So, I kind of had a moment in the grocery store this weekend. I was picking up soup supplies, but it was early Saturday and I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet and I’d mentally promised myself I could get some sort of breakfast food as a treat for taking care of errands so early.
I realize it’s a total first world problem to be in a grocery store, surrounded by food and not have any idea what you want, but that’s what happened to me. At one point, I had added Kashi Go Lean Crunch, buckwheat pancake mix and cinnamon raisin bread to my basket.
And then I just stopped. In the middle of the aisle. I may have closed my eyes. I realized that I didn’t want any of this. None of it. I thought for a minute and tried to figure out exactly what sounded the best.
I figured out that while I wanted something sweet, I also wanted juice. Specifically, an Odwalla Mango Tango. And maybe some greek yogurt. I grabbed both and headed to check out.
I realize that this makes me sound like a complete lunatic. But for me, it was profound. I listened to my body.
One of the things I’ve realized about having kind of a weird relationship with food is that I spend a lot of time eating around what I really want. For example, I’ll know that I’m craving pasta and instead of having a small, healthy amount of whole wheat pasta, I’ll have something else. And then something else the next day, all the while still wanting that pasta. And then, the chance to eat the pasta will hit and I’ll have zero self control, because I’ve wanted it for so long.
The other thing I realized is that it’s rare that my body wants something unhealthy. I think when I really listen to it, my body wants good food. My emotions might want to cram chicken nuggets down my gullet and lay around watching TV, but my body wants a big salad and a long walk and a ton of water.
I’m a huge fan of those moments when things become clear, and for me, standing in the middle of Safeway, fretting over breakfast food, the idea of just slowing down and listening to my body became so much clearer.
I totally intend to listen.
Does this sound crazy to you? Do you listen to your body? No, really…am I nuts?
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This how I feel about chocolate. I always ignore the craving. Choose a healthier option, but the craving never disappears. The result is that I end up eating chocolate biscuits and a chocolate bar. Shoulda just gone with the chocolate bar in the first place.
You are most definitely not crazy. I completely recognize the wanting something and then after a couple of days having no self control whatsoever.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
I’ve SO had those moments, and when I make an effort to pay attention, I have more of them. Good for you for listening in that moment and making a choice that made you feel good!
I had a moment like that the last time I was at Whole Foods. I had decided I really wanted to get one of their quiches and stop at the bakery, but when I was there I realized, no, what I REALLY want is an enormous salad. So that’s what I got
I am slowly learning to do this. It’s hard for me! I have a lot of chatter going on in my mind that distracts me from what I really want. It’s the big thing I am working on in therapy.
I do this a lot. Sometimes, I’ll just start thinking about something yummy to have (often, it’s a stop at Starbucks before work) but then I’ll stop and ask myself WHY I want it. Usually, there’s no reason. I’m not craving it, I’m even hungry for it, I just thought it would be yummy so I wanted it. I think it’s training our minds to stop and think before we indulge is where the light starts to come on.
You’re not crazy. Listening to your body is so important!
I’ve learned to give in to a craving – be it healthy or not – because if I don’t eat what I crave, I will just continue eating tons of other stuff because I’m never satiated.
Nah…my body pretty much always wants pasta or dairy. No emotion involved, just an innate craving.
But, to your point, my body probably wants that stuff on a regular basis because it’s trained that way. I always think — if I could just give it up for a couple weeks, maybe I can retrain my body to NOT want this stuff in unhealthy amounts. I have yet to be successful at this, though
OATMEAL! I was craving oatmeal w/ bananas one night but thinking that it wasn’t on the menu plan and that it was silly to eat oatmeal for dinner. So I ate what I had originally planned and went to work out and all during aerobics, I kept thinking about oatmeal until I turned to my friend next to me in class and told her, “I’m having oatmeal as soon as I get home tonight” and I did – It was the best bowl of oatmeal I’ve ever had!
I really try to listen to my body. I have gotten better at stopping and saying – are we really hungry? Or bored? I hate those days when I can’t figure out what i am hungry for. And I can relate to your body craving water and a nice delicious salad. i am the same way!
A friend of mine married into a family of runners. She slowly picked it up, but has never loved running. She told me that she often returns from a run to questions about how the run was, and she tells them that she “really listened to her body.” I told her that sounded like she was really doing well, and she rolled her eyes and told me that she tells them that so she can get away with walking for most of the time she’s out there. For me, this holiday season, listening to my body will also include not being pressured into things I really don’t want to do, like running in the snow!
Not weird…I had the same moment at the soda machine when my body flashed….”do not drink that chemical! ” ive been soda free for a month.
I’ve been reading through the book “Intuitive Eating” and so far, much of the book resonates with my relationship with food. It really focuses in on hunger signals and the choices one makes around food. A lot of what you said is like that book so I’d check it out if you want more information on finding the root of certain eating habits!
I am all about eating what my body really craves. The cravings that I get most of the time all make sense for replenishing nutrients I don’t always get. I don’t eat a huge amount of meat these days but sometimes I get overwhelming craving for a steak, I have somewhat low iron and low blood pressure so if my body says it wants protein it gets protein. I also get cravings for salmon and avocado, which I think is my body saying “hey, give me some essential fatty acids!”. Basically I try to figure out what nutritional void my body is trying to fill and either feed it exactly what it’s craving or something that might work even better.
Basically, no, you’re not crazy.
I definitely find that if I don’t eat something I’m really craving I’ll just keep craving it until I have some. Usually while overindulging in other things to try to satisfy the craving.
I struggle sometimes with eating what my body wants vs what my emotions or head thinks it wants. Perfect example – on a weekend morning after drinking the night before, I might THINK I want a big, greasy breakfast sandwich. But I know I will feel better if I have stabilizing oatmeal and fruit, or eggs with veggies. I’ve been much better this year about feeding my body, say, meat when it wants it, or a big salad when it’s craving the nutrients. I also feed it french fries or cheese when it wants it, too. Moderation is part of intuitive eating, no?
[...] I’m really interested in mindful eating and try to practise it whenever I can, so I love this post by Amy. [...]