To start with, I need to say something. “Hello, my name is wonderyak, and I am addicted to food.”

To quote wikipedia (the definitve source on all things), “Addiction is characterized by the compulsive use of substances or engagement of behaviors despite clear evidence to the user of consequent morbidity and/or other harmful effects.”

Yep. That sums it up.

Now onto the actual post I had planned.

I have three primary reasons for losing weight. To be fit and healthy. To be thinner and sexy. To make a life-long change in my relationship with food.

I don’t start eating because I’m hungry; I don’t stop eating because I’m full. Food is a time filler, an entertainment device, a social lubricant. I eat because I enjoy the act of eating - the chewing, the tastes, the swallowing (yeah, yeah - get your minds out of the gutter).

I have encountered, far too often, situations where I am full but continue to eat because it feels good to my mouth.

I kid you not, I also sometimes get this feeling while eating: “dang - this is really good food! I better consume as much of it as possible, because I may never enjoy this exact flavor again.” How sad is that?

A friend of mine said something interesting to me the other day. “I don’t eat until I’m full, I eat until I’m no longer hungry.”

Qua? I don’t think I’ve EVER done that. I don’t actually know what that even feels like. I only stop eating when I am physically incapable of adding more food to my stomach. Not good.

Using Thomas’ awesome website countcals.com, I have begun counting the calories I intake. Prior to my decision to lose weight, I must have been ingesting 3,500+ calories daily. I ate 2,000 calories the other day…and it was a LOT less than I’m used to.

ODDLY ENOUGH, I felt good the entire day! I never felt bloated or weighed down, which used to be a pretty common state of being for me. There were occasions I felt hungry (I think…or maybe it was just me psychosomatically wanting more food), but I always felt refreshed and energized. When I did eat, the food provided sustenance. I know this may sound ridiculous, but there are very few times I can remember where I used food to do what it is supposed to do: provide my body with energy.

And what have I gained from this relationship? Here’s a list of ailments that have been caused, at least in part, by my addiction (because that’s what it is) to food:
- acne,
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome,
- bad circulation (my feet fall asleep sometimes when I take a shit),
- leg pain if I stand in one place too long,
- Gout.

Awesome.

Thanks, food! You’re like that hot chick who leaves you with nothing but huge cell phone bills and herpes. Bitch.

So, moving forward.

Obviously, food CAN be enjoyable. I don’t want to kill that entirely. I just want to shift my thinking on it.

Simple rules: I am not going to eat unless I’m hungry. I won’t eat something unless it is really going to be worth it (or out of necessity). I will stop eating when I am no longer hungry.

So, no more sneaking food when my wife is doing laundry or taking a shower. No more eating because I’m bored. No more stuffing myself to the point of physical pain, no matter how tasty something is.