Comments on: How to Eat Without Guilt

By: Melanie

Melanie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:18:54 +0000

Kelly,
I wish everyone could see mangoes and papayas as “treats” – I think that would go a pretty long way to helping the obesity epidemic!!!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:27:52 +0000

Melanie,

I agree it does seem to be very individual…you have to cope the best way you could.

I eat quite a bit of fruit but I tend to treat myself now and then to some of the exotic fruits like mangoes and papayas – I consider those my treats

Kelly

Kelly’s last blog post..Animal Fats & Your Health: Video

By: Steve Parker, M.D.

Steve Parker, M.D. — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:43:59 +0000

Kelly reminded me that the scientific name for the cocoa tree (source of chocolate) is "Theobroma cacao," which means "food of the gods." [I did a series on health benefits of chocoolate at my healthy lifesyle blog.] -Steve Steve Parker, M.D.’s last blog post..Are Saturated Fats Really All That Bad?

By: Melanie

Melanie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:33:30 +0000

Hi Kelly,
Thanks for your comment. It’s so interesting to hear from others on this subject. It seems to be such an individual thing, doesn’t it?

So, what foods do you now regard as a “treat?”

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:40:53 +0000

Hi Melanie,

For me I don’t eat those “treats” because I can’t call some bad for my body/mind a treat. I used to have the treat mentality with chocolate – something I craved everyday. That food was seen a God to me. I valued it immensely for that “two minute pleasure” it supposively gave me. But once I brought the food down to the level it deserved I no longer cared for it. What I mean by this is, chocolate made me moody, it only gave me a few moments pleasure, it made be feel bloated and just generally depressed. I can’t see that as a treat.

It took some time, but as I started to have more self awareness and because I saw the food for what it was, I no longer desired or wanted it.

I don’t think its nice to feel guilty – binges made me feel guilty but then I think in those cases it is important to address the real issue. My binge eating was related to emotion. Without the guilt maybe I would have never addressed my underlying issues.

Just some thoughts

Kelly

Kelly’s last blog post..Animal Fats & Your Health: Video

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:06:13 +0000

Hi Susan,
I like your comment, and totally agree! Crazy pills and plans just don’t work long-term, I wish I could get people to realise that! Congratulations on your success!

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:45:59 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. When I was on my weight loss journey I ate plenty of foods that most people would say to stay away from. I firmly think that you must keep all kinds of foods in your diet to be successful. I lost 80 pounds doing just that. Pills, crazy soup plans, and ordered meal plans just don’t work in the end. Learning how to eat and what to eat is the only way to go and that includes how to continue to eat foods you like to eat. I have even been guilty of eating a slice of cake every day for a week and I didn’t gain anything back at all, that is because I learned how to eat. Great information!

By: Melanie

Melanie — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:40:27 +0000

Hey Yum Lucky,
Sounds like you have things totally in control! I love to hear about people actually getting a grip on food…being healthy doesn’t have to be about deprivation!

Hi Spring Girl,
Yes, your idea of bargaining with yourself is interesting, I think that would be a very useful method for many people to use.

Hi Steve,
You make some interesting points. But, does it have to be “guilt” which makes us NOT eat the whole bag of cookies – can’t it simply be because that would be unhealthy…or perhaps that’s not strong enough for many people.

I’m certainly not against shock tactics to help people realize what they’re doing to their bodies by eating unhealthy etc But, I’d prefer that they use logic and understand food is not the enemy.

I suppose it may simply be dependent on the person, perhaps some people need tactics like those you mentioned for alcoholics??

Hey Cathy,
I hope your exams went well. Well done for not overdoing it, I’m glad the scales have been favorable!

By: Cathy in NZ

Cathy in NZ — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:38:02 +0000

I’m go with the idea that nothing is really good, bad or indifferent…..it’s the portion size when I’m being good…..it’s nothing to do with portions when I just ‘want it’

but on that saying ‘want it’ and go overboard with it……I then go back to sensible eating!

i have just on a non-sensible eating session in the last few as my revision/exam schedule put pressure a the whole gambit. I would think it was time to go home….then wonder what I might cook……didn’t snacked mostly – on bad things balanced with “one night ate a whole packet of mixed salad leaves like in 200grms!”

i got on the scale yesterday……haven’t been on them for at least a month….no change to weight SOOOOOO maybe I didn’t overdo it anywhere ‘badly’

Cathy in NZ’s last blog post..Tasks to do:

By: Steve Parker, M.D.

Steve Parker, M.D. — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:35:12 +0000

If a little guilt keeps me from eating a whole bag of Oreos instead of 3 cookies, is that such a bad thing? It's not the end of the world if I eat 7. And next time I'm tempted to eat 7, I might remember the twinge of guilt I felt, and not do it again. That's "aversive conditioning" of a sort. Doctors who counsel recovering alcoholics routinely tell them NEVER to consume any alcohol ever again. They might fall off the wagon. Certain foods may have the same effect on specific individuals. -Steve Steve Parker, M.D.’s last blog post..Which Components of the Mediterranean Diet Prolong Life?