What to Eat, and How to Eat It!

It took me a long time to understand that I am an emotional eater. Saddness, low self-esteem, depression, all those bad things bring out the eater in me. I was eating a ton of food, especially after my mom died.

Breakfast might consist of two bowls of cereal. Lunch, maybe two sandwiches. Dinner, a ton of whatever. Of course I would want other things: cookie dough, a tub of frosting, half a pie, the usual suspects.

My diagnosis in 2003 changed that. I knew I was fat. I just could not admit I was obese. So I examined how I eat and why. Usually an emotion was tied to the food. Afterall if I was feeling down, food was never going to let me down.

I see food differently. Don't get me wrong, I still am an emotional eater. I just have to watch it carefully. I see food more now as fuel. I know....it's a cliche, but I find it to be true. The doctor told me to eat 5 small meals a day, and to eat half of what I would normally eat. So if I have a sandwich at lunch, eat half of it, and save the rest for the next meal.

These days, I find it difficult to eat the five meals. Work makes it almost impossible. So I want to make sure I am eating right and just enough at the meals I do eat. I also use as a guideline 2000 calories a day. The tough part if figuring out the 2000 calories. I don't measure anything, but I try to limit the portions. I don't eat half a meal, but I eat a smaller meal. I don't need all the fries at the diner. I can eat a few.

And what do I do when I feel emotional? I don't reach for the Ben and Jerry's. I try to do other things. I may surf the web. go for a run, go to the gym, whatever. The point is I don't want to think of food as my savior - it isn't. It's just food.

Typical day:

Breakfast: Yogurt, small bowl of cereal and some coffee.

Snack: Banana

Lunch: Sandwich or a Cliff Bar(I swear by these...they are the best).

Dinner: Small dinner - try to involve more veggies. Small chicken breast, turkey burger, or beef as an entree.

I drink more water now than I ever have. Typically I don't drink soda. Of course I love coffee. I try to drink decaf or a reg/decaf blend. The doctor told me coffee was fine for me to drink, but I noticed I wanted to eat more as I drank more coffee. Decaf, as long as it tastes like coffee is fine.

My new job at Field's is a challenge for me. I work in a mall. So the healthy eating choices are few. I take a Cliff Bar for lunch, or I go to Mickey D's for a salad.

I am trying to have more vegetables and fruit though. I really enjoy a nice apple with some peanut butter - YUM!

the important thing for me though is to remember food is fuel, not love! That's a toughie. I have my moments. I also do not deprive myself of goodies. Here is my rule of thumb: It's ok to have a piece of cake. It is not ok to eat the cake.

:-)Charlie