Re: Just because it's legal doesn't mean...

[Guest guest]

I'm thinking about this. I do know that I'm always surprised what I find when I check the cupboard contents for dates -- why didn't we use up some of our favorites? Just because they were out of sight, so out of mind, I suspect.

So maybe it would make some sense to put the Cheese-its in the cupboard and the asparagus on the counter? Or the cookies in the closed cupboard and the green beans in the open shelves. Good point, I may play with this a bit.

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2011 12:06 PMSubject: Just because it's legal doesn't mean...

....that I have to have it lying around in plain sight where every time I see if, I reach out and grab a handful. Yesterday when I went down to the basement to get something out of the downstairs fridge, I saw a bag of pistachios that my mom had brought to me from out of town, and I thought that maybe someone would like to set them, because, after all, it's a shame for nuts to go rancid hanging out in the basement for long periods of time. So they are now on the kitchen table, and I'm allowed to eat them, which I am now doing every single time I walk through the kitchen. This is something that I know about myself--if there is something yummy in front of me, I'll probably eat some of it, whether I'm hungry or not. So it seems reasonable to me to not have those things in plain sight. I don't buy potato chips because I think they're crap and I don't want to be eating them. They're not illegal; I can eat them whenever I want, and I do, when

they're available at parties or events, but I don't see any reason to have them in the house. My boys like corn chips, and melt cheese on them, and make bean dip for them, but it was another thing that I would always eat if I saw it. So we made a deal; I would buy them, but they had to live in the pantry and not on top of the fridge. That way, if I really wanted corn chips, I could get them out and have some, but I didn't have to see them all the time, and thus eat them when I didn'tt really want them. There's ice cream in the basement freezer, and my son sometimes goes down there (the stairs are steep and it's kind of scary down there), but I rarely do. I'm starting to think I don't really even like ice cream all that much,though I wouldn't have known that had it stayed upstairs where I'd be prompted to eat it all the time.I know this is kind of a light topic, after all the heavy things folks have been writing about (and I totally

sympathize--when my husband left ten years ago, I had no idea how I was going to get through it, and I did gain a lot of weight, but after I got done with being sad, which took about three years, I really started rediscovering things that made me happy and were very fulfilling), but there it is anyway. I figure this forum cn handle a variety of topics, and it's what i've been thinking about this morning.Tilley

[Guest guest]

I agree with you! I do not keep former binge foods in my house. If I truly get a

craving for them, I do allow myself to have them. I just go out and get them.

Doesn't happen very often though. For me, keeping those foods around the house

would often trigger cravings I wouldn't otherwise have, I think.

Saturday, I decided I really wanted choc ice cream. I got so busy, that I

finally forgot about it. If it was a real craving, it would have stuck with me.

Had I had ice cream in the house, I would've eaten it. But it wasn't here, and I

was fine without it.

I keep a variety of nutritious foods at home, that's it.

>

> ...that I have to have it lying around in plain sight where every time I see

if, I reach out and grab a handful. Yesterday when I went down to the basement

to get something out of the downstairs fridge, I saw a bag of pistachios that my

mom had brought to me from out of town, and I thought that maybe someone would

like to set them, because, after all, it's a shame for nuts to go rancid hanging

out in the basement for long periods of time. So they are now on the kitchen

table, and I'm allowed to eat them, which I am now doing every single time I

walk through the kitchen.

>

> This is something that I know about myself--if there is something yummy in

front of me, I'll probably eat some of it, whether I'm hungry or not. So it

seems reasonable to me to not have those things in plain sight. I don't buy

potato chips because I think they're crap and I don't want to be eating them.

They're not illegal; I can eat them whenever I want, and I do, when they're

available at parties or events, but I don't see any reason to have them in the

house. My boys like corn chips, and melt cheese on them, and make bean dip for

them, but it was another thing that I would always eat if I saw it. So we made

a deal; I would buy them, but they had to live in the pantry and not on top of

the fridge. That way, if I really wanted corn chips, I could get them out and

have some, but I didn't have to see them all the time, and thus eat them when I

didn'tt really want them. There's ice cream in the basement freezer, and my son

sometimes goes down there (the stairs are steep and it's kind of scary down

there), but I rarely do. I'm starting to think I don't really even like ice

cream all that much,though I wouldn't have known that had it stayed upstairs

where I'd be prompted to eat it all the time.

>

> I know this is kind of a light topic, after all the heavy things folks have

been writing about (and I totally sympathize--when my husband left ten years

ago, I had no idea how I was going to get through it, and I did gain a lot of

weight, but after I got done with being sad, which took about three years, I

really started rediscovering things that made me happy and were very

fulfilling), but there it is anyway. I figure this forum cn handle a variety of

topics, and it's what i've been thinking about this morning.

>

> Tilley

>

[Guest guest]

Tilley, a part of IE also suggests eating when hungry and not every time we see something we like.  And it also suggests sitting down to eat without distractions and being fully aware of what we are eating.  I do know what you mean though because there were several foods I could not even buy or have in the house without eating them.  So  I don't buy them.  I guess I haven't legalized them but it works for me. Sandy

 

....that I have to have it lying around in plain sight where every time I see if, I reach out and grab a handful. Yesterday when I went down to the basement to get something out of the downstairs fridge, I saw a bag of pistachios that my mom had brought to me from out of town, and I thought that maybe someone would like to set them, because, after all, it's a shame for nuts to go rancid hanging out in the basement for long periods of time. So they are now on the kitchen table, and I'm allowed to eat them, which I am now doing every single time I walk through the kitchen.

This is something that I know about myself--if there is something yummy in front of me, I'll probably eat some of it, whether I'm hungry or not. So it seems reasonable to me to not have those things in plain sight. I don't buy potato chips because I think they're crap and I don't want to be eating them. They're not illegal; I can eat them whenever I want, and I do, when they're available at parties or events, but I don't see any reason to have them in the house. My boys like corn chips, and melt cheese on them, and make bean dip for them, but it was another thing that I would always eat if I saw it. So we made a deal; I would buy them, but they had to live in the pantry and not on top of the fridge. That way, if I really wanted corn chips, I could get them out and have some, but I didn't have to see them all the time, and thus eat them when I didn'tt really want them. There's ice cream in the basement freezer, and my son sometimes goes down there (the stairs are steep and it's kind of scary down there), but I rarely do. I'm starting to think I don't really even like ice cream all that much,though I wouldn't have known that had it stayed upstairs where I'd be prompted to eat it all the time.

I know this is kind of a light topic, after all the heavy things folks have been writing about (and I totally sympathize--when my husband left ten years ago, I had no idea how I was going to get through it, and I did gain a lot of weight, but after I got done with being sad, which took about three years, I really started rediscovering things that made me happy and were very fulfilling), but there it is anyway. I figure this forum cn handle a variety of topics, and it's what i've been thinking about this morning.

Tilley

[Guest guest]

Tilley,

I have come to the same sorts of decisions as you have about not keeping

super-appealing foods right out in plain view, where the temptation will hit me

between the eyes when I'm not hungry and not even thinking about food, but have

to be in the kitchen to do chores or feed a child or what-have-you.

After trying it both ways, I've decided it works best for me to choose some

appealing treat or two each time I shop, but not EVERYTHING that might be yummy.

I'm a good cook, but if I am surrounded by junk food, I often just eat that

instead of taking a few minutes to put a real meal together. But I do want to

have some special treats around, just to remind myself there is nothing wrong

with eating those vinegar potato chips I like so much. But they're not a

necessity, and the next shopping trip I might choose another type of treat

altogether. Or nothing, if nothing jumps out at me. Whatever.

Jane

>

> ...that I have to have it lying around in plain sight where every time I see

if, I reach out and grab a handful. Yesterday when I went down to the basement

to get something out of the downstairs fridge, I saw a bag of pistachios that my

mom had brought to me from out of town, and I thought that maybe someone would

like to set them, because, after all, it's a shame for nuts to go rancid hanging

out in the basement for long periods of time. So they are now on the kitchen

table, and I'm allowed to eat them, which I am now doing every single time I

walk through the kitchen.

>

> This is something that I know about myself--if there is something yummy in

front of me, I'll probably eat some of it, whether I'm hungry or not. So it

seems reasonable to me to not have those things in plain sight. I don't buy

potato chips because I think they're crap and I don't want to be eating them.

They're not illegal; I can eat them whenever I want, and I do, when they're

available at parties or events, but I don't see any reason to have them in the

house. My boys like corn chips, and melt cheese on them, and make bean dip for

them, but it was another thing that I would always eat if I saw it. So we made

a deal; I would buy them, but they had to live in the pantry and not on top of

the fridge. That way, if I really wanted corn chips, I could get them out and

have some, but I didn't have to see them all the time, and thus eat them when I

didn'tt really want them. There's ice cream in the basement freezer, and my son

sometimes goes down there (the stairs are steep and it's kind of scary down

there), but I rarely do. I'm starting to think I don't really even like ice

cream all that much,though I wouldn't have known that had it stayed upstairs

where I'd be prompted to eat it all the time.

>

> I know this is kind of a light topic, after all the heavy things folks have

been writing about (and I totally sympathize--when my husband left ten years

ago, I had no idea how I was going to get through it, and I did gain a lot of

weight, but after I got done with being sad, which took about three years, I

really started rediscovering things that made me happy and were very

fulfilling), but there it is anyway. I figure this forum cn handle a variety of

topics, and it's what i've been thinking about this morning.

>

> Tilley

>

[Guest guest]

I'm just discovering that for myself too; that I don't have to have tempting

food in front of my nose, because it's just too easy to pop it into my mouth

without even thinking.

n the way home from work tonight I was feeling pretty hungry. Then, I spied a

candy bar in my purse. I started to unwrap it and realized that it would make

me feel icky and would ruin my dinner - again. Which I've done numerous times

on the way home from work. I put it down. And I habitually picked it up again.

I probably did that two or three times. Then I tossed it to the other side of

the car so I wouldn't pick it up unconsciously again and find it in my mouth.

So - yep - no need to tantalize myself and trip over the habit of grabbing

what's there.

My ex had an affair; well numerous ones in fact but I only discovered that

later. My self esteem was devastated by the whole thing. I'm proud of

for not eating and choosing to go for a walk. Took a lot of strength and

self-caring. Kudos.

>

> ...that I have to have it lying around in plain sight where every time I see

if, I reach out and grab a handful. Yesterday when I went down to the basement

to get something out of the downstairs fridge, I saw a bag of pistachios that my

mom had brought to me from out of town, and I thought that maybe someone would

like to set them, because, after all, it's a shame for nuts to go rancid hanging

out in the basement for long periods of time. So they are now on the kitchen

table, and I'm allowed to eat them, which I am now doing every single time I

walk through the kitchen.

>

> This is something that I know about myself--if there is something yummy in

front of me, I'll probably eat some of it, whether I'm hungry or not. So it

seems reasonable to me to not have those things in plain sight. I don't buy

potato chips because I think they're crap and I don't want to be eating them.

They're not illegal; I can eat them whenever I want, and I do, when they're

available at parties or events, but I don't see any reason to have them in the

house. My boys like corn chips, and melt cheese on them, and make bean dip for

them, but it was another thing that I would always eat if I saw it. So we made

a deal; I would buy them, but they had to live in the pantry and not on top of

the fridge. That way, if I really wanted corn chips, I could get them out and

have some, but I didn't have to see them all the time, and thus eat them when I

didn'tt really want them. There's ice cream in the basement freezer, and my son

sometimes goes down there (the stairs are steep and it's kind of scary down

there), but I rarely do. I'm starting to think I don't really even like ice

cream all that much,though I wouldn't have known that had it stayed upstairs

where I'd be prompted to eat it all the time.

>

> I know this is kind of a light topic, after all the heavy things folks have

been writing about (and I totally sympathize--when my husband left ten years

ago, I had no idea how I was going to get through it, and I did gain a lot of

weight, but after I got done with being sad, which took about three years, I

really started rediscovering things that made me happy and were very

fulfilling), but there it is anyway. I figure this forum cn handle a variety of

topics, and it's what i've been thinking about this morning.

>

> Tilley

>

[Guest guest]

I'm just discovering that for myself too; that I don't have to have tempting

food in front of my nose, because it's just too easy to pop it into my mouth

without even thinking.

n the way home from work tonight I was feeling pretty hungry. Then, I spied a

candy bar in my purse. I started to unwrap it and realized that it would make

me feel icky and would ruin my dinner - again. Which I've done numerous times

on the way home from work. I put it down. And I habitually picked it up again.

I probably did that two or three times. Then I tossed it to the other side of

the car so I wouldn't pick it up unconsciously again and find it in my mouth.

So - yep - no need to tantalize myself and trip over the habit of grabbing

what's there.

My ex had an affair; well numerous ones in fact but I only discovered that

later. My self esteem was devastated by the whole thing. I'm proud of

for not eating and choosing to go for a walk. Took a lot of strength and

self-caring. Kudos.

>

> ...that I have to have it lying around in plain sight where every time I see

if, I reach out and grab a handful. Yesterday when I went down to the basement

to get something out of the downstairs fridge, I saw a bag of pistachios that my

mom had brought to me from out of town, and I thought that maybe someone would

like to set them, because, after all, it's a shame for nuts to go rancid hanging

out in the basement for long periods of time. So they are now on the kitchen

table, and I'm allowed to eat them, which I am now doing every single time I

walk through the kitchen.

>

> This is something that I know about myself--if there is something yummy in

front of me, I'll probably eat some of it, whether I'm hungry or not. So it

seems reasonable to me to not have those things in plain sight. I don't buy

potato chips because I think they're crap and I don't want to be eating them.

They're not illegal; I can eat them whenever I want, and I do, when they're

available at parties or events, but I don't see any reason to have them in the

house. My boys like corn chips, and melt cheese on them, and make bean dip for

them, but it was another thing that I would always eat if I saw it. So we made

a deal; I would buy them, but they had to live in the pantry and not on top of

the fridge. That way, if I really wanted corn chips, I could get them out and

have some, but I didn't have to see them all the time, and thus eat them when I

didn'tt really want them. There's ice cream in the basement freezer, and my son

sometimes goes down there (the stairs are steep and it's kind of scary down

there), but I rarely do. I'm starting to think I don't really even like ice

cream all that much,though I wouldn't have known that had it stayed upstairs

where I'd be prompted to eat it all the time.

>

> I know this is kind of a light topic, after all the heavy things folks have

been writing about (and I totally sympathize--when my husband left ten years

ago, I had no idea how I was going to get through it, and I did gain a lot of

weight, but after I got done with being sad, which took about three years, I

really started rediscovering things that made me happy and were very

fulfilling), but there it is anyway. I figure this forum cn handle a variety of

topics, and it's what i've been thinking about this morning.

>

> Tilley

>

[Guest guest]

Excellent topic this - the See Food fight ;-) I have found that its a fine line

for me too. If I 'ban' an item from being in my house, I'm much more inclined to

desire it (hunger or not). I have learned that when I do bring keep such a thing

- especially something highly charged for me like candy - I do better if I keep

it in a cabinet instead of out in plain sight. That way I have to remember its

there and make an effort to get it. That helps to keep me from grabbing 'some'

every time I go near it. In the end I have found that it is a gradual decline in

eating whatever it is that is happening for me. My highly charged items are

slowly but surely moving into plain old food.

Good job Sandarah to toss the candy bar into the back seat and out of reach! I

ended up carrying jerky around as a 'nibble' food because a little would go a

long way for me and it would hold me nicely until I could eat a regular meal

(which I prefer really).

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> I'm just discovering that for myself too; that I don't have to have tempting

food in front of my nose, because it's just too easy to pop it into my mouth

without even thinking.

>

> n the way home from work tonight I was feeling pretty hungry. Then, I spied a

candy bar in my purse. I started to unwrap it and realized that it would make

me feel icky and would ruin my dinner - again. Which I've done numerous times

on the way home from work. I put it down. And I habitually picked it up again.

I probably did that two or three times. Then I tossed it to the other side of

the car so I wouldn't pick it up unconsciously again and find it in my mouth.

>

> So - yep - no need to tantalize myself and trip over the habit of grabbing

what's there.

>

> My ex had an affair; well numerous ones in fact but I only discovered that

later. My self esteem was devastated by the whole thing. I'm proud of

for not eating and choosing to go for a walk. Took a lot of strength and

self-caring. Kudos.

[Guest guest]

Interesting, Tilly. It seems like a force of habit thing for you? Like seeing something triggers you to reach for it? I think that if you're comfortable dealing with that by not having these items out in plain view, than that is a good strategy. You just want to be careful that these items are not forbidden and cause some sort of future binge. As long as you are "allowed" to have them, I don't see the problem. I also don't buy potato chips for the house. I adore potato chips, but I also really hate having processed foods around. So, I don't purchase chips, but if I want them and have access to them (at work or at a party, etc.), I am fully allowed to eat them. So far it has worked for me.

Mimi

Subject: Just because it's legal doesn't mean...To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Sunday, November 6, 2011, 12:06 PM

....that I have to have it lying around in plain sight where every time I see if, I reach out and grab a handful. Yesterday when I went down to the basement to get something out of the downstairs fridge, I saw a bag of pistachios that my mom had brought to me from out of town, and I thought that maybe someone would like to set them, because, after all, it's a shame for nuts to go rancid hanging out in the basement for long periods of time. So they are now on the kitchen table, and I'm allowed to eat them, which I am now doing every single time I walk through the kitchen. This is something that I know about myself--if there is something yummy in front of me, I'll probably eat some of it, whether I'm hungry or not. So it seems reasonable to me to not have those things in plain sight. I don't buy potato chips because I think they're crap and I don't want to be eating them. They're not illegal; I can eat them whenever I want, and I do, when

they're available at parties or events, but I don't see any reason to have them in the house. My boys like corn chips, and melt cheese on them, and make bean dip for them, but it was another thing that I would always eat if I saw it. So we made a deal; I would buy them, but they had to live in the pantry and not on top of the fridge. That way, if I really wanted corn chips, I could get them out and have some, but I didn't have to see them all the time, and thus eat them when I didn'tt really want them. There's ice cream in the basement freezer, and my son sometimes goes down there (the stairs are steep and it's kind of scary down there), but I rarely do. I'm starting to think I don't really even like ice cream all that much,though I wouldn't have known that had it stayed upstairs where I'd be prompted to eat it all the time.I know this is kind of a light topic, after all the heavy things folks have been writing about (and I totally

sympathize--when my husband left ten years ago, I had no idea how I was going to get through it, and I did gain a lot of weight, but after I got done with being sad, which took about three years, I really started rediscovering things that made me happy and were very fulfilling), but there it is anyway. I figure this forum cn handle a variety of topics, and it's what i've been thinking about this morning.Tilley