As I watched this year's Biggest Loser Finale last night, I realized that every week while I watch this show I eat my most crappiest meal of the week, and tend to overeat as well. And, quite often my therapy sessions are on the same night as Biggest Loser, so I'm getting home late and justify stopping at Panda Express to get me a fast, yummy, and comforting meal.Of course this meal is also at least twice the size I would eat if I made dinner at home, and 1/3 of the meal is deep fried, because how can I not get the Orange Chicken! Granted I do get veggies instead of rice or noodles, but that doesn't mean I need to eat all of the spicy sweet fried morsels of chicken even though I know I'm already full and WILL PAY in about an hour when I lay down to go to bed.
I look down at my Styrofoam tray after I have eaten all of the veggies, and the tofu and eggplant I always get. I look at the pile of yummy chicken goodness I always leave to last because I am the type that saves my favorite. I always think that maybe I'll leave some for leftovers and really I shouldn't eat it all because it is the most unhealthy thing on my plate. And then I dive in.
Oh my goodness it's so good. And of course I'm watching TV all the while and not really paying attention to how full I'm getting. And then there are 4-5 pieces left. Enough to be a fine dinner the next night if I stir fry up some veggies. But do I really want to dirty up a storage thingy with these five pieces? Plus they'll get soggy. And the justification continues, and just like that they are gone.I eat like this as I sit there watching and crying along with these people I'm watching on TV who are changing their lives to be healthier for themselves and their families. The trainers look to the camera and say "You can do it too, and you don't need to wait until January 1st. Start now!". Yea yea yea, just let me finish my yummy chicken and then I'll start.
Over the last year I have been trying to learn when to stop eating, to recognize emotional eating, and to generally just be more aware of what I'm putting into my body. When I first started this process I admit I was a little obsessive about it, even though the primary goal wasn't to loose weight but more to change my eating habits and to take the time for myself. The goal was to change myself before I have kids so that healthy eating and moving was natural and not a big deal. Eric also calls this process 'de-toxing' and 'baby prep'.
Sure, it's easier when the motivation is for someone else, or towards some other goal, but really I'm learning how to love me and to want to do this for me first. But damn, that Orange Chicken is really good.
10 comments:
I eat the orange chicken first, because I like it best when it's still hot. ;)
Sometimes, I'll put 1/2 of the meal away in a container for the next day, and just eat 1/2 then. If it's all in front of me, I can't do it, but if I put 1/2 away first, I usually can. Then I wait about 20 minutes after I eat the first half. If I'm still hungry, I'll go in for more, but otherwise, it's forgotten and left for tomorrow.
That's how I do it in my head, anyway. ;)
I always get the tofu and eggplant too! There is a Panda right down the street from us. For a while there, it was an every night thing. We have cut it down to 2 times a month.
I watched the Finale last night and balled my eyes out too. I always think, "This is so inspiring to see all these people changing their lives for the better, getting healthier, etc." Then I do nothing. Sigh. That's changing though - slowly, but surely.
ladilynn63 was me by the way. Damn blogger won't let me sign in...
Amen to the Orange Chicken. So bad for you, but tastes so gooooooooood!
I haven't tried the orange chicken, but I hear it's good. You know, once in a while you deserve to enjoy yourself. Society puts way too much pressure on us to be thin and control everything. Control is good, but why fall for what the media tells you to do? Enjoy yourself! Ok, I'm off my soap box now. :)
The orange chicken sounds really good, we will have to try that one. I have only seen a few short moments of the Biggest Loser show, where they stand on the scales. Since I am allergic to scales I have to turn the channel or I might brake out in hives or something..
The way I see it, eat all the orange chicken first and maybe a couple bites of the other stuff. Then just save the rest of the tofu and eggplant for tomorrow's leftovers.
Well, this is how I deal with my indulgences, anyway :)
"I'm watching on TV who are changing their lives to be healthier for themselves and their families. The trainers look to the camera and say "You can do it too, and you don't need to wait until January 1st. Start now!". Yea yea yea, just let me finish my yummy chicken and then I'll start."
Classic! :-)
P.S. I finally did the movie meme you tagged me for!
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I've never had orange chicken or been to Panda Express so maybe it's too easy for me to say, DON'T GO BACK THERE! STEP AWAY FROM THE PANDA! If you can solve the no-time-to-cook problem by making something at home you really like on another day (when you have more time) and freezing it, then you can feel good about eating healthy along with the "Losers".
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