food as fuel... and other stuff
I have never bought into the food as fuel mantra. I love food and try to make my food choices work with my Rny. I appreciate the work of food bloggers that feel the same way.
And I would love some fresh baked bread Kelly!
Deb T.
You know what I consider one of the best gifts about this process. I did not have a good appreciation for fresh food. I love fresh veggies. I am still not so big on fruit but I eat it every now and again. But what surprises me is I like things without having to put salt or anything else on it! I used to be the salt queen.
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
I agree with pretty much everything here, including food as fuel. That is, I agree with the developmental reasons why we're hardwired to certain tastes. I also agree with the social components of food - being of italian heritage, how could I not see the positive symbolism of caring for others thru food? And I agree with sometimes using food as a comfort, a reward, or just for the pleasure of good food. But I also appreciate the value of food as what the body needs to survive. The problem lies in where we go too much exclusively in one direction or the other. I feel grateful to this surgery in helping me see the food as fuel part, because for me, that's something that was missing.
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
But other times I try to make it as enjoyable as possible.
Food for me now is 70% fuel... 30% fun.
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
on 2/18/12 11:45 pm
I see something unnatural about trying to pretend humans don't use food as a social lubricant and bonding instrument. There's a REASON we react to it on such a deep, chemical level.
I'm very much looking forward to Thanksgiving dinners, special birthday meals, winter baking, and special occasion breakfasts for my kids. But I can totally do that from a healthier perspective and make good choices. I think, all too often, people use social settings to take advantage of "safety in numbers" and make really unhealthy decisions.
It's not healthy to eat 2 dozen deep fried chicken wings. But if you're at a party, suddenly, it's totally okay. I mentioned Thanksgiving--another blatant example. We're EXPECTED to stuff ourselves silly with carb and fat-heavy foods, and not just for one day, but ALL day, and the next day too. When girls go out for ladies' night, it's an opportunity to bond over massive amounts of alcohol and dessert. People are sold these ridiculous buckets of popcorn and soda at movie theatres because that's just become the new normal.
The social expectations of food have gotten so overblown, and that's what dangerous.
If we can learn to pare down our servings and make our selections healthier and more appropriate to our goals, then I don't see a single thing wrong with enjoying the beauty of food. And it IS beautiful. It's colorful and flavorful, so versatile. We should definitely enjoy it, but do so without abusing it.
Check out my video blog! www.youtube.com/user/HappilyShrinking/videos
Highest weight: 269. Surgery weight: 233. Goal weight: 144, and then we'll see..
