"I have dieted continuously for the last two decades and lost a total of seven hundred and fifty-eight pounds. By all calculations, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet." - Erma Bombeck
Sprink tagged me to come up with five food challenges for 2006. (Hers are really great!!) Let me tell you now that every day has been a food challenge for me in the past little while. I have never liked food very much. I enjoy eating it, but as an entity in my life it has been an unwelcome presence. Food is something that I have trouble enjoying because it is something that I feel needs to be controlled. I have recently realized that I have some food allergies, which has helped in many ways, and in many ways made it worse (MORE guilt!) So I held off writing this post because it was too close to home. But here goes - my Five Food Challenges for 2006!
1. I want to be able to cook dinner for Mark and I and have it all be ready - and hot - at once! (The first time I cooked breakfast for us both I was reduced to tears. His plate was lovely, mine looked like I had stood back and thrown the food at it! I'm getting better, but it's still a challenge.)
2. I want to try to cook at least three of the recipes I have clipped out of magazines. (I KNOW! I don't like cooking but I cut recipes out like crazy - what is that all about?!)
3. I'm going to try seafood whenever Mark gets it in the vain hope that I might like it someday. (He loves it. Me? Not so much. Why do they have to leave it looking like it was when it was alive? Heads? Tails? EYEBALLS?! How can they expect me to be able to eat that?!)
4. Eat when I am hungry. Stop when I am full. (Yes, that IS a challenge.)
5. I am challenging myself to RELAX about food. I want to enjoy it when I am eating it and not worry about whether or not I should or shouldn't be eating it. I want to really, passionately and AWARELY enjoy what I am eating. I want to be thankful for it and not worry about the fat or calorie content.
I just really really want to ENJOY food again.
... so I would like to invite Claudia, Jamie and Laini to divulge - there are others I would like to answer these as well but I expect you will be tagged in due course!
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7 comments:
Oh Meg, this is a wonderful thing to do! I've had issues with food for as long as I can remember, so many feelings of indulgence and restraint and guilt. I really want to do this goal list as well. I was planning on devoting some time to all of this when I got back from my trip. I'm desperate to learn how to cook and listen to what my body needs. Thanks so much for sharing this! I'm so inspired!!
I love cooking (just hate cleaning up). I find it can be inspiring or soothing. I've rarely cooked seafood, however--just fresh fish once or twice (and tend to overcook it). I agree about the heads, tails, and eyeballs issue--which is why we usually get seafood when we dine out!
Very interesting post!
Thanks for challenging me, Meg! I'm going to get on that one for tomorrow :) Hmmm... what to do... what to do...
And way to go for posting about something that's been so close to home. I'm betting the timing is just right (just like it will be when you cook that dinner). Good luck with all your challenges. I'd love to hear about the next food you totally enjoy!
Hi Meg! Okay, I answered your tag on my blog -- good questions. One thing for me is that, after having lost the weight I wanted to lose and gotten over the panic and paranoia that it was going to come right back on, learning how to maintain it, etc, I DO enjoy food much more. I mean, I have ALWAYS enjoyed food, but there was more guilt involved when I knew I needed to lose weight. Now since most of the time I'm eating really healthy, I don't feel guilty at all to get a cheeseburger and fries once in a while, or dessert, or things I would never have "been seen" eating before. So that's nice. Freeing. It took work to get here, and I'll start to gain a little then just get myself in check, and once the "tools" are in place, it's pretty easy. Never thought I'd say that, but I finally figured it out. It's all balance.
What an awesome idea! For me, getting the right tools is on my list. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to cook or bake when you don't have the right tools to work with. I spend hours a day chopping up veggies and fruits so for me, I'm going to put getting a really good chopping knife on my list of challenges. Thanks Megg!
We're going for all-you-can-eat sushi AGAIN on your next visit!! I don't want to miss that!
Megg, I was on holiday when you posted this and realised recently that I hadn't commented/thanked you for picking up the tag. So, in a seriously delayed response, thank you! I'm absolutely nowhere near catching my fish, let alone preparing the thing but I live in hope - I was in Devon this weekend and there were lots of fishermen on the beach who inspired me to at least learn how to use a rod. take care, lottie x
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