The Afters

*like*    :) (because you guys writing together would be awesome!)

Oh yeah, Ms. Regrets visits me all too often. Especially when I KNOW I can't tolerate dairy or wheat products. Then, when the stench & cramps & trots come on, I ask myself "Why? Why do you do this to yourself?"

But I am getting better. When those emotional eating hunger pangs call my name, I only give in to a piece of fruit or some protein. I love soy chips, but the salt does me in. Can we say 'swollen cow?'

I agree with the concept of the "afters" but I try to change it somewhat by giving myself permission, then not beating me up for making those decisions.  I know you can't do that all the time or we would end up back at 200+.  But I didn't do this to diet all my life.  I need to learn to eat responsibily and occasionally that means being off program.  Most of the time, I just get another protein drink or hot something to drink and the hunger goes away.

I also love the Walter idea. 

Yeah, see the concept, to me, of thinking of how you'll feel AFTER you eat something is a bit different from dieting and, I suspect, what I'm speaking of and what you are speaking of is a bit different as well.

There is a distinction between making a conscious decision to have a treat every now and again and self-destructive eating.

I make conscious decisions to have a treat every now and again. In those instances my food demons aren't really in that conversation. On my birthday, I had a sliver of the cake someone bought for me. During Christmas I had a few cookies. Every Wednesday night I let the old ladies at my church ply me with carbs.

These are decisions I've made as a result of what I can live with for the rest of my life. Self destructive eating, however, is an entirely different monster for me. I am a food addict and so the distinction becomes important.

Destructive eating is when, despite many, many, many reasons why eating will cause me pain (I am already full, have reached my sugar limit or "amount I can eat before I know I'll dump," or my recent marvel, "you know your blood sugar is gonna crash HARD after you eat that)...destructive eating is when in the face of all THAT, I still eat something I should not. And the resulting feelings are not pretty.

So I get what you are saying about giving permission to have a treat every now and again and I do.

I do not, however, EVER give myself permission to try to kill myself with food. And that's where The Afters come into play.

Excellent post!

 Very good. I'm pretty good at turning away from anything with sugar, but am extremely weak when it comes to chips. The Afters. Something I need to think more about as I reach for the bag. Definitely like the idea of naming the temptation in order to throw the temptation out of the room. Hmmm....What do I call it......

Love this post! Nik, I totally identify with all you said. It's when you KNOW what the results will be and still give in to those demons- that's truly an addiction, even if some people don't believe in food addiction.
I am dealing big time with my demons these days, so I'm going to try this, both talking to them and treating them like kids and telling THEM what to do!! It can't hurt and may help!!

Thanks!!