Forums: September 2011 Kickstart Forum: Changing relationship with food
Created on: 11/09/11 01:19 PM Views: 875 Replies: 5
veggiemama Joined: 09/05/11 Posts: 7	Changing relationship with food Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 1:19 PM I had an experience the other day that I want to share, because it made me so happy. Historically, my eating has always been pretty horrible during periods of high stress. My thinking during those periods was generally along the lines of, "I am having a really difficult time, and I deserve this," whether the "this" was a cheeseburger and fries, a whole package of cookies, a pint of Ben & Jerry's, etc; basically, I "deserved" whatever I wanted. And further, my thinking was, "I will get back to eating better when I am through this difficult period. It is too hard to think about eating well right now." This was true even when I had made a shift to eating "healthier." I pretty much fell completely off the "healthy" wagon when I was stressed out. My husband and I started eating a plant-based diet in mid-August - we've both done really well with it, lost weight, feel better, etc., etc., etc. I have been in the midst of one of those difficult stressful periods for the last couple of weeks and had a moment the other day when those old ways of thinking creeped up. I was sitting at my desk at work, and thought, "Hmmm, a cheeseburger and fries sounds kind of good." And then 2 seconds later, I realized: "No, honestly, it really does not. It actually sounds pretty gross." It made me smile. I see this as evidence of my changing relationship with food. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but I do think it indicates that I am seeking less comfort in food, really seeing it as fuel for my body, and understanding that food can be both tasty and nutritious. So my "treat" for myself that evening was a vegan club sandwich from the cafe around the corner from our house. It may not have been "low-fat," but it was a far cry from my historical comfort/treat foods! And that's really something that I've noticed has changed for both me and my husband: our standard for "crappy" eating has risen dramatically. Now, when we say, "wow, you know, I really haven't eaten too well the last few days," it means we've been eating more prepared foods like veggie burgers and less whole veggies, beans, legumes, and grains. Given how far we've come in 3 months, I see that as some pretty powerful change. Thanks for indulging me and letting me share. I am really interested in whether other people are having or have had similar experiences in changing to a plant-based diet.
	Edited 11/09/11 1:22 PM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Susan Levin Joined: 12/26/09 Posts: 1212	RE: Changing relationship with food Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 1:24 PM What a great story. Thank you for sharing it! I can totally relate. I used to have a horrible diet. Now, a day without leafy greens is a "bad food day." And when I travel I really miss a fresh pot of beans, greens, and grains!! We've come a long way, baby. Susan Levin, MS, RD PCRM Director of Nutrition Education
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Oceandog Joined: 01/10/10 Location: California, USA Posts: 644	RE: Changing relationship with food Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 1:45 PM I was commenting to my daughter a week or 2 ago about this type of change. Before I became a vegetarian (1990), I ate all the regular SAD stuff. I also "knew" I deserved this treat because of a painful life. When I was 27 I stopped eating meat and decided, among other things, that I would not be responsible for an animal living a painful life because of my habits/desires or need for comfort from my own painful life. That transitioned into a vegan diet. In 2008 I found out I had celiac disease and made another transition with my food. I tend to be overweight and have modified my "okay" foods over the last 20+ years. I started out craving cookies, chips, certain meats and definitely cheese. I later craved alternative meats, breads, etc. I slowly changed my "comfort" foods and now that I am following a very low fat, gluten-free diet to lose this stubborn weight my "comfort" foods tend to be avocado, tofu, etc! I can't wait to add these "higher fat" foods back in my diet. Due to constantly learning, shifting foods I once considered healthy (yes even the alternative meats and cheeses were once in this category) now are forbidden and I crave tofu and avocado and of course a few tortilla chips. I haven't gotten rid of that craving. I think our views of "bad" food vs. "good" food change. In the case of this forum, we are getting wonderful information and those changes are beneficial to many. I don't think I will ever be done with my weight issues until I get the mental part that makes me feel like I must have food after 6:00 pm or that I "deserve" food because of ... (fill in the blank). If I have had a hard time what I deserve is care and health. I may be eating very healthy at this stage of my life, but eating high calorie and too much is still an issue. Until I change my reasons for eating, to eat to live instead of eat to comfort, I will have a weight problem whether that weight comes from cheese or tofu or guacamole, it is still fat. I have been doing a lot of reading (no surprise) and it is funny after all these years, I now am beginning to understand that many of us with weight issues have trauma tucked under the fat. Makes me think of a sliver (trauma), until it is pulled out, the medicine (food) I put on the wound won't heal it. I am trying to retrain my brain that when I feel like I deserve something, to change my reward to a nonfood related item. Book? Walk on the beach? Snuggle with my dog? Phone call to a loved one? Tub soak? Anyone else have ideas for comfort/rewards that don't involve food? Or spending/buying? I have been on a minimalist journey for several years as well. Sorry for the long post, I apparently had too much to say! Always offer kindness and a soft word to the beings around you; You do not know their journey. Your words can be the hug they need or the shove that breaks them.
	Edited 11/13/11 11:34 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
veggiemama Joined: 09/05/11 Posts: 7	RE: Changing relationship with food Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 1:53 PM I love your long post! I think this is what I've been thinking about some recently, too: that when I have that thought about "deserving" something, recognizing that what I really deserve is to be healthy! There is no better time than the present! I think, too, that you hit upon why this whole thing is really working for me: I have stopped seeing dietary change as having an end goal/point, and started seeing it as a process for living, something that I choose and do every day. If I have a day that's not as good as the one before, it doesn't mean I'm a failure and should stop trying. It just means that tomorrow, I have an opportunity to try to do better. And ain't that really what life is all about?
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2087	RE: Changing relationship with food Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 2:52 PM veggiemama wrote: I think, too, that you hit upon why this whole thing is really working for me: I have stopped seeing dietary change as having an end goal/point, and started seeing it as a process for living, something that I choose and do every day. If I have a day that's not as good as the one before, it doesn't mean I'm a failure and should stop trying. It just means that tomorrow, I have an opportunity to try to do better. And ain't that really what life is all about? Yes, it's a path not a task. Also, you don't have to wait until tomorrow to "do it right" if things aren't as good as yesterday - you can start over again the next minute, and the minute after that, and the minute after that if you need to. --Deb R
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kiwi Joined: 01/03/11 Location: New Zealand Posts: 408	RE: Changing relationship with food Posted Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 4:29 AM veggiemama wrote: that when I have that thought about "deserving" something, recognizing that what I really deserve is to be healthy! There is no better time than the present! I think, too, that you hit upon why this whole thing is really working for me: I have stopped seeing dietary change as having an end goal/point, and started seeing it as a process for living, something that I choose and do every day. If I have a day that's not as good as the one before, it doesn't mean I'm a failure and should stop trying. It just means that tomorrow, I have an opportunity to try to do better. And ain't that really what life is all about? You are all inspiring. I had my version of a bad week this past week where I was wanting something sweet - ate two large chocolate brownies on seperate days and a few chocolates that were not vegan as they had cows milk in the ingredients. (My bad day = vegan back to vegetarian. I have gone to many years without meat to ever go back to that - yuck). I made the usual excuses (hormonal, pre-menstrual and best of all 'Ï deserve it') but it was really about how I handle stress at work . I have also realised that these excuses are only excuses. Thanks for the idea veggie mama. I am going to make a little card to carry with me that says "I deserve the best. I deserve to be healthy. I deserve to eat a healthy low fat vegan diet. I am fortunately to have a choice of what I eat. I will not take this choice for granted." Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food - Hippocrates.
	Edited 11/13/11 4:31 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom

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