When we’re in it for the long haul: ice cream is gonna happen. It’s what we do next that matters.
Pearl One
It’s important that I woman-up and admit the truth: I ate a bowl of Kraft Mac & Cheese last night for dinner. I know, it’s highly processed crappazola, and yet, exquisite in its own weird-orange-powdery way. I’m currently at the low-end of my weight-window so I knew that if I had a small cup’s worth, I’d be fine. And this morning the scale said I was good-to-go, but what the scale can’t tell me is: how strong are my smart eating habits after I chowed mac and cheese? Did the mac and cheese help my habits or hurt them? (Well, duh.)
When I seriously detour off the smart eating path, the next morning I pull out my journal and ask myself “why” and “what” questions like why am I mad at myself this morning? Why do I feel unsuccessful today? Why am I feeling disappointed in myself? What does “slipping” off the smart eating path mean to me? What kind of importance do I put on slipping?
Our unconscious mind speaks through our pens and keyboards; after I write in my journal, I can feel space between my heart and the “bad” feelings about overdoing junk-not-food.
I write and write and write, and discovered that when I don’t have the ingredients in the kitchen to create quick grab-able food, I easily get lured to the dark-side. I share what foods I have to have at all times in the kitchen here: the Inspired Eater: Fed Up!.
Learning how to live within our mac-and-cheese world is merely a set of steps to take, a new habit to embed. Each of us have our mac-and-cheese moments, it’s how we guide ourselves through those moments that really count. ♥
Pearl Two
I think it’s important to work hard to dial down the “drama” that tends to descend on us after eating a full meal polishing it off with two slices of cake.
Let me give you some examples of of what I call “drama”:
- “I’m so fat and ugly’ it doesn’t matter what I do.”
- “Some people have fat DNA; smart eating is just hopeless for me.”
- “Women over fifty, can’t lose weight. We’re all just kidding ourselves.”
- “I got on the scale this morning and OMG!! It was a nightmare scale-number.”
See? All drama, nothing actually helpful.
It only makes the diet-cartel even wealthier when we swing back and forth between “I’m so fat and ugly” to “if I cling to this diet, I’ll get thin.” And when you gain again, you’re back to “I’m so fat and ugly.”
Thing is, nobody made it to their preferred weight by haranguing themselves.
Preserving my seventeen-year loss, I’m not all butterflies and unicorns, but I haven’t beaten myself up over the years either.
Instead, if I don’t feel confident about one of my habits or see a scale number that I’m not pleased with, I get curious asking myself: in the chain of events that lead to smart eating choices, where did I slip? (No smart food in the house? Went out to lunch with an eating-buddy? Don’t have a solid plan to rejoin the smart-eating world after I’ve deviated?). Write in your journal about what triggered the events that lead to inhaling the food.
Slowly, over time, when you hear yourself being dramatic, gently replace it with a helpful thought like, “Okay, I don’t love that scale number so much; I’ll write in my journal about where I swerved off-course.”
“Swerving off-course” is part of our new-normal.
Journal in-hand, we can do this. ♥
Pearl Three
In January, we’re talking stress-eating, and how we can walk it out of our daily.
For this pearl, I googled “stress eating” and here’s what I found (even at the Mayo Clinic): everyone’s “solutions” to emotional-eating are fabulous ideas to put into place like tracking your daily food, “decreasing stress”, or “have a hunger reality check.”
Developing the habit of tracking food or learning to manage your hunger are all wonderful, but they don’t address emotional-eating.
We know that stress eating starts with a trigger:
- A terrible day at work.
- An argument with your husband.
- A diagnosis you’re not fond of.
- Adult kids who don’t exactly act “adult.”
When I think of my past experiences with emotional-eating I think of bags of salty chips, gallons of ice cream, huge meals on the regular (assuming that my stomach is supposed to hurt after eating dinner. I once even buttered Saltines for a snack.
Eliminating stress-eating is a slow process, but there are concrete steps you can put into place that’ll mitigate the damage. Get comfortable at going slowly.
I talk about giving up sugar in this post, but the concept applies to any new habit. Create a well thought-out plan for exactly what you’ll do the next time an emotion-bomb goes off.
Pearl Four
Some weeks I struggle to find a book worthy to stand with the other “book-desserts.”
But this isn’t one of them. This week I’m writing Pearl Four first before I write the others. Last night, I started the book and read for over two hours (risking zombie-status the next day from lack of sleep). I was drawm into this story from the first sentence: “when people say ‘terminal’, I think of the airport.”
The two protagonists are thoughtful, funny, and wise. One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin is the book-dessert superstar fiction of 2024 (at least so far). ♥
Pearl Five
Frustration, although quite painful at times, is a very positive and essential part of success.” ♥
Bo Bennett
♥, Wendy
P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!
You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.
I am not an expert, a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse or a nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ♥
13 Comments
So much wisdom here.
I am not an Aldi’s fan. I have tried to like the store and products, but just don’t. However, I love Total cereal and Grape nuts cereal! One of my favorite meals is unsweetened coconut milk yogurt with Grape Nuts and fruit on top!! Not sure if I am the Thriver that suggested that to you though. It is delicious.
Turns out no Total or Grape Nuts at Aldis. The only food items that I like cheese ravioli, various yogurts, cheese and that’s about it. The prices, but to only shop there would mess up my smart eating.
W.
Hello Wendy! I clicked on over here from Linda’s creativity party – I’m glad I did! I am just 50 years old, and navigating weight loss management also, for myself and for my husband. My husband is pre-diabetic, and has an extreme family history of diabetes, so he is more than willing to get healthy with me, which is such a blessing. Within the last 5 years, we have whittled away at foods that seem to bother us. Currently, intermittent fasting, almost keto, almost carnivore is where we are at. We eat meat cooked with animal fat, no potatoes, mostly cruciferous vegetables, no root vegetables. No sugar, other than monkfruit or stevia, which we can eat in small amounts and enjoy. I am currently going to be trying a season of no dairy, as I still suffer from some weight issues, and my naturopathic doctor wants me to try going off dairy. I appreciate your words, and sharing about the journey. I blog also – and look forward to getting to know you better! Many blessings 🙂
Hi Marilyn! Thanks for coming over! I love your blog!! You guys have snow!! I was born and lived in CA for four decades and I never once thought about calling Idaho home. So sad because I hear it’s very nice!
Wendy
I am so glad I clicked on this post. I will pin and revisit and read it again.
I visited you via Randomosity: The Good. The Random. The Fun. v. 4
My links: 27+28. We will be so happy if you share your links with us at SeniorSalonPitStop. Link under BLOGGING.
Thank you Esme. Beautiful name.
W.
Thanks for your kind comment Wendy. Happy new week to you
Happy New Week!! Love it. I’d love to post in site, but I when the like party begins.
Good tips to remember! Visiting from Happy Hearts & Home linkup.
This all really hit home for me. THANK YOU for this honest post!
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
I love your site, Shauna!! You find the most amazing clothes. I found you when you were featuring a super cool bathing suit that you were using as a top. You styled it so beautifully. Remember? A white ruffle.
I hope you’ll stick with me.
Thanks for writing,
Wendy
I am grateful for your tips and resources. This will definitely be added to my bookmarks!
Thank you for sharing at Gma’sPhoto My Sunday Snapshot. Looking forward to seeing you next Sunday!
Take care and best wishes.
Thank you for putting together such a nice link party!!
Wendy