It's Not About the Food!

For so many of us, watching our weight is not about the food.  If it was, it wouldn't be so hard!  Emotions (good and bad) often drive our food decisions.  When things are going well and we're happy, we celebrate with food.  When things are going badly and we're struggling, we look to food for comfort.  Again, it's not about the food.  It's about how we're feeling at any given moment!  The key is to be aware of why you're reaching for the food, acknowledge whatever you're feeling, and find something else to manage those feelings. 

I used to come home from a business trip late at night and immediately raid the kitchen for a snack - and rarely was it a healthy snack of vegetables.  Oh no...chocolate and cookies for this girl!  I wasn't hungry and knew in my mind I shouldn't be eating it, but I just couldn't stop myself.  Well, thanks to my accountability group, I figured out what was going on and came up with a different routine.  Reaching for the food was a way to celebrate being home to a familiar environment after being on the road for a few days.  It was a way to calm the go-go-go mentality of business travel.  Once I realized that, a new routine was born -- walk in the door, put my bags down, and go directly downstairs (do not enter the kitchen).  Once there, light a candle, sit on the couch, and sit quietly for five minutes to unwind.  Brilliant!  No need for food to comfort me.  The five minutes of "ahhhh!" was just what I needed. 

So...why do you reach for unhealthy foods in oversized portions?  What emotions are driving you? And...what are you going to do to instead?  Feel free to post your comments...that's how we learn and hold one another accountable. 

And, we have the best accountability group ever!  Just look at these beautiful people.

Panoramic photo courtesy of Liz Scull.

The Emotions of Food

I'm so excited -
Let's celebrate with cake!

The stress is too much -
A treat to distract from what's at stake!

I'm so happy with life -
Points right now don't seem real!

The news makes me sad -
Chocolate will help me forget how I feel!

All the emotions inside
with food I try to hide!

Or, perhaps celebrate
and later my choices I hate!

It doesn't have to be so -
I am confident and strong!

Routines, tracking, and spaces -
a new me won't take long!

Picture from fitnessgurusam.com

Welcome to my blog!  I have been a part of a weight loss and weight maintenance accountability group for about 4 years now.  I am preparing to move overseas and saddened (and a little fearful) about losing that accountability.  I've come to realize that I really depend on this group to keep me honest.  So, in an effort to keep that accountability going (and because I'm too selfish to give it up), The Well-Fed Poet's Society was started.  Get ready for all kinds of tips and tricks on healthy living.  Feel free to post comments, too.  After all, we have so much to learn from one another.



Now, let me give you just a brief explanation for the title.  It does sound a little odd for a weight loss accountability group, right?  Well, not if you knew the group.  Every time we met, I ended our time together with a poem, which people have come to appreciate.  Therefore, I want to keep that tradition going.  Here's a taste of my poetic stylings:

Farewell to My Saturday Breakfast Club!

Over the years

We’ve been through so much,

Like working the plan,

Tracking and such.

Picture from drfmiranda.com

We’ve had a few slip-ups

Along the way

And plenty to celebrate –

I’m happy to say!

We’ve conquered Momentum,

PointsPlus and 360!

And there were some big changes

That some of us did see!

Through the years

You’ve grown dear to my heart.

And I’m sad to say

That it is time to part.

But your voices will always

Be inside my head.

Wait…is that a good thing?

Or something to dread?