That's an interesting approach. I'm glad it works for you!


F.

I just wrote a long (longer than usual) response to someone's post about eating "Real Food" that kind of fits in the discussion.
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/4790608-post4.html

I think no foods should just generally be off limits but you have determine how food makes you feel as well as how it nourishes your body. I think there is room for sugar in most people's diets. I myself eat dark chocolate on a semi regular basis.

I think we can also become desensitized to sugar and salt somewhat so that we need greater amounts to achieve the saltiness/sweetness. My mother, who is the queen of artificial sweeteners, prefers fruit with splenda sprinkled on it. I let her taste my morning fruit smoothie while I was visiting and she insisted that I needed to add a sweetener. It tasted fine to me. With decreased amounts of sugar/salt in my own cooking and things I eat, often items taste too sweet or too salty to me (so no pleasure in that). I feel better with limited amounts of sugar (very limited amounts of artificial sweeteners) and limited amounts of salt. This also includes fattier foods as I prefer less fatty foods and even a few too many nuts can leave me feeling bloated.

Overall, you have to find what you enjoy, how you enjoy it and if it doesn't bring you enjoyment or nourishment, why are you eating it?

Great article. For some people, staying away from sugar seems to work. But I was going nuts by staying totally away from sugary sweets. I would feel deprived without them and would end up binging on them - a habit that is much more unhealthy than eating a cookie every once in a while.

I'm not saying my binging days are over (although I hope they are), but I have found that the best solution for me is moderation. I used to fear carbs and stayed away from desserts and all junk food. After finding the right treatment program and working with a nutritionist and therapist, I began occasionally eating those foods I crave, in moderation. To my surprise, the cravings all but disappeared and I still lost weight even though I was just trying to maintain. I feel much happier now. I still eat very healthy foods overall, but have learned that a sweet treat every once in a while won't kill me. I even baked a cake tonight and instead of eating the whole thing uncontrollably, I had one small piece and felt satisfied.

Food serves a purpose, to fuel our bodies, but there is also a joyful element to eating, handed down to us from our ancestors, that we shouldn't ignore either.

I think one problem is that men generally are less hormone driven. I always had PMS and find the cravings for starch around that time are crazy. Ketogenic diets helped a lot. But since I stopped doing it, the cravings came back on certain days. I do not like desserts, but I like pasta and bread. I found I need to exercise portion control for those.

Other than that, I prepare all my food fresh. I do not buy anything pre-made. My pleasure derives from preparing the food and tasting it. I do not really need to eat a lot. Food is sensual for me, not just fuel. There is nothing better than the taste of sun riped veggies and fruit from the garden. And I am addicted to herbs and spices. And wine of course. I now started to also make my own soft cheeses. After a year of ketosis and artificial foods, eating fresh food again is like being in paradise.

re:
 

All I know is, it took every ounce of energy I had to pass up on some red velvet cheesecake from the cheesecake factory the other day. The only reason I did is because I KNEW it had 1200 calories a slice. Apparently there really is a line I will not cross, thank god.

That being said, while on vacation, i had a sugar and carb fest, and now that I'm home and back on plan, I find myself having enormous headaches which I'm guessing is from sugar withdrawal.

While I agree with the blogger that the internet public has gone way overboard in the 'avoid this food or else' and the 'organic for life' ideas, some of those ideas have roots in fact for some people.

I'm not afraid of food, but I've reached a point in my life where I avoid food that makes me feel bad, and crave food that makes me feel good. It's kind of like being at that age where practical shoes are ok :lol:

I gain a lot of pleasure from eating a bowl of blueberries :) I do consume real sugar, such as the sugar that I add to my salad dressing to cut the acidity. I don't use sugar substitutes or anything else artificial if it can be avoided. However, the idea of eating cake or candy doesn't appeal to me anymore because it makes me feel icky.

I eat anything I want. I just don't want the same foods that I used to :)