
OK, back to the story.
I had gotten into the “habit” of eating some cheese on the ride to work. I usually always skip breakfast.
I also got into the habit of eating a bigger lunch at work.
Why?
Truly I wish I knew.
I would sit down to dinner with my family and plan on eating smaller portions for dinner, but as soon as I started eating, for some reason my appetite would grow, almost becoming ravenous.
Maybe part of my eating issue was that I just enjoy food. I enjoy eating it. I enjoy preparing it. I enjoy being in the kitchen with the challenge of putting on the table a good nutritious meal. I enjoy taking pictures of my home cooked meals and putting them on Common Sense Health and Wellness.
So maybe I eat more also because of the challenge or enjoyment of cooking?
Or just as likely I enjoy sitting across the table with my family and just chillin and talking and laughing. So yes, the social and pleasure aspect is there as well.
OK. So that should be it.
But Nooo, there is more.
I luv cheese.
So much so that I would begin my day with a few pieces of cheese, and I would end my day with a few pieces of cheese before going to sleep.
Why???
I don’t know but it did just become a habit, that I enjoyed.
Soooo…
Was it any wonder that I gained weight?
My solution?
I went back to my basics.
Mostly meat with small amount of my favorite veggies/fruit.
Have I told you I also luv potatoes?
Even on low carb or keto I enjoy them, but at a good balance.
I also went back to OMAD, otherwise known as One Meal A Day. I would just eat dinner. Throughout the day some unsweetened tea and water. That’s it.
The first day or two I might have been hungry at times.
But I was never hangry.
Hangry: adjective hungry and angry, especially when the anger is induced by the hunger.
By Day 3 it felt right.
No hunger.
No cravings.
No energy lulls.
No brain fog after eating.
No bowel issues.
No snacking on cheese.
Things were back to normal.
I appeared to be back in control of when and why I eat. Control feels good. Control reduces stress. So control reduces potential stress eating.
By the start of Day 6 on OMAD, I was down 5 lbs, almost to my goal of 7 lbs off. Of interest I am presently at Day 11 of OMAD and I am still holding at 5 lbs off. Seems like my body found a foundation there. I’ll have to see what happens as I hope to continue OMAD as far as it will take me. Not eating doesn’t bother me. I have more time to do other things, whether that be work or pleasure.
Like sharing my favorite recipe.
Now back to my insights about my response to the poll.
I think I eat more out of HABIT and PLEASURE/SOCIAL of sitting down to enjoy a home cooked meal with my family. Honestly for me it is rarely hunger. I sometimes wonder if I fasted longer than 24 hours how long it would take to truly be hungry?
Maybe I’ll decide to fast longer and see.
But I’ll have to plan out how to change my habits first to help move me towards whatever goals I set.
So that is my story.
I’d be interested in hearing yours.
I would have to say some of the many reasons that I eat is that I like the taste of food, I like variety in what I eat, I like to cook and I also like to cook for and feed other people. I have really lovely memories growing up surrounded in food traditions and traditional food. Over the years we have cleaned up our diet drinking raw milk, eating majority pasture raised meat and eggs and organic fruits and vegetables when possible. We also splurge on homemade baked goods and alcohol ... but everything in moderation. Could we do better? Absolutely. Am I happy where I am? Absolutely yes:-)
Habit is a big part of why we tend to eat too much. I love cheese too, but when I eat cheese as carnivore, the weight loss stalls! So I am breaking the cheese habit for February to get the scale moving again! Already down 2 lbs! Meats and eggs! I feel amazing!