Random Thoughts on Eating

Okay, I've put off this post as long as I can. I just feel so darn unqualified to write about diets or food or nutrition. My only qualification is that I've lost more than 100 pounds and kept it off for over a year now, so keep that in mind. I can only share what worked (and continues to work) for me. So here are my random thoughts–not a plan, not a *way of eating*, certainly not a magic forumla.

–There's no way I could stick to a restrictive food plan for very long because I have to feed a family of nine every day and more on weekends.

–I couldn't stick to a restrictive food plan for the rest of my life because sooner or later I would throw off the shackles and go hog-wild and EAT whatever it was I wasn't supposed to have.

–If you tell me I can't have it, I want it.

–If you tell me I can have it, I might or might not want it.

–I eat only when I am truly hungry, and stop when I am full. Politely full, not stuffed to the gills.

–Food is always available. If I'm hungry again, I'll just eat again. I don't have to be afraid.

–Food is not my friend. The only *need* it meets is true hunger. Not emotional needs, spiritual needs or social needs. I remember feeling so shocked when I first realized how often I was eating because the food was good or it was my favorite or it was there or I was lonely or I wanted to pamper myself, etc., etc., etc. I once told my husband during the years of babies and toddlers (uh, 25+ years) that "eating is the only fun thing I do." That makes me sad now. But at the time I truly did not realize what I was doing.

It amazes me how complicated the diet world is. Everyone is looking for the miracle, the pill, the plan. I lost all my weight eating pizza, hamburgers, french fries and ice cream. And of course, apples, natural peanut butter, cheese and almonds. Just food. Sort of The Casual Approach to God Made/Man Made eating, now that I look back on it. I would go a couple of days and eat God-made food because that is what sounded good, then stop by Braum's for a peanut butter hot fudge sundae. And eat the peanut butter and hot fudge and whipped cream and cherry first, because I never knew when I would get full and stop eating. Okay, so that's a start on the random thoughts. More random-ness to follow.