I’m giving up
I know, I know, shocking headline!
Rest assured I am most definitely NOT giving up on Blog To Fit, or throwing in the towel here.
Like David Wright yesterday, I am giving up the junk. Starting today.
For a couple of days now I have been keeping a written diary of what I eat.
OH. MY. GOD.
It isn’t until I saw it written down in black and white (or crayon as I’ve been reduced to sometimes) that I realised just how much food I shovel in my mouth every single day.
I am a grazer. I am a cow.
It has shocked me in to action once again.
I thought I was pretty healthy overall. I eat three balanced meals a day that I prepare from scratch, I eat plenty of fruit and veg and I glug down as much water as my body can take.
All I need to do is cut back a bit on the chocolate and biscuits and get moving, I thought.
But having kept that food diary I am appalled with my eating habits.
It is very clear that I eat when I am bored.
Which is not to say that I am sat around with nothing to do all day. Far far from it.
But I do find myself cruising by the fridge or the kitchen cupboards looking for a quick fix more often than I care to admit.
But at last week’s Wednesday Weigh In I challenged notSupermum to be really really good for one week – together, the two of us, supporting each other, egging each other on, seeing each other’s disappointing frown if we should ever stumble or fail.
Let me tell you notSupermum, as I wrote ‘mince pie’ on that list TWICE, I thought about you on every pen stroke.
Earlier this year I attended a couple of hypnotherapy sessions as part of my job (writing for a British newspaper) and it really worked for me.
I stopped eating for the hell of it. I ate when I was hungry and I drank more water than ever before because my body was telling me I was thirsty rather than in need of sustenance.
I lost 7lbs. Just like that. Without even trying or thinking about it.
But then I went through a stressful period at work and, well, once again I turned to food for comfort.
This is the challenge I face. Food is not fuel for me, it is a comfort, something to help me cope, something to see me through.
For some people it is drink or cigarettes or whatever vice they choose to mask emotion.
For me it is the ‘bad’ stuff. It is biscuits, it is chocolate, it is a slice of cake, it is another mince pie. It is something sweet after my dinner.
My ‘treats’ are no longer that because I indulge ALL THE TIME.
And so, at those hypnotherapy sessions I did pick up some really good tips which I am going to reintroduce myself to this week.
I do not want to fill my body with rubbish. I do not want to fill my body with fats that sit around my heart and my arteries and strip hours off my life.
So I am giving up the crap. Sure I know that at this time of year it’s going to be even more difficult than normal with so much temptation and so much stress, but I figure if I can do it now, well, I’m pretty much cruising.
So my question to you is: For the sake of your health, are you prepared to ditch it too?
Oh and the photo? Just some of the crap I gathered from around the house in 3 minutes flat in order to get a photo for this post.
Want a bit of humor and motivation delivered via email every weekday? Subscribe to get each BlogToFit post delivered for free! Email not your thing? That’s okay, you can also subscribe via RSS – like all the cool kids do. It’s also free. Unless you really WANT to pay us.
Tara, I feel your pain. Snacking for boredom or angst or any other reason I could dream up. Two sure-fire ways for me to avoid them may work for you, too. First (the hardest) is to just not buy it. It forces you to snack on veggies or something equally harmless—and you sure won’t do it often.
The second just depends on circumstances, but it works wonders: A good brisk walk. It totally takes your mind and cravings off the food. It’s kind of like magic! However you tackle the snackies, good luck!
Julie’s last blog post..The Smile
[Reply]
That’s for those tips Julie, I really do appreciate it.
The problem is I work from home, so end up filling myself with cups of tea to take my mind off the goodies calling to me from the cupboard! But you are absolutely right, I should just not buy it. In fact, I’m just going shopping now and I’m going to resist resist resist!
And yes, walking is just brilliant for that. I need to structure my day so I can just go out for a brisk walk whenever the Snack Monster comes calling . . .
[Reply]
Snacking is a diet killer that’s for sure. My biggest hurdle to overcome when I started my regime of healthy eating was to stop snacking in the evenings. Once my children were in bed it was just me and a cuppa. Oh, and a biscuit or three. Or just one bag of Quavers, that quickly became two. They are SO addictive once you get the taste in your mouth.
I have struggled with it to be honest, the snacking thing, and occasionally it creeps up on me again. A flapjack? that’s healthy isn’t it? It’s just oats, and oh, sugar.
I’m with you on this one Tara – dump the junk. Easier said than done, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the rewards of seeing those pounds drop off
notSupermum’s last blog post..The recipe for a perfect evening? Free clothes, good friends and laughter.
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 10:10 am
You’re right notSupermum, it’s those killer cups of tea that ‘require’ something sweet with them!
And I too can’t have ONE thing – once I break open that packet of biscuits they call to me until they’re all gone.
[Reply]
If it’s not in the house, you can’t grab it. That’s my rule for myself. I am not a salt person, so chips and stuff have no appeal to me. So, they are safe to have in the house for emergency entertaining. HOWEVER, all that stuff in your photo … ooooo … I would hear it calling me. “Panther, Paaaannnther, come eat us.” So, we only keep 85% dark chocolate which we eat 1 square of each night.
Now, being at work is challenging. I eat when I am bored too, and I am bored A LOT at work. So, if I run out of healthy stuff in my lunch box, I go searching for other stuff. And trust me, people don’t leave carrot sticks in the kitchen free for the taking. Nooooo … somebody is always trying to raise money for their kid’s sports or school with chocolate bars. And I’m all for helping out kids.
Here’s a question for you, Tara. When you normally go searching for a treat because you are bored, what are you going to replace that behaviour with? That’s what I have to figure out as well.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..I used to love online shopping
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I recall what you said in a previous comment about ‘making’ yourself like dark chocolate and I think it’s a really smart idea. But how on earth do you limit yourself to just one square a night?
This past week when I have found myself hovering around the kitchen I have tried to busy myself with something else to take my mind of it.
Also I try to visualise myself in that pair of jeans I want to get back into or if that doesn’t work I visualise the fat wrapping its greasy fingers around my innards and that sometimes helps (sorry!).
[Reply]
Writing things out works wonders. I’ve done this with money before. It’s a great way to go on a dollar diet as well. Great job giving it up Tara.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..Sliding Doors
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 10:15 am
It seems such a simple idea, but it really does work, you are right WD.
I have been doing it for just under a week now and it really has stunned me into rethinking my snacks. No more “lust the one” comments from me now!
[Reply]
Don’t buy it in the first place! (Of course, it doesn’t help when you have teenage girls who like to bake in the house, but I digress…)
Make a list before you go shopping. ONLY get what is on the list. That helps curb impulse buying of items you really don’t need.
As far as snacking/grazing– there is nothing wrong with it, as long as you snack and graze on the right kinds of foods. I keep certain things in my fridge that are easy to grab and eat– baby carrots, grape tomatoes, cheese sticks, fruit, nuts. I find that the tomatoes especially help when you’re having sugar cravings.
Not that I’m a saint, mind you, but I really do try hard to eat healthier snacks. And if you graze throughout the day, and your body never gets to the “I’m famished!” stage, you are less likely to crave the bad snacks.
Oh– and if you crave potato chips, you may actually be wanting the salt. The body uses salt for energy. Get yourself some good sea salt, and try my potato chip substitute: pour a little sea salt in your hand, grab a baby carrot, dip it in the salt, and eat. It may sound a little gross (it really isn’t), but it sure does take away the cravings for those chips!
GreenJello’s last blog post..Meme
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 10:17 am
You will be pleased to hear Green Jello that I went shopping this morning and didn’t buy a single piece of crap.
I think the trick is to never take the children with me!
I’m not such a savoury snacker, so don’t really opt for crisps, but fancy trying out the carrot thing anyway!
[Reply]
GreenJello Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Good for you!
Trick with kids, especially when they’re younger: “I’m only buying what’s on my list. Sorry, cookies are not on the list.”
When they get older and ask you to PUT it on the list, you say, “I am only buying healthy things today. Maybe it will get on the list another day.” Or else I would say that we could make cookies when we get home, as long as their rooms were clean.
Needless to say, we didn’t make very many cookies.
And always have fruit on the table or counter. Kids do learn to eat fruit (or little carrots) for a sweet snack, instead of cookies and such.
Don’t justify buying junk for the kids just because they’re kids– you are training them in their future eating/snacking habits right now!
GreenJello’s last blog post..Meme
[Reply]
Way to kick butt Tara. Snacking is hard to avoid. I agree with everyone – if it ain’t in the house it ain’t going down the pipes. I am working on changing what I snack on.
So instead of cookies – grab some nuts.
Instead of chips – get some celery and peanut butter.
It’s worse at work, when we have donuts, cookies, cake and all sorts of candies around. But I just put my mind to something else.
At the same time, you only go around once. So in hitting the wall this week, I have learned that I just need to give myself some slack. It will come.
Keep kicking butt.
DC Urban Dad’s last blog post..Big Hairy Holiday Fitness Challenge Leaderboard Week 1
[Reply]
Oh no Urban Dad, did you honestly say the phrase: “grab some nuts”? That kind of talk has Dave Fowler over here quicker than a rat up a drain pipe.
[Reply]
David Wright Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Heh Heh. He said “grab some nuts.”
I’m surprised that I beat Fowler here. And I know that he has his Google Alerts set to send him anything which has the words “grab” and “nuts” in the same sentence.
As for the hypnotherapist, did he plant any subliminal triggers which we can exploit to make you do weird things?
Good luck on the junk food ban. I can’t wait to see your Weigh-In!
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Just for future reference, I don’t require subliminal triggers to do weird things.
[Reply]
David Wright Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
(mental note: Get phone number for Tara’s hypnotherapist, Russ.)
Sounds like a hypnotherapy session Tara Regards Russ
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Hey Russ!
Everyone, this is the very clever hypno man who made such an impression on my diet. Crikey Russ, you must get everywhere if you found me over here. I know you’re a bit of an internet nerd an’ all, but that’s some find!
Just to reinterate, it so did work, but then I took redundancy from the paper and I was so stressed and in turmoil and felt a bit of a failure if I’m honest.
However, as I said, I do recall some of the tips you gave me and am going to be using them, so I wasn’t THAT bad a pupil . . .
[Reply]
Russell Hemmings Reply:
December 10th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Hello Tara
Its common for an external set back like redundancy to affect any one of us, most of my clients would feel the same.
Take a look on utube I uploaded our hypnotherapy interview and a few others
http://www.uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qTJIQkBaw4k
Our hypnotherapy certificate course starts in February 09 why don’t you train to become a hypnotherapist, you are a good communicator and we need more female therapists
I will post the The Bridgetherapy Centre tel number here 024 7671 1184 as one of your fellow bloggers Dave Wright asked for it.
Pop in when your in Earlsdon Tara and have a healthy Christmas!
[Reply]
Wow, that’s a lot of stuff. I’d have a hard time resisting all of that stuff. The good thing is that it would be in our house long. The bad thing would be where it would have gone — I would have eaten three or four to Karen’s one. Fortunately, we don’t have many snacks around — granola bars and trail mix is about it — and I’ve been able to resist buying snacks away from home.
Mike Goad’s last blog post..Food Baskets — 25 Days of Christmas: Day 9
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Mike you are right, that is a lot of ‘stuff’. It is madness that I even keep it in the house and even worse that I actually try to justify it.
[Reply]
Hiya all i don’t have the problem of kids wantting snacks, I have a Husband who like choccies lol.
Am trying my best too. Not done a weight in as am trying to do it in a routine so i’ll find out tomorrow.
This last week i have been eating lost of snack food but hopefully i Will have cancelled it out with all the walking and pushing a sack trolly around.
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
That’s some great positive thinking there Linz. Sounds like you are really going for it. Tell that husband of yours to control himself, there is a girl on a mission!
[Reply]
IT is hard with it being “goodie” season. I’m still freezing the goodies I make to give away. Trying not to buy anymore things that could even be construed as goodies.
Avlor’s last blog post..Noooo! Not Monday!
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
You are so good! Giving goodies away? Now that’s something I’d have to work on!
[Reply]
I wish you well with your resolution, Tara.
What has been working for me is to use that iPhone app I mentioned on another comment. It immediately calculates the calories and other nutritional information. If you put in the item you want to eat BEFORE you eat it, you will immediately get feedback on how much it will cost you. That’s been sufficient motivation for me to put a lot of things down and take a pass.
Many times, you simply don’t know how many calories are in what you eat. I was eating a small bag of almonds feeling good about my new eating habits. I almost choked when I typed it into the program and saw 360+ calories!
All the best
Dad’s last blog post..Great Recipe for a peace-filled life
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
That sounds just brilliant. I usually have that big old guilt thing going on AFTER I eat that jammie dodger, but if I could have it BEFORE, why that would turn my life around.
Will hunt it down . . .
[Reply]
Hi Tara,
Good on you for having this strong resolve. I too gave up on all junk food and processed foods only 4 weeks ago due to a serious health problem and started to incorporate daily walking.
It is short of amazing what happened to my body since. My health has returned, I have heaps of energy and dropped a ton of weight already (ok, maybe not a ton but you know what I mean).
I intend to keep up with this new lifestyle for the rest of my life now. Gone are the days when I eat nothing but junk just to get a quick sugar crave fix.
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Monika thank you so much for posting that comment – that is just the kind of thing I need to hear, that these small changes I am making WILL have an effect.
Really well done on sticking to it and I only hope I can match your achievements.
“I intend to keep up with this new lifestyle for the rest of my life now” – well said, for isn’t that like the Holy Grail of all diets?!
[Reply]
I eat when bored or fed up…. then I get more fed up and will have red wine in the evening to drown my sorrows! Thats me admitting what I do worst and now I just have to try my best to find ways not to do it! Not holding out much for weigh in tomorrow as have been ill since Friday night and not much activity done this week apart from a bit of walking through parks and all around the NEC at Clothes Show! Well done for throwing out the crap!
ThatGirl39’s last blog post..Back Again For The Carnival!
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I LOVE that you class walking around The Clothes Show as exercise.
I wish I had known you were at the NEC, that’s like a 20 minute drive from my house!
[Reply]
re: grab some nuts. I believe that sexual activity counts as a calorie burner. It’s a perfectly legitimate part of a weight loss program.
That’s all I’ve got to say on that.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..I used to love online shopping
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 10th, 2008 at 6:28 am
*blush* Panther!
That just proves it, you have ALL the best weight loss tips . . .
[Reply]
Food and love were the same thing at my growing up home….this is a very deceptive connection to break…
I also snack on frozen blueberries…a very small bowl at a time (as one sees on cooking shows to pour in the pre measured salt)…it assists your brain in thinking too…
My daughters are better at not eating the junk and thus only Dad’s power bars and emergency food bars are hanging around the house (He has celiac disease as do my children – so he has been munching down on the neighbors cookies and gluten filled desserts and breads – this time the eczema breakout is not only on his fingers but right smack dab on his forehead. My youngest said – well, now you have that bloody mess all over your intestines too – don’t people ever get smart? She is the queen of McDonald’s I might add. I think my perfectionist husband finally took his nibbling to heart this time though. )
I believe everyone has to figure it out for themselves….and bravo to you for throwing out the junk…good suggestions in the comments section from the peanut gallery or is that too sexual a reference about nuts?
Patricia’s last blog post..Beautiful
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 10th, 2008 at 6:31 am
You are right that everyone has to figure it out for themselves.
It breaks my heart to see a generation growing up on McDonalds because I too was all ‘I’ll never let myself get fat’, ‘it will never mess up my insides’. But then you get older and wiser and you realise that it gets to each and every one of us and until we take action all that junk is going to sit around our organs and shorten our lives.
Have never tried the frozen blueberries thing but sounds good – I LOVE blueberries and am always looking for new ways to eat them.
[Reply]
Is it crazy that the first thing that popped into my head when I saw that photo was “Don’t I have some chocolate around here somewhere?”
I’m a food junkie. I eat ALL day. If I’m at work I eat less, but I still eat more often than most people, I think. And now that I’m at home with a baby I eat constantly. I eat for comfort, I eat when I’m bored, I eat when I’m busy, I eat when I’m worried, I eat when I’m stressed or happy.
I’s not doing anything for my poor arteries, and it sure isn’t helping our food budget! Thanks for giving me a little push
Adrenalynn’s last blog post..So, how was your weekend?
[Reply]
Tara Cain Reply:
December 10th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Ah yes, you a grazing cow too Adrenalynn? Join the club!
You need to do what I did and write everything down you eat in 24 hours and you may too be shocked into action.
I once saw a TV show here in England which showed a post mortem (I don’t normally watch that kind of gross-out TV I might add!) on a fortysomething man who was tall and quite slim. But when they opened him up his heart was in a clutch of fat and all his major arteries were thickened with yellow gunk.
I will think of that every time a doughnut calls to me from now on . . . .
[Reply]
Did you just call me a cow..? Lol, you’re right though; I’m totally a grazing cow. Thanks for grossing me out with that story, that gave me a bit of a wake-up call! You see, I’ve always been really skinny and I’ve never had to watch what I eat. Not even after my two pregnancies, as the baby weight just flew off within a couple of weeks after giving birth. But I’ve started to think about starting a healthier lifestyle because I want more energy and strength to take care of my kids, and because I want to live a long life. And I think I might be heading in the opposite direction! I’m the kind of person who’d love to just eat the skin off of the chicken, for instance. And most times, I do. But you definitely got me thinking about changing my diet! Hope you’re doing well with your new regime!
Adrenalynn’s last blog post..So, how was your weekend?
[Reply]
Tara Reply:
December 12th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
“I’ve always been really skinny and I’ve never had to watch what I eat” – cow!
I think the problem is that we do tend to judge by outward appearances and if you are slim you think you can eat what the hell you like.
But as you say, we all want long lives and the only way to do that is to look after ourselves.
Welcome to the fold, my skinny friend!
Tara’s last blog post..Run for cover, it’s a meme
[Reply]