food as fuel... and other stuff

I've been thinking about this for a few days and I'm not sure I can put it into words right.  And be warned, I'm gonna be rambling.

I hear people say a lot that we have to learn to look at food as fuel for our bodies instead of looking at food as entertainment or comfort, etc.  I agree that it's important to look at food as fuel, because it is fuel.  It helps me to make good food choices when I look at what nutrients food has that my body needs.

But food is not just fuel.  It's a lot more than that.  At least, it is for many people.

If food was just fuel it would be boring.  Food is fun.  Or at least, it can be fun.  It can be exciting.  Meals can be social occasions.  And I don't think there is anything wrong with that, as long as we are still making good food choices, as least most of the time.

And food is comforting sometimes, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that, as long as we are mostly making good food choices and as long as food is not the only way we have to comfort ourselves.

I think food is also a way we communicate - if I bake some muffins for my new neighbors, it's a way of telling them I welcome them to the neighborhood.  It's a way we show we care about people - if I have a friend that lost her job and I bake her favorite bread, it's a way of showing she's on my mind and I care.  Now, I don't think it's a good think if the only way we can tell someone we care is to feed them, especially if we are feeing them unhealthy food.  But I don't think there is anything wrong with using food to communicate sometimes.

Thoughts?

I just blogged about this. See my profile.

(Hi Kelly)

 Most peoplel have a unique relationship with food because it's not only something necessary for our bodies to live but it's also pleasureable to eat and there are so many different things to eat. For instance we need water and liquids too but it's not as addictive or enticing as food. We need clothes to stay warm and there are lots of different ways to dress but few people have a problem with it. Food is fuel but it also satisfies an emotional need we all have and it can be abused so easily. It's hard since life literally revolves around food. It won't for me so much anymore (I hope) but let's face it, every day we have to decide what to eat, what to make for dinner, what we need at the grocery store, what to make for a party, etc. Food is fuel but it's so much more than that. It's hard to find a  healthy balance. I'm hoping this surgery will help me find that balance by taking away the cravings and hunger I had before. 

I hope you find a balance, too.  I'm still working on that.  I doubt RNY will take away your cravings, though.  You may not feel hungry for a while after surgery, but the hunger does come back for most people, too.

 Yes, I know. I have found that right now my cravings are reduced - for instance there's been a bag of delicious chocolate hearts on my kitchen table all week that I got for my man and my daughter and I normally would not be able to resist them but now I can't have them and don't want to test my pouch for dumping. But I do crave things like popcorn and a toasted bagel dripping with peanut butter. I hope my pouch never allows me to eat as much again. I am fine with having cravings still, but hopefully I won't defeat my pouch and eat past them and return to my old eating habits. I'm afraid of my hunger returning and will have to have a plan for what to do to avoid giving in to my cravings. But I'm hoping that the fear of dumping will be enough of an incentive not to try having the things I gave up (sweets and fatty foods). 

I only say this from recent experience: Allowing fear of dumping to handle your cravings is not a healthy approach...AND it doesn't work. I eat three meals and three snacks. My snacks I view as fuel most of the time. Not allowing myself to get too hungry by fueling every 3 hours is the best method I have personally found to work. I have read on this site of others that have experienced it also. If I have a craving I try to identify why: head hunger, emotional upset, not enough calories at last feeding, or I truly just want to indulge a little. When I keep fueled up and hydrated cravings decrease and are easily met. I am only 8 months out but so far that has been my experience. Karen

That sounds very logical,healthy, and balanced. I'm glad itworks for you. I'm not saying I won't eat like you do but that when I do eat, I will choose foods that are healthy and not loaded with empty calories and fat.

Ok, I can't hold my tongue worth a damn.

The notion that food is ever only supposed to be fuel is absolutely RIDICULOUS. As humans we aren't designed to regard food that way. We are biochemically engineered to gravitate toward foods we enjoy.

For instance humans, by nature, tend to gravitate away extremely bitter foods because in the beginning of time that signaled something poisonous. There are studies that show most humans gravitate toward sweet foods, which in the beginning of time meant fruit. There are chemicals in our brains that make connections between foods we like and nutrients we need so that it can create a craving if we get deficient.

Need I go on?

I HATE when people say food should only be fuel. True, it should not be our psychologist, best friend, boy friend, absent mama or higher power, but we, as humans, are meant to enjoy food.

Whew! Hadda get that out.

I think the reason we gravitate toward sweet is because in the beginning of time, that meant breast milk.

Ah...good point.