Intuitive Eating

What to say today?   It's the new year and I am on track thus far.

A few weeks ago I wrote about how I view eating.  It started when I began to really notice that I was hanging out with a new friend and he was not ruled by food. That spurred me on to think more about how I eat.  How do I eat???   I eat simply because the clock strikes 6 which means it's dinnertime. The clock strikes and I start to salivate. This is not healthy at all

For years when I first started watching my weight, I didn't have a clue how to 'read the signs' of my body.  Intuitive eating was not a viable option.  I thought about food from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed.  (and probably dreamt of it too!)  When I started to eat, I just wanted to keep eating.  I ate myself into a food coma so many times.  I had to come up with a solution.  I did.  I became a regimented Nazi in regards to when and what I ate.   I lost the weight by regulating my meals. I had always been a person that breakfast.  I switched up and ate breakfast religiously.  I tracked it, but I ate every meal....I was totally regimented.  I ate like clockwork.  When the allotted calories for the meal was done I stopped eating until the next meal. It was as simple as that.

But you know what?   Lately I have realized that I'm not exactly always hungry when it's lunchtime.  I'm not always hungry at dinner time.  I've tried to start listening to those signs.  Am I eating intuitively?  I guess so.  Not hard core, just trying to listen to my body more.

On January 1 my friend "J" and I went to the Smithsonian Air and Space in Chantilly, VA and somehow lunch time came and went.  We weren't thinking about food, we were enjoying the museum and the companionship of each other.  Food was the last thing we thought about.  We did split a Kind Bar that was in my bag at one point and that was really all I needed or wanted.
Admittedly, when I got home......I was hungry.  But I didn't totally indulge and eat too much.  My calorie count on myfitnesspal was totally in line with where it needed to be and I went to bed happy with my day, happy with my eating and totally satisfied and NOT sick!

Whatever this is...I'm going to roll with it.  As much as possible, if I'm not hungry, I'm going to forego eating.  And if I'm not overly hungry but eating is kinda out of my control, then I will just eat small portions.  And yes....I will continue on the 'when the calories are gone, I stop eating....that rule is just golden!


I  snuck a peak at the scales yesterday and I am looking good for my official weigh in this week!  I just have to keep it up!  And if I can hold onto that weight....and maybe go lower it means that I am on track for my Valentines Day challenge weight!!!!!!!