Eating healthfully: a ramble

[cjsmith]

I eat a staggering amount of Various Things Bad For Me. (Also: I am still not exercising and my feet still hurt. Hey, maybe that's why I'm staggering!) I should note that this is not truly heinous. If I had to stack myself up against all the shoulds in the nutrition world, I might get a grade of something like C+. Still, when I write it all down for a while, that forces a modicum of honesty.

Y'know what's so hard for me about making better eating choices? It's not just one decision. (Well, there's usually one "big" decision, a resolution of some kind. But also --) It's a huge, long, unending, overwhelming list of LITTLE decisions.

F'rex. It's 11:30. My stomach's rumbly. Lunch is in an hour or less. Do I need a snack at such a moment? If so, what will I choose? If I eat a snack, will I eat the same lunch I would otherwise have had?

Let's take a little tour of my office. Over here is the tea, and a mug I love. No, I didn't bring any food in, so let's walk down the hall. What does the break room look like? Ah, a cornucopia of sweet and fatty bounty! Potato chips, Reese's peanut butter cups, Starbursts, Luna and Clif bars, M&Ms, fruit if it's Monday, bagels and cream cheese if it's Tuesday.

When I wander into the kitchen here at work, the chocolate caaaaallllls me. Mmm, CJ, it says in its silky-smooth little chocolatey voice. I would taste sooooo good. Wouldn't I? And then my Amateur Psychologist brain gets into the act. Is this about entitlement, CJ? it asks me. You've been working yourself awfully hard. Don't you deserve a treat? Its cheerful, upbeat contralto is hard to resist. The fruit, if present, is silent. Silly! Fruit can't talk!

If I snag a Reese's, the next voice I hear will be my Amateur Doctor brain. Aren't you descended from Type II diabetics on both sides of the family? You PASS OUT around needles, remember? Do you think that would be some kind of fun adventure? You can't opt back out of that one, you know. The devious Amateur Psychologist agrees: I'm sure you know better ways to take care of yourself. What stops you from doing them? (I think the Amateur Psychologist's name is Janice. Janus? Um, moving along.)

Funny, it's not even Reese's that I want. I want deep delicious dark chocolate. (See, less sugar!) And tea. And a vacation -- a few days where Reese's, or any decisions made when tired and hungry, don't count. And different genes. *sigh*.

Comments

[oddhack.livejournal.com]

Finally, after about a decade of feeling mildly cranky over slowly increasing weight, I decided enough was enough upon reaching another one of those age-related bumps upwards and having my BMI flirting with "obese" instead of "overweight". My dad having angina and then a heart attack may have helped motivationally, too, as did being put on a cholesterol-blocker last year.

I doubt I would ever succeed on a "diet"; what turned out to be the enabling factor in my case was switching from Pepsi to Diet IBC, combined with eating somewhat more fruit and considerably less junk food. Not a dramatic change, but I'm running at a significant calorie deficit now without feeling more than occasionally hungry, and have dropped about 25-30 pounds since last summer. I'm thankful my body is being cooperative (and enjoying the suddenly increased range of wearable pants in my closet :-)

I'm also being reminded that there are a lot of people in the ballroom and swing dance world who have way too much time on their hands such that they are paying attention to people's weight, relationship status, etc. rather than dancing... the number of comments is increasing steadily. I guess it's well-meant, but I'm somewhat appalled that people I barely know socially feel it's OK to make comments to me about my having lost weight.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

A year ago last October I did something similar, although for a much shorter duration. I basically stopped eating high-glycemic foods. I was stunned at the calorie deficit I could run without much in the way of hunger pangs or low blood sugar. Very educational.

Yeah, the comments are probably well-meant... I feel similarly appalled when I show up to a holiday party and fifty percent of the people there feel they need to comment on how long it's been since they've seen me in a dress and don't I clean up nice. Yuck.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Silly! Fruit can't talk!

And yet, chocolate can. :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Exactly! At least that's what I keep noticing.

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

Ah, a cornucopia of sweet and fatty bounty! Potato chips, Reese's peanut butter cups, Starbursts, Luna and Clif bars, M&Ms, fruit if it's Monday, bagels and cream cheese if it's Tuesday.

the Luna & Clif bars don't sound too horrible. some Luna bars are actually kinda good. Could you take a healthier-than-the-others option and sorta nurse it for a while? i think that's better in the long run than waiting til you're starving and inhaling whatever is in site.

I've been bringing two half-pb&honey on wheat sandwiches to work every day. i need the first one about 10:30, the 2nd one in the late afternoon, or maybe not at all. i know you're not a cook, but frozen bread thaws quickly, and peanut butter lasts a good long time (bonus: pb+m&m's = YUM!)

What kind of tea do you like?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure Clif bars are all that great. I grabbed a Clif bar so I could compare. I'm looking at the cranberry apple cherry one. It's got 230 calories, same as a 2-pack of Reese's cups, and it actually has more sugar (21g versus 20g). O'course, the Reese's do have more fat. Sugar is my main worry, but other people may be more worried about the fat content.

My healthier-than-the-others option is usually tea or water -- I don't actually need food right that instant, I need my stomach to shut up for another half hour so I can wrap up some work and go get a real lunch. The prepackaged food units we have are "bigger than a snack but not quite a lunch", thus not the best thing to eat right before lunch!, thus my desire to avoid the whole lot of 'em. And you're absolutely right: waiting too long causes trouble.

I love Lady Grey, but I have less pain when I avoid caffeine, so I wind up choosing chamomile a lot. You?

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

ah, i've never really compared powerbar-type things to a candy bar. chances are, you might be better off with the candy -- the fat provides satiety. i know i'd rather have one *real* cookie than a truckload of fat-free one.

The prepackaged food units we have are "bigger than a snack but not quite a lunch", thus not the best thing to eat right before lunch!

would any of them keep for a day or two if you only ate part? ot just take a half or quarter of a bagel? some of those huge bagels could feed a small island population.

I love Lady Grey, but I have less pain when I avoid caffeine, so I wind up choosing chamomile a lot. You?

i'm drinking a lot of Gypsy Cold Care right now, even though i'm feeling better. i like the taste. i should follow your lead on caffeine. if i can go three days without it, i don't really need it.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

ah, i've never really compared powerbar-type things to a candy bar.

I usually don't either - this post made me think of it. I've compared them to each other in the past. They vary WIDELY. The ones that are low in sugar tend to be high in fat and vice versa, 'cause otherwise it tastes like chalk. One time I went looking for snacks that tasted good, had protein, and had no sugars. Beef jerky! I discovered that I really don't like beef jerky. :-)

I don't think I've ever tried Gypsy Cold Care!

Does caffeine give you trouble?

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

beef jerky is very popular 'round my office. all those damn low-carbing carnivores.

and yes, too much caffeine gives me trouble. more than 2 cups of coffee (sometimes less) and my heart races and i'm jittery. ANY caffeine after lunchtime, and i'll be wide awake and jittery well past midnight. learned that the hard way.

i can go several days w/o caffeine, but i will eventually get the i-need-my-drug withdrawal headache. i've de-caffed for nearly a year before, but i always end up going back because of a headache i can't shake. given that i used to drink caffeinated soda all day long, this is a HUGE improvement.

i've never really tracked how caffeine consumption affects my pain level. i know sleep and temperature have significant affects. i might look into that.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

all those damn low-carbing carnivores.

Why the cuss, are they rude about it? I hate it when people are rude about their particular food religions. Is it frustrating to be the only veggie around?

Wow, I don't usually have the jitteriness (I think) but I do have nerve pain from it. (Well, increased by it, anyway.) My doctor thinks it's because caffeine can trigger inflammation. I know anti-inflams HELP the pain so if caffeine causes inflammation, then it all hangs together. If a lot of your pain is inflammation-based then maybe it's worth looking into.

Yes, TEMPERATURE!! for me too. Wowee.

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

Why the cuss, are they rude about it?

my frustration is from the low-carb craze in general. we get TONS of new products in every single day. nearly all edible ones are low-carb. the quick-fix mentality frustrates me to no end. Yes, there are some people who must follow that type of diet, but making every food out there low carb will NOT do any good for the general population until people learn simple things like, oh, i dunno, moderation? self-discipline? maybe some good old-fashioned common sense? (ok. rant over!)

and yes, being the lone vegetarian in a fairly conservative (narrow-minded?) office is difficult. i try to have a sense of humor about it, but it doesn't always work.

as for the pain, the more i get into my treatments and diagnoses, the more i wonder how much my pain is inflammation-based, and if perhaps that's why the anti-inflamms aren't providing any relief.

it was fifteen degrees last night. i woke up feeling like the Tin Man in dire need of his oil can. it hasn't gone away. :(

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

my frustration is from the low-carb craze in general.

Ah, ok. Frankly I could care less what other people eat unless they are being rude about it in some way, but I think I'm in the minority there. You're not alone.

Me, I am healthier when I eat less carbs. Not zero, but less. Particularly sugars. It's because of inflammation, surprisingly enough! Plus of course the diabetes worry.

i try to have a sense of humor about it, but it doesn't always work.

I just bet. I have a coworker who's vegan, and it's got to be just mind-bogglingly annoying when everyone around him gets free food at the company brunch but there's nothing he can eat. Nothing. I feel for him. He's pretty philosophical about it, but still... :-(

the more i wonder how much my pain is inflammation-based, and if perhaps that's why the anti-inflamms aren't providing any relief.

Hmmmm. They don't help? That seems to me like a big clue waiting for a detective to come pick it up. I would have thought a lot of your pain was from inflammation.

Fifteen degrees! Yikes! I hope you have LOTS of covers and the cats snuggling up to you all night.

[lindalee.livejournal.com]

I tend to think not only about things like calories and sugar, but also what other nutrients and good stuff might be coming along with it. I'd bet that a Clif bar would "last longer" than a candy bar, in the sense of keeping you satisfied and less likely to snack again. Then again, soy makes me ill, so I don't have a lot of experience with such things.

And, um, long time no see. Hi. :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I don't usually think of that. I am mentally lazy and depend on my multivitamins for a lot of nutrients. I'd guess protein content "lasts longer" than fat content, but by that point I'm way out at the edge of my understanding of nutrition. Waaaaay out. :-)

And hey, hi!

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

Ugh, my diet has been atrocious of late. This made me laugh though :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yay! :-)

I like injecting humor bits into rambles like this, although a lot of the time I think my humor doesn't work too well. :-)

[katestine.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of thoughts that have been boiling in my head, plus a post of my own on a related topic. I am not a nutritionist, but here are a few thoughts:

- Clif/Luna bars are primarily for people who need energy in a compressed package, like marathoners, hikers, climbers, etc. In other words, they are a terrible idea for office workers. Yes, they are more satiating than a Snickers bar, with less fat, but you can do better.

- Maybe it's time to stock some of your own snacks in your desk? Maybe if you stocked your own too-good-to-share-with-coworkers dark chocolate, you'd have one little piece and decide that's enough to slake that craving? I find that with extremely dark chocolate, I can't eat much more than a small nibble at a time.

- As it gets colder, I find I need more protein to be satiated. Have you tried increasing the amount of lean protein you consume?

- I think the greatest mid-afternoon snack ever is the snack packages of tuna fish: it has the same number of calories as a candy bar or bag of chips but is much more satisfying. They're not cheap, but neither is good health.

HTH.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Agreed about the Clif bars being a bad idea. My problem isn't knowing what's a poor choice, my problem is doing the right thing. (It's not a huge problem. I'm basically healthy. But it's something I notice and therefore ramble about.) Stocking my own snacks would be a good start.

They're not cheap, but neither is good health.

And BAD health can be very expensive! Reminds me of that "if you think education is expensive, try ignorance" quote. :-)

[sukicat.livejournal.com]

Mommy always likes the good stuff too. Admittly so do I. I think it is good to indulge once in awhile, however, if you are concerned about work, while tea without sugar is good for you, you might want to take a snack with you like a whole wheat sandwich to fill in the hunger pangs (I personally prefer one with lots of meat and cheese). It might help you feel better and save some money *kitty snuggles*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I think bringing in my own snacks is a good idea. It's too bad they don't let us chase mice at work! That would solve the exercise problem AND the snack problem.

[sukicat.livejournal.com]

Ha ha! That would be awesome. I would so be there!