Monday, June 27, 2011

Where's the "Off" Switch?



I finished my carrot projects around 7:00am (I was doing laundry, cleaning, and doing some computer stuff too!), but I wasn't quite happy with my carrot soup (details to come). I was wishing I had an apple to add to the soup, it just needed something....lucky me I live within a mile of a Market that opens at 7:00am so I decided, like I often do, to kill two birds with one stone. Walk and shop! I made my grocery list and off I went.


I get a chance to do alot of reflecting while I walk and on my way home (carrying about 12 lbs of groceries on my shoulders) I was thinking about the trip Mark and I are taking in August to Hungary. It's going to be the longest trip away from home I think I've ever been on, and the worry I have at the top of my list is eating. I never worry about eating while in my everyday routine. I'm talking about eating, not food.


I was thinking about the people I will be with, none of them overweight, and wondering what they eat, or should I say how they eat. I already know the answer. They eat when they are hungry and stop when they are no longer hungry.....I live with someone like that! I like to eat, I like the feeling of full tummy, and sometimes I have to wonder if I have an "OFF" switch....there's no other way to explain it. Feeling like I can't stop eating is not rational.


Traveling triggers all kinds of feelings of urgency to eat foods you may not get another chance at. I've already made sure we didn't make hotel reservations with the "free" breakfast...I don't eat breakfast at home why all of a sudden do I feel the need to while on vacation? But it starts way before we get to our hotel. All sorts of "tricks" and "strategies" I could think about. Why can't I just stop eating when I'm no longer hungry? That would solve the worry. I think I'll try that one.


I've estabished habits at home in my everyday life but I haven't while traveling. I'll have to think about that.....establishing traveling habits. Reminding myself that I'm not missing out on anything, that there will always be plenty of anything I could want, and there's always more if and when I do. There's enough....there's enough....there's enough.


I feel better already.


9 comments:

Fatguy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fatguy said...

EXACTLY! I grilled chicken quarters last night, it was really good! I had 1 quarter, plus green veggies. The chicken was SO good, there was a mental battle the rest of the evening. I wasn't hungry, but damn, I wanted some more of that chicken. I won last night, but unfortunately, lost most nights.

Juci SFG said...

Some of the people that you'll be with are greedy like hell and inclined to eat too much, until their stomach literally exploded and their eyes pop out :)

You have my absolute sympathy.

Judy said...

Tracy, I really know what you're saying. It's been better since I eliminated most processed sugar from my diet. I've also been following Tim Ferris' 4HB and the beans have made a huge difference for me. Travelling is always a challenge.

Best of Luck to you.

Tracy Reifkind said...

fatguy,

it's not the chicken quarters that get us and keep us fat. Seriously a chicken quarter has maybe 300 calories not counting the skin....but I know what you mean.

I find that when we resist things like a chicken thigh it can create a rebound effect and come back and bite us in the ass when we are faced with other higher calorie and less nutritious foods choices.

We're all just finding our way....one chicken thigh at a time.

Tracy Reifkind said...

Juci,

I can't wait to see eyes popping out of heads!

But I like how you bring up greed. I think it's a feeling directly related to overeating and quite frankily "over" doing alot of things.

Greed is a strong word, but I interpret it to mean when a person feels like they are not getting enough, or their fair share, then they have to take it. I've written about having those feelings myself.

Tracy Reifkind said...

Judy,

Since I consider myself one of the luckiest people I know, being lucky will come in handy, huh?

Fatguy said...

LOL, deep, and funny. Thanks Tracy!

Juci SFG said...

Tracy,
That's interesting. A very good theory!

But. Come to think of it, when my bad habits are concerned, maybe I shouldn’t’ve used the word "greed", then. (Excuse me, my English might not be sophisticated enough).

I'm greedy only when it comes to oral fixation :)
In every other respect I'm inclined to "under"-do things, especially training, learning and work :) The minimum effective dose, if at all.