Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Out of the mouths of bloggers

I wasn't going to post today, but I just came home from work and perched on the couch to check my blogroll.  Allan had a post that included some pictures of food porn...cakes, cookies...and he spoke of the importance of not eating that kind of stuff.  At all.  Not even "one little taste".

He reminded me of a pamphlet from OA I read years ago called "Before You Take That First Compulsive Bite", about things to consider when food is wooing you and your resolve to resist food's love call is waffling.  I don't remember what all it suggested, but I do recall that it reminded me of what they say in AA all the time, "Don't pick up the first drink. That's the one that gets you drunk."

Whaaa?  One drink doesn't get you drunk.  I oughtta know, and so ought all those other alcoholics that preceded me into AA and kept saying that little ditty to me.  Finally I worked up the nerve to say it out loud..."I never got drunk after the first drink..." and guess what the reply was?  "Try getting drunk without taking the first drink...it can't be done."   Hmmm, yeah...guess that makes sense.  So theoretically the only drink I have to not take is the first one; and if I don't, odds are damn good I won't get drunk.

Allan's seemingly simple advice of not even having one little taste of decadence (or a red light food, if you will) hit me right between the eyes.  I don't have to resist the whole sleeve of cookies, and then the salty something that needs to follow the sweet, followed by some creamy cold ice cream that of course necessitates a crunchy chaser...ad nauseum.  All I have to resist is the first bite.

I'm pretty certain that I won't wake up from a binge induced food coma if I just don't eat the one unplanned compulsive first bite.  That's not such a tall order.  Just say no to the first bite.  The initial mouthful.  The first swallow.  Another meal is only a couple hours away.  It'll be alright.  I won't die if I don't take just that first bite.

14 comments:

  1. Amen, my blogging sister!
    I don't even go down "that" aisle in the store!

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  2. If you think the first bite is tough to turn down, try the second one. Yep, I completely agree. I am of the abstainer camp - especially when there is no built-in portion control because I have no built-in portion controller. The serving size is how much there is available. I've proven this to myself time and time again. It's easier to say no the first bite than it is the second. I need to remember that very thing tonight. There will be chips. I have the very compulsions in the very order you spoke of - sweet then salty, etc.

    And here's what I've been talking to myself with - If I think that first bite is "calling" to me? The second bite's siren song will be louder and stronger. Saying no to the first bite is the easiest out.

    Good stuff, Leslie and great reminders, for sure.

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  3. Yup! It's always the first bite that gets me in trouble. It's never enough--I always want more. Once when I lost 70 pounds with WW (many years ago) the first thing I did was to have a candy bar. I had that one eaten before I got to the car and then turned around, went back into the store, and bought another one. I need to abstain, as well, because I can't have just one. I guess that makes me a food addict. Great post, Leslie.

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  4. There is a saying that goes, sometimes it is easier not to start than is to stop!

    I always say I have never regretted something I "didn't eat. It is the truth.

    I can tell on most any day if it is a day that I could bake something and not be tempted to eat it or if I can have a small dessert and have it not lead to a binge. I have a feeling sometimes that I need to eat clean and simple.

    There are so many things you learned in AA that the rest of us can apply to our eating our of control. Thanks for sharing Leslie. I learn so much from you!

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  5. And that is why we are going to be healthy one day, and escape the madness that is addiction of food.. All the best

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  6. You go girl!!!! Don't you just love those little epiphanies?? As soon as you said the first drink gets your drunk, I knew exactly what it meant. You know how I adore your little AAisms. Keep 'em coming. :)

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  7. So well said, Leslie. I have debated this topic myself many times in the past year and gotten some varied responses when I have blogged about it. I think you and I are of the same thinking - some foods we just cannot moderate and should leave alone. But some people swear that approach leads to more binging.

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  8. I never thought about it that way, but yes, that rings very true. Mine seems to be in the salt, not sweet department of late, but the idea is still the same.

    To better health,
    Cat

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  9. Hmmmm...obviously I'm going against the popular opinion in your comments, but I disagree completely.

    I think its far better to learn to eat in moderation, enjoying small treats and then moving on, then trying to avoid any "bad" foods forever. In my personal experience (which is all I can attest to), the key has been to allow myself to enjoy those things, infrequently. Being able to sustain the way I eat, for the rest of my life has been my main goal. And I doubt I'd be able to go FOREVER without a bite of cake. And frankly, I don't see the reason why anyone would want to.

    (please don't take that harshly, just my opinion in reference to MY journey, ultimately its up to the individual to find what works best for them)

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  10. My fave saying in AA is....It's not the caboose that kills ya. It's the locomotive! I love the way you worded it...the 1st COMPLUSIVE bite. It takes alot of self honesty to recognize when that is. I can rationalize and justify most anything. I am better, but far from perfect.

    Great post, natch

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  11. Everytime I read your blog, it makes me ponder life. You give me food for my soul. Love this!

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  12. You are SO right - one bite is too much. It's easier for me to never have one taste than to only have one taste...know what I mean?

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  13. First of all, I just love your Christmas background - so festive!

    And I could not agree with this post more. I was reading a blog where a woman said that since her boyfriend moved in, she has gained 10 pounds. I replied "did he force feed you to eat pizza and Doritos?" Her reply of course was no - but it is easy to blame others for our weaknesses though, isn't it?!

    Hugs!

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  14. This time of year, the problem is getting through to the Food-Is-Love people who get all hurt if you don't "just take one bite" of their marvelous creation that they slaved over a hot stove for hours to make, yada yada lather-rinse-repeat.
    I'm getting better at taking a piece, casually wandering off to chat for a moment to someone else, and stealthily dumping the treat in the trash. What they don't know won't hurt me.

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