THIS THING CALLED FAT .. I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT...

All of us have spent many hours thinking about being FAT .. about FOOD .. how we can eat less of it.. how we can change it.. thinking about willpower.. HOW DO WE HANDLE FOOD.. how do we have WILLPOWER...and how can one make the choice between the chocolate and the carrot. .. hmmm Willpower.. ? didn't we simply just make a choice by choosing the carrot over the chocolate.. is there really such a thing as willpower? with that in mind.. I decided to peruse the internet and see what I could find out about the mystical strength called willpower..... I was suprised to see many articles out there.. one that caught my eye was this one ..

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/11/arts/snweight.php titled AN ARGUMENT FOR RETURNING TO TREATING OBESITY WITH SIMPLE WILLPOWER ... I liked what this doctor said.. I do believe that encouraging someone to exercise better choices.. and limiting snacking and exercising at least 3 times a week.. and encouraging them to use self control can work.. this article mentions that research has shown that people adapted better when society discourages bad health behavior ie.. drinking too much( bars can be held acountable for serving too much liquior to a customer via a few states that have legislated this into laws...) .. .. smoking ( taxing cigarettes has cut down on smoking) I seriously doubt that much will change for an over eater if there are more stringent society based rules.. Eating is far different than those other issues.. u can live with out liquor or cigarettes... but you have eat... I believe that individual responsibility is always the key.. We are responsible whether we want to be or not; we are responsible for our choices.. willpower or no willpower.. how one eats is a choice....

Another article titled Weight Loss: Does Willpower Matter : http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=77640

suggests that eating is about choices ( hello??) and not so much about willpower.. but that changing the way we think about food is a major key to successful weight loss. This article states that even when we feel an overwhelming desire to indulge that basically thats just our own behavior or a bad habit.... the article goes in more depth talking about the biology of willpower ...
Another area that caught my eye in this article was this : For many, the key lies in understanding their tolerance level for "food frustration," and the ability to plan ahead for how to handle it. I love that .. I really believe in that too especially in my life.. when I have a plan I succeed.. when I don't I flounder...

Last night when I gave my talk about motivation one of the factors the nutritionist bought up and I think is a very truthful is that when one eats... there are 4 bites of food that are the most important.. the first 2 bites of food are great.. as are the last 2.. the first two ... well it tastes good.. the last 2 because you know that your food is almost finished.. so to really be satisfied one only needs 4 bites.. ( NOT HUGE) of a food (say a holiday food ) to enjoy it. the bites in between are usually eaten mindlessly..

I also think that what we think about food or when we think something would taste really yummy that it is fine to THINK about it.. but try and shift your thinking to something else.. first... if that does not work.. it is far better to indulge in a bite or two than deny yourself and end up feeling like you are alway denying yourself.. when we deny ourselves we end up being resentful towards healthy eating.. this does not mean go out and eat 12 pieces of Pizza because you "DESIRE " that.. and you don't want to "DENY" yourself... it means changing your whole approach towards thinking and eating food.. If you know there are certain foods that trigger binges.. keep it out of the house.. and have it in portion controlled quantities should you be able to get it elsewhere. Know what you are eating and don't be afraid of logging it...

LOGGING IT??? Honi, you mean keeping a food record..
WHY yes.. thats exactly what I mean... keeping a food record.. either on the internet .. such as this site ..(I use this one) http://caloriecount.about.com/ or with just pen and a notebook .. is very important be it holiday foods.. or your daily foods.. keep a log.. as much of the time as you can.. its a great tool.. TOOL!!! its not being a tattle tale on you.. its a TOOL so you know what you are REALLY eating.. wether you eat on your program or indulge a little.. know what you are doing... know your choices..
Keeping this simple.. food logging, listening to yourself.. not berating yourself over a choice... being honest with yourself.. are tools that will help you as you.. and I journey through this ... thing.. called FAT .. on our way to a healthier self....
Wish me well
Wish you well too