Foods that are filling.

LostnFound · #1 03-14-2007, 02:34 PM

Can anyone help me with ideas of healthy foods that they think are filling to help hunger. I wanted everyone thoughts. Thanks.

Dia Minha · #2 03-14-2007, 02:51 PM

Anything high in fiber and/or protein is going to be filling and give you the feeling of staying satisfied longer. I find if I eat a fruit or veggie with a complex carb or a lean protein it has more sustaining power. However, if you are hungry and truly hungry, (not bored or thirsty) you can't go wrong just grabbing a fruit or a veggie. These do not have as much sustaining power, but they are packed with nutrients that our bodies need.

**5ft Diva** · #3 03-14-2007, 04:33 PM

Sometimes the best way for me to figure out what something is is to figure out what it is not. Non filling foods for me are white breads, although they are heavy, they are not filling. They're also cookies, cakes, and junk food of any kind. I'm sure you knew that already so I suppose I'm stating the obvious. So anyway, there's my 2 cents on that.

LostnFound · #4 03-16-2007, 11:30 PM

You know after I read this thread again, I realized I don't need help with feeling full. I really need help with diverting my thoughts when I turn to food at emotional times. What are ways to get your mind on a different train of thought than food? FOOD, FOOD, FOOD, STOP. See what I mean. Just kidding. I'm okay for now but I would really love everyones thoughts on distracting your thoughts. I talked to someone the other day and she told me she really didn't get hungry throughout the day and my jaw dropped and I knew she was serious.

Is this something that happens over time if you can train your thoughts? Do you finally get over your compulsive thoughts eventually? If anyone has any words of widom on the subject, please share.

**5ft Diva** · #5 03-17-2007, 09:58 AM

Would it be fair to say that you have some sort of addiction to food? What I've always heard is that when there's an addiction involved there's this little switch in your brain that's always on telling your body that it needs something and it won't turn off until your body receives it. So the question is, what is the need that your body is looking for that food is trying to fill? What purpose does food have? You'll have to do a little homework on this issue if you really want to figure this out because it goes deep to the core of you. We all have addictions and we're all interested in getting rid of them. Read the thread on metamorphosis and maybe that'll help you see what I'm talking about.

Anyway, those are my thoughts.

Dia Minha · #6 03-17-2007, 06:50 PM

LnF, This is exactly what we talked about in my WW meeting on Thursday.

It is really hard for me to put it out all on paper, however, I will give it a try. If you have any questions are if something is not clear just drop me a line.

From what I understand you saying is that you are an emotional eater. You find yourself eating when you are not hungry, maybe when you are sad, lonely, or bored.

The first thing you have to do is identify the feeling. Then, you need to decide what it is that eating gives you. In other words, if you are very overwhelmed and stressed, eating calms you down and helps you relax. Now you have identified the feeling and what it is you need to keep you from eating. You are overwhelmed and stressed and you need to feel calm and relaxed. So now you need to find something besides food that can give you that calm and relaxed feeling. Taking a moment to mediate and take some deep breaths might work, or going for a walk. You might try relaxing in a hot bubble bath or turning on some soothing music. Now of course the trick is to find something you can do that will give you the same feeling as eating that you can do as easy and quickly as feeding yourself. Most of us can't drop the screaming baby and climb into the tub and relax while the other kids are hollering and banging on the bathroom door.

Like Diva said. This could take a little time. You might really have to dig deep. Let me know if there is anything I can do. This is something I struggle with everyday. Sometimes it just helps to brainstrom ideas.

Dia

**5ft Diva** · #7 03-17-2007, 07:37 PM

These are some practical ideas, Dia. I love the insight you share here on this forum.

What are some of the kinds of things that you've done to help you identify your need to eat or whatever else you're "addicted" to?

Dia Minha · #8 03-17-2007, 10:56 PM

It is kind of hard to explain, because every one is different. However, any time you eat and you are not hungry, you are eating for an emotional reason.

If I am eating because I am hungry, then I stop when my body signals that it is satisfied or full. If I am enjoying a little treat, just for the taste, then I eat slow and enjoy each morsel, waiting until the taste is out of my mouth before taking another bite, and again stopping when my body signals it is time to stop. When I am trying to feed an emotional need, I tend to eat quickly without really tasting the food and eat way past the point of satisfaction.

I have a card, my WW leader gave to me, on my refridgerator that says "Halt, It's not in here". Halt stands for, Happy, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. This is just a little reminder that I am not going to find the solution in the fridge, unless it is truly hunger I am feeling.

Does this answer your question, Diva? I feel like I might have taken you clear out in left field.

Dia

**5ft Diva** · #9 03-17-2007, 11:14 PM

You sort of answered my question...unless I'm misunderstanding your answer. I was just wondering what mental exercise/conversation/dialogue/check-off list or whatever you want to call it was it that helped you narrow down what need you were filling through food - not necessarily how it felt when you realized you were doing that. Does that make sense?

Dia Minha · #10 03-18-2007, 06:33 PM

At first the dialogue would take place after the binge. Something along the lines of, "I can't believe I just ate all that. I feel sick and uncomfortable. Why did I do that?" Then I would have to think back through the hour or so before the binge, sometimes longer. And continue with something like, "Oh, DH was late getting home again. I felt neglected, lonely, frustrated, overwhelmed, angry and dissappointed."

It is important for me to pinpoint the emotion or emotions, because what would work for one would not work for the other. Taking a moment to take a few deep breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth, would help me calm down if I was angry, but not if I am feeling neglected. Calling a friend on the phone might help with feeling lonely, but not my dissappointment.

After many years I can talk myself through it before a binge. (Most of the time any way.) If I find myself walking to the kitchen, I have to ask myself why. "Why am I going to the kitchen? Am I hungry, or am I just bored? Do I need to eat or do I need a break?"

Is this closer?

LostnFound · #11 03-19-2007, 07:59 AM

The word addiction is a powerful word to swallow. I did a lot of thinking about this matter after reading DM and 5D's posts.

Before becoming active in the church, I had a pretty bad habit that I quit. I realized that I had just switched the habit to eating after I stopped the old habit. I jokingly would make comments that I was addicted to food but never took it seriously. My earlier addiction was so much more terrible to my health. It was funny to think that food could become an addiction.

I know my next step is to do some soul searching and see why I even have the need in my life for these addictions. What is it taking the place of? At this point in my life I really don't have a clue what eating is doing for me. I am really going to have to work at this. It probably goes way back to my prior habit and what that did for me I guess.

I appreciate DM's comments. I always feels like she knows me so well. I need to put in practice her suggestions. I mean truly put this into practice, because I truly want to succeed at living a healthy life. In all aspects of my life.

Dia Minha · #12 03-19-2007, 09:40 AM

LnF, I believe that the reason it feels like I know you so well is because we are so much a like. I have been though and am going through a lot of the sames things as you. I am so glad that I have been able to help.

Dia

***Big_Sissy*** · #13 03-19-2007, 02:25 PM

Addiction is a strong word. However, in every case that I am aware of, Addiction is caused by some underlying problem that we are trying to compensate for.

It was explained to me that our spirits are trying to feel the same way we did in the pre-existence, so in some way or another, we latch onto addictions because they make us feel a certain way. We hope they will fill the void, but after a while, they don't and just make us numb to reality. Which is why we hang onto them. Call it a false "safe place"

I too suffer from a nasty addiction. I am starting a process to relieve myself from this addiction, and I will WIN!

If I can add any advise it would be to think positive.

Take 5 min and visualize yourself when you were fit. Remember this feeling. Now think I am fit and I eat healthy. Now say it.

Your challenge is to now do this once a day every day for a week. See if you notice your opportunities to eat healthy automatically changing.

I promise you will. The universal law of attraction will ensure it.

Think negative thoughts, like "I eat such crappy foods" or "I'm so out of shape" or "I can't stop eating these foods" and guess what, you'll get exactly what you think. The law of attraction will ensure that too. So be careful what you think about and be positive.

If you would like to know more about the law of attraction, just let me know. It's as real as gravity.

LostnFound · #14 03-19-2007, 04:35 PM

You know it's funny because my husband and I have read many books on the subject of our thoughts turning into actions. It has helped in many other areas of our lives, such as getting out of debt. I just haven't applied it to this particular matter. I really need to use that process of thinking in this case also.

Food has really been a crutch for me. In my old lifestyle I had so many crutches worse than food that food never seemed harmful. The wrong foods and overeating really can be harmful to your body. It really has sunk in lately to me how harmful it can be.

Just a side note to BS. I don't mean to stick my nose where it does not belong but my husband and I overcame some pretty humdinger of addictions to be where we are today. The road was rough. Very rough. If you ever need someone to talk with. We are always here for you.

***Big_Sissy*** · #15 03-19-2007, 04:54 PM

Well, thank you. I appreciate that.

However, being a guy, I don't really need to talk about much of anything

But none the less, thank you anyway.

Now get to using those positive thoughts.

**5ft Diva** · #16 03-20-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dia Minha

At first the dialogue would take place after the binge. Something along the lines of, "I can't believe I just ate all that. I feel sick and uncomfortable. Why did I do that?" Then I would have to think back through the hour or so before the binge, sometimes longer. And continue with something like, "Oh, DH was late getting home again. I felt neglected, lonely, frustrated, overwhelmed, angry and dissappointed."

It is important for me to pinpoint the emotion or emotions, because what would work for one would not work for the other. Taking a moment to take a few deep breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth, would help me calm down if I was angry, but not if I am feeling neglected. Calling a friend on the phone might help with feeling lonely, but not my dissappointment.

After many years I can talk myself through it before a binge. (Most of the time any way.) If I find myself walking to the kitchen, I have to ask myself why. "Why am I going to the kitchen? Am I hungry, or am I just bored? Do I need to eat or do I need a break?"

Is this closer?

Yes! Thank you, that helped me very much.

**5ft Diva** · #17 03-20-2007, 11:52 AM

I was reading your thought LnF and I was thinking that what you're going through is a Word of Wisdom refinement. Doesn't it sound like that to you? You're spirit is telling your body to take care of itself (W/W) and if you'll listen closely, you'll know exactly what your next step is, and then the next and the next after that....

Just a thought.

Stargazer · #18 03-20-2007, 03:48 PM

LnF Two thoughts. Dr. Phil in his weight loss book talks about finding something else to do when you want to eat for emotional reasons. It's hard to eat when you are cleaning the toilet, going for a walk or gardening, etc. That's a good at the moment thing to do. But I do agree with the other comments. As does Dr. Phil (not that that really matters)

He also talks about finding out what food does for you. I have really struggled with being able to figure this out, but one of the things that I've come up with is that when I feel unvalued (what's the real word for that) then if nobody else cares about me, then why should I care. I want it, I eat it, who cares about the consequences. It all has to do with how I feel about myself. Figuring out those issues and working through them is the hard part. For now maybe I'll just go clean toilets.