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| Homer and I are kindred spirits. mmmm, donut. |
As I am continuing with my new diet of no processed foods, sugar, wheat or starches, I have come to realize my relationship with food.
I have never seen myself as an emotional eater. When I am stressed, upset or nervous I just simply do not eat. I have never understood how others could consume food when they are hurting inside.
But I have discovered this past month that I am a 'Bored Eater'. Which means, that I eat out of entertainment. Before my diet change, I could go hours without eating through the day. I would find myself to much in a hurry to eat breakfast and to busy to eat lunch while working. And then to top off the night I would get a craving for food that was not good for me, but made me feel happy to be home.
Now that I have been home with Lily, I find myself getting bored while she is napping, and the first thing I want to do? EAT YUMMY FOOD! Yup, in those times of boredom I think of the most yummy things I could eat to occupy my free time. Pancakes with chocolate chips and peanut butter, flour tortillas with melted cheese or a creamy mushroom soup that makes me feel good from the inside out.
BUT NO! I can't eat any of that with my diet and it leaves me feeling frustrated! I turn to fruit or raw almonds to feed my craving for food entertainment...but it does not feed the itch that I so desperately desire to be scratched. Fortunately, I do not succumb to the temptation and continue focusing on my goal to be healthy.
So, I realize now just how serious my addiction to food is. I never realized how much food was related to my happiness and how much it controlled my life. Kind of sad, but I am happy to have this realization because now I can learn to control it.
Just like a crack addict craves to feed their addiction, so do those who are addicted to food. We need to realize that food was not put on the earth for entertainment or to fill an emotional void, but it was placed on the earth to strengthen and maintain our mortal bodies. Nothing bothers me more then hearing someone tell me 'I cannot live without carbs', because I used to say the same thing. You could live without anything if you knew you would live longer and live a happier life.You can still enjoy the food you eat, and you can still reward yourself with a sweet from time to time, but remember that you are in control. The food does not control you. Hard lesson to learn, but I am proud of myself for desiring to learn it. Even if it does mean that I am still craving that Peanut Butter Bash from Dairy Queen...oh sweet moses those are good!





