Sometimes I think the airport is my second home… May 4, 2010

At some point during this cut the cake challenge I remember talking to Bissy on the phone and telling her that I wish for once I would stop thinking about food as a reward. That if I can hold off and eat healthy all week then after our weigh-in on friday morning friday night I can eat whatever I want! I found myself really eating whatever I wanted and it wasn’t all too helpful. I think it’s probably something we all struggle with because I don’t know about you but I love food. I was thinking back to this conversation as I was reading an article just now. I found it really interesting so here is an excerpt I thought I’d share…

We eat for many reasons, and, in more ways than one, “we are what we eat.” Food affects who we are by impacting our mood, energy level, and how we feel.

By looking deeper into the “stomach-mind connection,” we may find harmony and even more health in our food selections. As you’re eating, ask yourself:

• Why I am eating this?
• What are my intentions with this meal?
• What nutritional needs have I yet to meet today?

There are no wrong answers. These questions help bring awareness to your eating habits.

Unhealthy eating patterns are unfair to the “stomach-mind connection” and limit the pleasure found in food (and, oooh, there is so much pleasure!). Deprivation, overeating and restriction can even lead to feelings of fatigue, grouchiness or anxiety. Where’s the pleasure in that?

Sometimes deep down I think this is what I strive for or wish I did. The woman who wrote the article went on to say that it isn’t always healthy to look at food as good and bad choices but more as better choices. What I also liked and found interesting was her comparison of the "fat free" phenomenon of the 90s to the "100 calorie pack" phenomenon we find ourselves in now. I laughed when she said…"who said 100 calories is the magic number?!" What was most thought provoking for me was that she acknowledged that these 100 calories snacks we all focus on (thank you southwest airlines!) aren’t going to have all the nutrients our bodies need and are mostly filled with things our bodies don’t even want…hence why we’re hungry 30 minutes (10 minutes? hah) later…

Food for thought. I don’t know about the rest of you but I am really thankful for cut the cake because in many ways it’s opened my eyes more to what I eat and why I eat it. I’m not always going to be perfect, nor should I be, but I appreciate that this whole thing has made me think about things more.

For now, I’m sitting in the Denver airport on my way to Dallas just for the day tomorrow for work. I’ve tried to bring some nutrituous snacks along the way so I don’t cave when I land and go for something incredibly unhealthy. But alas, I hear they have great tex mex near my hotel and I’m not sure I’ll be able to resist!

If you’re interested in more from that article or others check out lunabar.com!

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