Friday, February 10, 2012

Eating

I like to eat.  I really quite enjoy eating and tend to think about eating all day long.  Often I find myself forcing the thought from my head because it's not time to eat yet.  I have trouble deciphering real hunger from just wanting to eat. 

So about two weeks ago, tired from the constant battle in my head about whether it is time to eat, I set up a new schedule, a schedule that allows me to eat 5-6 times a day.  I was hesitant to eat this way for fear I might overeat, but you know what...it's working for me!

I used to pile my plate high with food and stuff myself, knowing that I wouldn't be able to eat for another 5 or 6 hours.  The thought alone scared me into overeating at every meal.  Now when I prepare a plate, I know that this only needs to pull me through for 3 hours and I can eat again.  It is much easier to control portion sizes when I am not fearing the thought of hunger all afternoon!

For the first time in years I find myself "allowing" meals.  When 3 hours has gone by and I think about eating my initial thought is "NO."  But then I remember my new schedule and gleefully remember that it is in fact time to eat! 

Eating every 3 hours helps me to eat better meals.  I can plan out healthy snacks rather than wait for the hunger monster to kick in and grab the first thing I see (typically some sort of carby, sweet snack!)  I can settle in with a bowl of vegetables and hummus and be content now!  Eating is fun, once again, instead of torture.

I have already found that I think about eating less, even though I'm eating more often.  And I truly believe with time, as I grow more accustomed to this new schedule of eating, that I may not have to think about eating at all.  I will actually be able to follow my real hunger cues.

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