As long as I can remember, I have been in love with food. It’s true and this affair has been torrid at times. I don’t just like food, I love food. I can remember as far back as when I was a little girl, if I was invited to a friend’s house for a play date my first thought wouldn’t be what are we going to play, but what will they have for snack!
Over the years this infatuation has grown to an obsession at times. Of course there were times in my life when I was just too busy to worry about food and it’s feelings. Those were the times that I was in control of the relationship. Unfortunately, there were times when I was weak and I would let food run the show. The most difficult time was when I was pregnant. I was so distracted by my excitement of having a baby for the first time, I just let food handle things for me. Especially lunchtime, it was cheese steaks and hoagies for lunch all the time, and don’t forget the gallons chocolate milk (gotta get that dairy in for the baby). I would let food convince me me that I “needed” to eat these things. I even went out one night for a Chinese food feast because someone told me that Chinese food would bring on labor. What was I thinking? Before you know it by the end of my pregnancy I was over 210 pounds! I was 130 when I got pregnant, sure the baby weighed over 10 pounds but the rest was all me and it was all foods fault. How could I let food do this to me? But I love food, and I can’t live without it. As much as I wanted to lose weight I didn’t want to give up the foods I love, there has to be a compromise.
The relationship with food that people have is different for everyone, but those of you who have struggled with weight know that it is a serious relationship. It’s not that simple to just give up the foods you love and since we need to eat to actually live, we have to learn how to live together happily. The main problem most of us have is letting food control our lives. That is not an easy task, especially when food has been such a major player in your life. So I convinced “food” that we needed some relationship counseling. First, I thought about important times in my life and I realized that one of the first things I always remember is the food. For example, I was looking through old pictures once with my mom and there was a picture of a row of tables covered with lunch meat, rolls, salads, cake, homemade Italian cookies and much more. I’m staring at this picture and I realize that there are no people in it! I asked my mom, what is this picture from? She looked closely to see the name on the cake and could see it was my christening. This is crazy, then I started thinking some more about events. I’m sure you can think of some important times, like weddings and vacations. Food seems to always be the focal point. I can remember working Saturdays during tax season and every week it we would take turns bringing in a special breakfast. I haven’t worked there for almost ten years and I can still vividly remember the pastries that one of the assistants brought one day.
Now we all know that food will always be an important part of our lives. I can’t imagine having even a small get together without having something to offer my guests. But, it doesn’t have to take over the party and be the center of attention. Just recognizing the impact food has is the first step in controlling the situation. The next step is to remember stop and think about what is happening around you before food takes over. The best thing you can do before any special occasion or even just sitting down for lunch or dinner is to make sure you are not over hungry. We’ve all done it, skipped meals because we are going out to dinner for “girls” night. What ends up happening? You get there and you barely say hello to everyone, all you can think about is where is the appetizer. Next thing you know, your pants are busting and you feel guilty that you couldn’t control yourself. Have a light breakfast and lunch that day, and maybe eat an apple in the car on the way to the party. Something light just before you arrive will help curb your appetite, but not be too much so that you can still enjoy the food. I think it is important that you do enjoy the food and also enjoy the company. Don’t forget why you are there and try to keep your attention on the event as a whole, food is just one part of it.
I know that is sounds easy and I won’t lie and tell you that it is. What I can tell you is that it takes practice and if you want to change your relationship with food for the better and still enjoy food’s company, it is worth the time and the effort. I still have my moments ( I can’t look at a butter packet the same way anymore), but I forgive myself, learn from it and move forward. Don’t fight with food, learn to live with food and you will live happlily ever after.
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