Day 19 of 84 - Our Relationship with Food

It is a complex relationship. Some people are stress eaters; others don't eat at all. Some people restrict their food severely and binge. Some will vomit.


When did food cease to be merely sustenance; fuel to fill our engines and become a substitue, an obsession, a time waster? Why do we use food to stuff down emotions of stress, depression, anger.

Why do we substitute food for love and acceptance? Its a slippery slope. We start off, perhaps just enjoying good food. But we indulge in too many good meals and not enough activity. The fat starts to pile on. You start to feel uncomfortable in your clothes, in your own skin. Instead of going out and getting active, we eat more. And before you know it 5 years have gone by and you're 50 pounds heavier. How did it happen?

And try to lose it? Why does it go on so easily yet takes a serious amount of sweat equity to remove it?
And why does this only happen to some people and not others?

And then there's the whole issue of portion sizes. We've become so used to supersized portions that we've become supersized ourselves. The level of portion distortion is horrible. And that's Canada. Don't get me started on the U.S. They (I'm not sure "they" are but they should be charged with something ... Yeesh!) have been slowly fattening us up for the kill. Quite literally. Do we have a choice what we eat? Of course we do. But humans are weak. And we love a bargain. I mean, really, do u want to get 4 oz for $10 of whatever or 8 oz for the same price. You get better value for your money, right. Not really.  When you think about the price you pay with your health ....
 
I think we all need to start paying more attention to what we're putting in our mouths and when we're doing it.  One of my pet peeves is that "fast food" is so unbelievably high in carbs. not to mention fat and sodium.  The past 2 1/2 weeks have been brutal.   I've had lunches out almost every day and 4 big dinners.  I feel like I need to detox.  Probably not a bad idea.  I digress.  We need more low fat, high protein, balanced meals ... the tide, I believe, is slowly turning,  Very slowly.  But we have the power to facilitate change.  If we ask for it, they will slowly provide it.
 
And don't forget, if there are underlying issues, and you're really struggling with your relationship with food, don't hesitate to ask for help.  Talk to your doctor, a counsellor, a psychologist.  They can help.  And with the darker months for many of us approaching fast, you might want to try Vitamin D.  I take 2000 mg during the summer and 4,000 to 6,000 during the winter.  It helps keep me out of a depression.
 
So here's to healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.  My quote of the day ... "I've failed over and over and over again, and that is why I succeed."