Food For Thoughts

The trouble I've always had is linking binging with emotions. I'm the sort of person who either wants to celebrate a good occasion with food or try to make myself feel better when I'm down in the dumps by stuffing my face.

Now for me, if may not be the same for you, that doesn't really work because I only end up feeling worse after. I feel stuffed, sick, lethargic and may possibly have a migraine he next day, so it can't really work to help me 'feel better'.

I had a day full of highs and lows yesterday and ended up having a pick n mix binge consisting of chocolate, fudge, jelly beans and fizzy cherry cola bottles.

Was I happy when I was eating them? No because I was thinking to myself that my day of relaxed eating is coming this Sunday, I shouldn't be doing this now. Was I happy after? No, felt sick that I ate all of it so quickly. Am I ok with it this morning? No because even though I've only put a couple of hundred grams on, this is a month I've quite honestly being doing brilliantly with food and to be honest that binge was uncalled for.

I think when losing weight, we have to lose this attitude toward food and view it not as something that makes us feel better, but something that we require as fuel in our everyday lives to keep us going.

I read about a theory called 'Pleasure and Pain' in a book called 'Awaken The Giant' by Anthony Robbins. It's a really simple way of thought where you link the feelings of pleasure with something you want and pain with something you don't want.

So with regards to weight loss, I could link the pain with the sickening, tired, lethargic feeling I get after a binge and the pleasure with knowing I'd lose some weight if I didn't binge.

Another example could be that I might feel pain in getting up early and working out, but maybe I should feel pleasure in that as that's the sort of work that will help me achieve the body I want, which in turn is another pleasure.

I think this way of looking at things is useful and can help me to not binge when feeling certain emotions. It's different for everyone though, you need to find for yourself what you regard as pleasure and pain.

By the way, an even easier method to take your mind off food when you're down is just get yourself a new hobby. Sometimes a few rounds on a punchbag can improve your mood. Just picture your boss when you do it.

Cinema Food Ban

You know I totally love going to the cinema and when I do go, there's always a special I have... A Ben and Jerry's Core Sundae with Phish Food, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, fudge sauce, whipped cream and white chocolate polar bears. It's basically about two weeks worth of fat and sugar!

Now I was pretty impressed with myself when I went to the cinema last Friday and Sunday and had nothing at all but water. I don't know if I'm actually getting sick of the sundae, but I just didn't feel like it.

On that note, I've self imposed a ban on cinema food for the remainder of 2010. Trust me, that won't be easy as I want to watch Wall Street, Saw 3D, Action Replayy, Tees Maar Khan, The Social Network etc etc

Will let you know how I get on during my next visit.