Why am I always thinking about food?
 

I hate thinking about food! It just seems like I have an obssession with it these days. Because I have decided to limit myself, I find that I'm always looking forward to eating and in the afternoon I'm continously thinking about food. It's such a battle. I'm watching the clock dying to just be able to go to bed and put the thoughts of food behind me.

I definitely understand what you mean. I am trying to quit smoking at the same time - I did really well for a while and have recently fell off of the wagon and am trying to get back on the wagon. But, I think the concept is the same.......

A person is used to eating a certain way, it becomes a habit and now that you are changing everything it has become your sole focus. I do the same thing with cigarettes and when I am not smoking it is food. Even if I am thinking about something healthy - the thought is still there.... either food, food, food or smoke, smoke, smoke.

When I think like that - I try to do something active - something that requires me to think.... Sometimes it works.

GOOD LUCK - HANG IN THERE......

sometimes this happens to me too. What I do is plan out all of my meals and snacks for the day at breakfast time. This way I don't have too much to obsess over. I already know what I'm going to eat. There is no more planning and thinking about it all day.... give it a try!

What about when you go out?

I know every Monday and every Tuesday I'm going to be eating lunch and dinner outside the home. The place I eat at always serves pretty healthy stuff (but they always have banana breads, lemon cake, and other sweets). It is a small school and centre for pregnant/parenting teens. They have rigorous health requirements to meet, but I still manage to get a little crazy on things like bread rolls or like today I had too many spring rolls. I gues when I go there it just boils down to portion control.

Oh and at every meeting they have snacks. argh!!!

At meetings, bring your own snacks. You have to make the decision, to simply not eat that stuff that tempts you. I see nothing wring with having a spring roll, I LOVE the things, if it's true spring rolls. I budget for it with my calorie dollars though. If I know I'm having one, I eat a bit smaller meal before and after it, and try to do an extra 10-15 minutes of walking. I also thing of my calories as money, which SO helps, since I'm so freaking cheap with my cash! If I only have x amount of $<calories> to spend, by heck I want the most for my $.

You know, I'll just do that. I can eat a fruit while they're munching. :)

I have the same problem. Even when I plan out a meal I swear I look forward to eating it. Some days it feels like I am just living for the next thing I get to enjoy eating. It has gotten a lot better. I can remember crying while stuffing a sandwich in my mouth because I knew I wasn't hungry and I felt like I couldn't control myself. I could eat and eat and never feel full. I think it is hard for everyone because it requires a change of mindset. Food has played a big role in my life.. socially, emotionally, and so on. To try to think of it just as a means of health and survival is hard to do.

It does get better with time. My urge for all things "bad" is pretty much gone. Me, a former chocoholic, sat in a meeting today directly in front of some Belgian chocolate (with nuts!!!) and did not even flinch. It's all in the mind, and I know you ladies can do it. I believe that your body does crave certain foods, but that only lasts a certain period of time... then it's mental. Get your mind around the idea that you know what these foods do to you, and you won't want them anymore. Good luck!