My last post was about emotional eating. And while there are times when my "cravings" are a symptom of something more, I also simply have straight-up CRAVINGS! I've been trying to pay attention to those cravings and the different stages that I go through. Here's what I came up with:
THE CRAVING CYCLE
An example I'm going to use is chili dogs. The other night my boyfriend had made some for himself and I was having one of my usual meals. As soon as I smelled the chili and saw the melty cheese, I knew I wanted one. And BAD.
[2] Try to rationalize eating it
I tried to tell myself that I'd have just ONE and THAT'S IT. And that will fit into my calories. Plus, I should give into my cravings every once in awhile so that I don't over-do it later. So it's okay, right?
[3] "Screw it" mentality
Well, if I'm being honest, I know that just one chili dog wont fill me up. And I'll probably crave another anyways... and they'll be SOOO good. I mine as well just eat however much I want and enjoy it.
(and if I get this far...)
[4] Desperate need to give in
At this point I feel like I absolutely, without a doubt NEED TO EAT A CHILI DOG. I can't think of what will happen if I don't... and I honestly feel like I can't stop myself from giving in.
[5] Resist. Resist. Resist.
I think that says it all. It's literally a mental war... I have to use every trick I have up my sleeve to convince my head not to have any chili dogs. I literally sit, doing nothing but going back & forth in my head - okay I'll eat it; WAIT. NO. YOU DON'T NEED IT; and so on.
[6] Finally, either proud that I didn't eat it or guilty for giving in
This is the end of the craving cycle for me and it's either 100% good or 100% bad. I've either given in or I haven't. I'm proud to say that I DID NOT eat a single chili cheese dog that day :).
This is just an example of what I personally go through when I'm having one of those flat out cravings. Does this sound like what you guys have experienced, or is it completely different for you?
3 HUGS:
Strangely, I haven't been craving anything on the "bad" list yet because I've decided that nothing needs to be on the bad list since I can just make them my healthy way and still have it taste damn good.
But, usually after dinner, I want something really sweet and sometimes it's over my calories for the day. Most of the time I give in. But I've been getting better about it. Skinny Cow gets the best of me on an almost nightly basis. Damn it!
- Jess
http://www.halfofjess.com
I think you've summed it up pretty well...congrats on coming out on the 100% good side.
I think you can add a step in there where you recognize the last time you made the right choice and how you felt about it...hopefully good enough to keep making that right choice over and over again until you KNOW that it okay to indulge.
I'm so glad you posted this. Because I've tried to explain this process to others in my life - but seriously, I only know ONE other person who GETS IT! It's nice to see that others do, too. I consider you to be a "thin" person. That probably makes you want to laugh - but I do because I weight like 100 lbs more than you - argh! But anyway, to know that you struggle with that makes me feel like I'm not so unusual a case than I fear.
Also, come check out my recent entry and see my new "thought process" instead of saying no. It's simple, but might be something for you to try in the middle somewhere of your chili dog process haha!
Good luck to us!
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