A huge personal NSV

Tonight I won a huge battle.  At least it's huge to me.  We didn't end up going to get the scale. I decided I wanted to wait on that and try to go without a scale so I could see my progress over a longer period of time. A reward so to speak..but i digress... Tonight we ended up at Waffle House.. Not sure why.. just a good place to go when you're bored ..or hungry for some grease.  Sherise was wanting some hash browns. She hadn't eaten dinner because she felt sick at the time.  Prior to that I was talking about how I was hungry and wanted something sweet.  A craving.  But this time was different. I tried to listen to my body.. tried to understand what it was that I was really wanting.  Sherise made a comment about how she knows when she's hungry, "If I go to the cabinets and I keep searching and nothing looks good then I'm not really hungry..I'm bored.. and if I go to the cabinets and I want to eat everything..then I'm really hungry..." So I looked over the menu and was eyeballing the waffles.. Sweet and salty..filling.. Yum... Then I saw they had a "Lite Waffle made with real buttermilk!".  I looked at the hash browns... I saw an egg & cheese wrap that seemed like it'd be a good choice from the menu.. but then I just stopped to ask myself again.. "Am I really hungry..? What is it that I want...?"  Nothing on the menu really set in.... I decided to order a cup of coffee and water.  I drank 2 cups of coffee and a glass of water and felt completely sated. I had won!!  I consumed less than 20 calories (thank you artificial sweeteners!) and I was FULL...!!  I figured it out! I was actually thirsty.. I wasn't hungry!  I mean.. I honestly KNEW for once I wasn't hungry..  This came as a surprise to me not only because I didn't eat anything but also because I had already drank more than 80 ounces of water today!  Now I gotta figure out how to tell my stories and not be so long winded!

Wow, good for you!  That's a big step in my book.  I don't think I've ever entered a restaraunt  and not order anything.  This is sort of strange but I was actually just reading about this last night.  It's When you eat at the refrigerator, pull up a chair, by Geneen Roth.  Here is a little part that you might like since you actually did it tonight. :)

No matter  what you have eaten, no matter how fat or ugly you feel, it is crucual that you begin listening to your hunger, now.  You don't need to eat for "the hunger to come".  The next time you get hungry, you can eat again.

 Practice listening to your hunger/fullness signals when you are and aren't hungry by closing your eyes for thirty seconds a few times a day, becoming aware of three different areas: your mouth, your heart, and your stomach.  Ask yourself, "if these areas could talk to me about hunger, what would they say?  Do they want food?  Do they want something else?  Contact?  Quiet attention?"  Then, rate your physical hunger on a scale of one to ten.  One is very hungry, five is comfortable, ten is stuffed.  If you are at four or below, you are hungry.  Also rate your emotional hunger.   One is empty, five is fine, and ten is feeling great.  If you are physically hungry, think about what you want to eat, what would feel good in your body, and eat it.  If you are emotionally hungry (heart or mouth hunger), consider what would nourish you.  Remembner that no matter how sad or lonely or angry you feel, eating will not take it away.  If you eat when you are not hungry, all that will happen is that you will still be sad or lonely or angry, and also full.

WHen you are physically hungry, eat.  When you are physically hungry, nothing but food will satisfy you.  I will tell you what I tell my students:  You need to develop a voice inside that says, "It's okay, honey, you don't have to be afraid of yourself any longer.  Trust your hungers.  Rest when you are tired, ask for love when you need it, and eat when you are hungry. Amen

I like this lady, she is saying eating's alright, just listen to our bodies.  I have an obsession with food so I'm really enjoying books like this.  For me I know it's more in my head than anything.  I can make it alright to eat anything, at any time with justification.  Anyway, good for you!!!!  Ya know, I think that is going to be one of my goals.  Actually going in a restaruant when I'm not really hungry and not order anything.  I'll have to make it my next week goal though, because this week I'm not eating out anywhere.  

I bet that made ya feel good!! :) 

That is FANTASTIC!!!!!!

The best bit was you also resisted the 'eat to be social' urge at the same time.

Yeah for you!!!!!

Em

Now HOW cool is that?  The pleasure was in the change of atmostphere and enjoying time out with your wife.. that was the objective for you.. and you were satisfied in that while knocking down some coffee.  

Wow, Chris, that IS an accomplishment!  I'm not sure I could do that....especially sitting across from someone who was actually eating!  It's funny cause I had decided to concentrate on that this week myself.  I have been noticing lately that I am eating a meal, whether at a restaurant or at home, and I become very aware before I am finished with what's on my plate...THAT I AM FULL!  This is a totally new concept for me, cause usually if I do feel that fullness I just keep eating til everything is gone...and then still go on for seconds on occasion. Holly...I'm gonna get that book...sounds like it's exactly my problem!  I've been thinking of switching from the Flex Points to Core in WW and need to be really aware of satiety (sp?) levels to do that.  Gonna really concentrate on whether it's physical hunger and my level this week and also when I'm full.  It sounds so simplistic and a "normal" person would probably say...what are they talking about?  I think this is the whole difference between "us" and "them". Well...have a 7:30AM weigh in at WW this morning so cross your fingers for me.  Have had a really good week food wise, but my scales don't reflect it...we'll see.

Keeping my fingers crossed.  You are doing great at WW, I'm so jealous! :)

Only one pound this week...BOO!  But, I said my goal was 50lb this year, so I should be satisfied with one/week.  I was just soooo good...should have lost at least 15 LOL.

That was great! I take it you had eaten supper already, so good for you to not "have to" get at least dessert!

I have only done that a handful of times in my life - go inside and not order at all. Usually, I drive by.

GO CHRIS! HE'S OUR MAN! IF HE CAN'T DO IT, NO ONE CAN! (*Waving and shaking pom pom's*)