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Rewiring The Reward Circuitry of My Brain: At my workplace yesterday I was having one of those blah, I don't want to do this mundane type of work kind of day which switched on my I am hungry brain.
All day I battled with this false hunger. My mind was trying to justify all kinds of silly thoughts like, "I should attack that bag of Cherry Tootsie Roll Pops because it would be nice to eat these while I am working. At 60 calories a pop my calories for the day would have been eaten up with empty nutrition so I resisted but quite honestly was thinking about some kind of food reward all day long. Ends up I had 1710 calories for the day which was higher then usual but not devastating because I tracked what I was eating which is a major help during these periods of false hunger. Towards the end of the evening I ended up eating a few mandarins and cookies but the damage could have been a lot worse if my false hunger brain had the chance to take over. I know myself too well and would have gone through that whole bag of cherry tootsie roll pops and ended up in a sugar comma.
I am thankful that I know the difference between real and false hunger. I listened to music, drank hot tea, water, and still the constant "I am hungry message played in my head like a broken record". I am learning to change this thought pattern which has been engrained in my mind since the day I was born. When I was a baby and felt uncomfortable, I would cry, which resulted in something to eat. Not much has changed except now I am recognizing the uncomfortableness and instead of seeking food I am gaining knowledge and learning to distract myself in healthful ways because too much of a good thing (Reward of food) makes too much of me, which makes me happy for a short term but unhappy in the long term.
The following text is from a friend named Violetta. I pondered the words as I never quite thought of food in this way before. This is a repeat but I have found repetition is necessary in order to change up a long time habit and pattern.
By Violetta:
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!
Food has a direct effect on our appetite or willingness to inquire to discern what is true, to do the work of returning ourselves to what we love. Food - as matter turned to spirit - is the direct connection between the physical and the spiritual, between what we put into our mouth and what we feel in our hearts: Passion, strength, Joy cannot take root in exhausted, burdened half-dead bodies. (sugar commas,malnutrition,starvation etc:) by Vio
Returning to what we truly love is a reward worth working towards. In life there are so many distractions, should do's, or quick fixes. This FatSecret life takes patience and committment to follow the path of En-ligthen-up:)This is not a Die-t it is a Live-it. Let's make this journey together because the reward of health and finding our authentic self is so worth the effort! TOWANDA!!!!!
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 Comments
The I am still hungry feeling is a tough one to beat, and honestly I don't think it every really goes away. I think we learn to deal with it and to know the difference between I am hungry and I am just bored so I am going to eat is the big thing. I have those attacks too, and usually it is when I am at work doing data entry its like "man i should go raid my bosses candy jar, she has so many good candies." and then I go, get the candies and look up the nutritional information and am like "wait, wth am I doing? this is ridiculous why would I eat this and spend XX amount of calories on something that is pure sugar." I have found that if I keep a bag of nuts in my desk (which i have pre-measured for 1 serving) that I can munch on that mindlessly and still know that they are healthy and worth the calories.
09 Dec 10 by member: pixidaisy
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Lisa, you did so well and I am proud of you. I could easily eat up 3000cal with such a strong false hunger.. I am with you and we're on this journey together. Thanks for your precious insight for me. Live, Laugh, Love..
09 Dec 10 by member: happynow
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Great job Lisa, starving the hunger monster. You are an inspiration to us all. This time of year it must be aweful to be in an office full of tempting things. I like the idea of having the almonds on hand for a snack attack too. Thank you Lisa.
09 Dec 10 by member: Cindy Thompson
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Great post, Lisa! I needed to read this because I've been dealing with the same thing this week. It really is about replacing the bad-habit wiring that has been burned into our brain circuitry. Each time you succeed in resisting temptation, the new wiring gets a little stronger. We can do it!
09 Dec 10 by member: cocobutt
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Thanks for being an ever-consistent buddy, Lisa! I appreciate you always taking the time to comment! You're doing awesome! Keep it up!
09 Dec 10 by member: Adaram
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We are doing it! This is the great news about all of this and what a blessing our frienship on F.S. is. Without F.S. I would not get this kind of support unless I joined Weight Watchers but in their meeting group it is only about an hour so their isn't a lot of time to sort all of this mind-spirit-body connection stuff out. I was thinking how food is the great pacifier in life. It can make a baby quiet down. How very uncomfortable these new borns must be feeling as they adjust to life in a vulnerable body. Food tames the savage hunger beast of the uncomfortable place we are in. The emptiness we feel when we are not filling ourself with love, by loving the ones we're with and doing things we love. What are you crazy in love about? Today, as I sit down at my desk I will appreciate the work I have in front of me and approach it with love. I'll let you know how this mind shift works out for me..I may be going on a rant of some kind but I want to refocus and change my perception about the way I spend my time and live my life. Thanks buddies! TOWANDA!!!!
09 Dec 10 by member: Lisa Online
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great job staying away from the tootsie pops- they are a huge temptation!!! I totally agree on the false hunger pangs. I have to remember to tell myself they are fake!!!
09 Dec 10 by member: sharonfriz
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Wow I am impressed about not eating the tootsie pops. Those are my favorites but only the chocolate ones. They can not be in my house.
Good job.
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You can turn on a dime if make up your mind to. Lately, I've been a little lax allowing my weight to creep up to new highs. I hope that I can make that very turn in the next few days (perfect fast so far today). Then, I will be able to say "Towanda!" again. Have a good night Lisa!
09 Dec 10 by member: information
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LOL!!! Can I frame your opening sentence on my wall??? Wait.. actually..the whole journal entry!!! ;-) Favourite line: "Too much of a good thing makes too much of me." Your humilty is your best quality, girlfriend. ;-) Congrats getting through the day at the impressive, RESTRAINED amount of 1710. Not me last night or the night before, lol. Stopping and getting back on track is a powerful strength, and a gift much appreciated. ;-) Keep up the great positive thinking, Lisa! But most of all, thanks for sharing it with us. :)
10 Dec 10 by member: Bible Bliss
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Lisa, that takes some real willpower and you did great! I, too, love that sentence....too much of a good thing, makes too much of me! lol Have a great Friday!
10 Dec 10 by member: ctlss
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From your every post I learn things and get lots of inspiration.Thank you.
10 Dec 10 by member: lotus2009
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False hunger??? I like that one... We often use emotional hunger but is it really emotional hunger? BTW what is over eating? I still have not seen a cleat answer to that one because in some way shape or form we all over eat.
I battle that at work all day and every day since we train people we have to bring in food for them and thus every time i get water there are those twinkies, cookies, pretzels and whatever else junk they put on that table... I swear if I were to eat daily that stuff I would not fit through door because when I start I don't stop too easily so I applaud you on keeping to plan and putting fourth your goals first then food!
I agree with body bliss on that line... Now is there such thing as too much Lisa? Well maybe if she grew but girl she is shrinking LOL.
It is empowerment to be able to get back on track in an instant
11 Dec 10 by member: gizmonel
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Lisa Online's Weight History
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