Eating on a Schedule

Of course I am reading another book that I picked up last Wednesday. It’s the same author that has been on Oprah quite a bit lately and seems to be the “talk of the town”. I haven’t read her latest book yet but I do own it.  I am talking about Geneen Roth.

 

I bought her older book “Breaking free from Emotional Eating”, and so far, I’m finding it very interesting. I’ve talked about eating mindfully, intuitively, etc for some time and I sort of try to follow that method but sometimes I suck at it. I’m always falling back into old habits as it of course is easier. It’s not easy making life long changes like this but it is something I am going to have to do to let my body get to where it needs to be.

 

For the most part, I don’t overeat, I don’t snack much, and my calorie intake is probably pretty average (under 2000 per day). Mind you, there are some meals that I eat that would be likely almost double of what I should be having. A perfect example would be Sunday night, while in Fernie, we went out for Sushi… and we had a LOT. I think I am still full from that today (if that is even possible).  Anyway, my point is, I don’t plan on counting calories ever again but it is hard to not look at something and decide if I should eat it or not because of the known calorie count in it. Geneen  writes in her book that it is OK to eat whatever I want, whatever I have deprived myself of because I thought I shouldn’t eat it. To absolutely, completely, remove the diet mindset from my day to day activities.

 

But the key is to eat only when you are hungry and decide at that time what you want to eat. I mean, really look inside and eat what you WANT and not what you think you should have.

 

So on the weekend, I took note of a few things: I eat on schedule whether I am hungry or not and if I am cooking a meal, serve it out, I still eat it whether I am hungry or not.  And since I didn’t have to worry about what I was going to eat all day (scheduled snack and meal times), food wasn’t so much on my mind. Now this is pretty easy on a long weekend, away from home, but not sure how it will work during the week when I have to prepare my lunch and snacks for the day. Last night I just basically threw a bunch of fruit and veggies in my lunch bag and will go from there. But I am a prepare ahead lunch and snack making gal and there really isn’t any spontaneous decisions there. I’m eating what I think I want, or will want, and or should have… like fruits, veggies and salads. I guess if I find that come lunch time and I really don’t want what I packed, I can always go to the store and get what I need…. I’m not sure how this is going to work.

 

I’ve still got most of the book to read but so far I really like what she says because it is getting me to think through some stuff before I put anything in my mouth. She wants you to journal everything, which I do to a point, I guess I just need to journal more for awhile.  I may even move the notes to here so I can get feedback….  I plan on reading the book all the way through, then starting at the beginning and using out some of her theories.

 

So to start for today, in the mornings I normally come to work and make my protein shake (Shakeology) first thing (to be eaten by at least 7:00 a.m.), so that I can have my next scheduled snack for 10:00 a.m.. I’ve eaten like this forever – by the clock. So this morning I thought I would wait until I was hungry. And by 9:00 a.m. I still wasn’t hungry but I did make and drink it anyways as I was going into meetings and I didn’t want it to hit me while it would be impossible for me to get anything.

 

This could be an interesting journey.

 

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC day.

Ttyl

Sandra