Two weeks before our anniversary, my weight was down to 61.5kg. I was super stoked! But let it spiral out of hand. And have not been able to get back in the groove of things since then :-(
Learning more and researching more everyday, I hole to combat this battle of the bulge once and for all!!
I’ve been doing a lot of reading about what goes on inside the brain and how I’ve created habitual pathways to the way I relate towards food.
I’m for sure an emotional eater.
And on top of that, I reward myself with food; when I’m tired or feel accomplished or just need a break.
21 Days is the standard to molding a new habit.
So, gonna start counting the days and see if I can instill some new ones.
I’m around 66 or 65kg. And would love to take it down to 60. So, this will also be a mark for me.
I want to start using food for fuel and not as a reward or a “go to” in pressured or emotional times.
Being a stay home mom of 2 young children (age 5 and a 13month old); and running a business with my husband from home; as well as being the cleaning lady and cook in the house; I multi-task. And also have very little time for every single thing that has to happen in a day.
So, I have to move fast, or it gets left behind.
My baby wakes up between 2-5 times a night.
My husband is a night owl.
We often do office work late at night.
And at the end of the day I am super tired and I don’t think I get in enough sleep in a 24hour cycle.
And this is my excuse for rewarding myself with food.
I’m tired and at the end of the day, I just want to stuff my face with something that makes me feel “special”.
I’ve read that food gives off dopamine.
So, it truly does feel like I’m being rewarded when I can stuff my face with something sweet or tasty!
But I don’t necessarily have the time to enjoy the snack. So, I multi-task and do it whilst washing the dishes or preparing baby’s milk.
And once I start eating, my choice of reward-food usually has a knock on effect, because it’s most probably a trigger food for me, which will lead to either over eating, or to worse food choices later on the evening.
So, now. How to find a reward - which I usually need around 2-5pm, that takes up little time and yet sustains me and fills my tank to motor on till I can get to bed at around 10pm...
Winter is basically apon us, here in SA. And so, I’m playing with the idea of steaming my face or doing a mini facial.
I’m bordering on making a hot cup of cocoa powder-drink (since cocoa is in most cases a buffer food). But I’m thinking that I should steer completely clear of food and drinks as a reward.
Again: food (and drinks), should be fuel. And not rewards.
I wish I could take a hot bath or shower. But we have severe water restrictions here in the Western Cape, at the moment.
So, once again...wondering how can I reward myself - find a quick breather - a relaxing moment, in my day where I can re-group and find a breath of fresh energy, to charge me up for the remaining hours of my “work” day...
Will keep on posting my findings.
Here’s to 21 days of new brain patterns!
(11th of June)
