Fat people can have cake
It took a long time for me to be in a place where I could admit I love food. While people say you can't trust a skinny chef, I certainly didn't want people to associate me with food. It made me feel I was showing exactly why I was fat, and leaving myself wide open for unwanted comments.
This time losing weight has been like no other. While every other time I told myself some foods were bad, this time I've focused on eating what I love- and trusting my body will balance out the "good" and the "bad" foods along the way. Reading novels such as Nicky Pellegrino's new book Recipe for Life, or the book Julie and Julia have also helped. I have realised food is just as much about the enjoyment of preparing, sharing it with others, and spending time eating together.
I do prefer healthy foods as a general rule. So for me it's easy. I think that if you prefer McDonald's and KFC to anything else, this won't work!
What I did is start to consciously think about what I like to eat - and then built my eating plan around it. It certainly makes my meals pleasurable - which is something I thought I'd never feel while losing weight. But food is more than just our energy source. It's a sensual pleasure, and it is allowed to be enjoyed, even when shedding size. (Some people do say food is better than sex, though the jury is out on that one!)
Being specific in what I liked was important. For instance, I used to say I like ice cream, but there really are only a few flavours that get me going - everything Kohu Road makes and then the Kapiti Lemon Meringue Pie ice cream (that one is so dangerous in my freezer I ONLY buy it when I have a crowd for dinner, or I actually will eat the whole tub myself over a few days). I don't buy crap. I eat as much natural, organic food as I can afford. I choose to put only the best in as an act of love to myself (and my family)
Learning where my weak spots were was huge. I can have almost anything in my house except that ice cream, scones and mint slice biscuits. I don't even go there with these unless I know I'm only going to have one, once they are all shared out.
However, there are foods that I love that I can have in abundance. Fresh vegetables, papaya and other fruit, really good steak (oh fillet steak!), and free range bacon and ham are regulars in my house.
My gluten-free status goes out the door with a fresh almond croissant (it's an occasional thing), and I love a good homemade fresh scone (though I've weaned myself off the butter so actually these are fairly harmless as a lunchtime choice if they aren't the size of a dinner plate). The ones in the photo are ones I made in the weekend with Acai berry flakes and dried apricots. And they tasted fabulous.
I think I can live without chocolate, but then every now and again I NEED a square or two of dark chocolate. And same goes for cheese - I can live without cheddar, but ask me to give up feta and there will be tears. Same goes for good quality unsweetened yoghurt - I really prefer not to do without for more than a few days at a time.
Sushi looks great to my eyes, but I'm happiest with just some sashimi, and I find it REALLY hard to go past some Vietnamese summer rolls, stuffed with mint and salad and prawns
Learning I could love food and still lose weight was a huge step for me. And understanding that I didn't need to give up my favourites - even the "bad" foods - was a huge step.
What are your must have, can't live without, foods? Do you still see some foods as good or bad?
I know some people think we should only see food as fuel - that it's not a good idea to see it as an indulgent, pleasurable experience. What do you think?
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Food is my reason for waking up in the morning and making adjustments to this attitude to stop it making me the size of a house has been a long road but I feel like I am really making progress.
I cook. Its my way of expressing myself, and my way of showing my friends and family I care. I have learned to use fresh ingredients and make things from scratch. This not only means that my projects take alot longer, it also means that I am so incredibly proud of my meals that I want to show them off as much as possible and I dont eat so much myself.
I made rainbow brownies and choc chip cookies last week for a friend who was having a bad week. Gave her hafl and the rest my boyf took to work. I ate maybe one or two but I didnt feel like gorging. It was so much better to know that people were eating and loving my cooking. And thats the key point that I am holding onto.
Oh! and I have a stunning recipe for Vietnamese summer rolls with marinated seared beef.... ! Seriously to do for!
You're making me hungry with talk of all those yummy foods Rachel! I do think food can be enjoyable (like when my bf or sister cook it).
I too am a sucker for ice cream. And chocolate. Also love a good steak! I too enjoy cheese, but don't need much to keep me happy, so I go for ones with lots of flavour. I try to go for less volume of higher quality. Trouble is when it becomes high quality and high volume (yes Kapiti ice cream I'm talking about you!)
Salty snacks & other lollies I can take or leave.
Off for my delicious morning latte now.
ok Mahina.... can I have that recipe? pleeeease? :)
Thanks you guys- I used to hear experts tell me I had to stop cooking nice food, stop looking at food as pleasurable. But it is! Just as you say, portions, choices and only eating those things you really like :)
Good on you for being able to look at food that way......it certainly makes it easier to watch what you eat. I have a few things that I just won't buy or have in my house unless we are entertaining.....chocolate (though I do crave it from time to time - a sante bar normally gets rid of the craving), nuts (any sort....I buy myself a very small bag of raw mixed nuts once a week as a treat), lollies (I absolutely LOVE lollies and can't go anywhere near them - when the craving gets too bad I have a twist of licorice or a few jubey types ones as they are better for you). Everything in moderation seems to be the best and healthiest way to be anyway, as long as you are keeping your portion sizes realistic and keep the exercise up as well.
Cheese! Beautiful, soft brie mmmm. I can give up chocolate and most sweet things - have lost my sweet tooth as I've got older, but cheese and delicious, full-bodied oakey wine are the biggest downfall. Treats only I'm afraid, but sooooo worth it ; )
I have it at home. Will dig it up and post it :)
Right on! I love the healthy stuff too - spinach, kumara, mushrooms, eggplant, well-rounded salads, leek soup, or caramelly onion soup, yum! My great weakness is carrot cake, but there's carrots in it so it can't be that bad, right? And a little piece each day isn't hurting, just like the dark chocolate. And as much fun as the Twitter cookie swap was, and as yummy as your cookies were, Rachel, I can live without them. If they are there I will eat them. If they are not, I don't even notice. Very occasionally I treat myself to Tim Tams in the bath by candlelight with a shot of Bailey's. Now that's luxury :)
It takes you a few days to eat a litre of Kapiti lemon meringue? It takes me about an hour
I can do without icecream, chips or lollies - but I've got to have a bit of chocolate on occasion (although mostly just at certain times of the month if you know what I mean!). I don't think I'd ever be able to do without my cheese - so that's what I aim to work off at the gym, haha.
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I personally don't believe that treating food as fuel only provides the kind of satisfaction level necessary to stick with any kind of healthy eating and living plan. For me and my eating plan, I've discovered I can go without cakes and slices in general, but if you told me I had to live without desserts like apple crumble for the rest of my life I'd be pretty unhappy. I've learned to bake a lot of my favourites in healthier ways and have definitely learned the art of only eating one portion. Ramekins are my new best friend! In terms of other stuff, I definitely have foods I love that I can eat in abundance. I love summer fruits like Apricots and Peaches and cherries (LOVE living in Central Otago in summer) and a wide range of veges. I really enjoy lean chicken breast and like you a good eye fillet is heaven on a plate. We've learned as a couple (no kids) to buy a small amount of really good quality meat and it's far more enjoyable.