‘Ello 😀
Want to know my secret to having a fabulous day?
Start it in a fabulous way! (Dr. Seuss, eat your heart out)
After being less than impressed with yesterday’s breakfast deviation, this morning I decided to screw the whole variety thing and just go back to my tried-and-true beloved bowl of oats: eggified, banafied, and topped with almond butter and pudding. Dee-licious. Always puts a smile on my face.
And while it would be considered bad science to conclude that a satisfying breakfast was the only reason that today was so terrific, I can say that it definitely didn’t hurt 😉
Nor did enjoying dessert [and reading] after lunch…
And while we’re at it, a delicious dinner probably played its part, too.
Any guesses as to where I’m going with all this? Besides taste bud heaven?
Food, my dear friends. Food is the secret behind having a fabulous day. The right kind (ie. what you crave), and the right amount (ie. not too much/little).
Alright, so maybe it’s not quite that simple, but there’s no denying that food is a necessary part of the equation. Without food there is no health, and without health there is no happiness.
And there’s no shame in enjoying food and admitting that it can put a smile on our face, either. All those warnings about the dangers of “emotional eating” are a load of crap. What’s wrong with treating myself to something that I know will put a smile on my face?
Nothing. at. all. Swoooooon.
About a week ago, I made the decision to increase how much I was eating in an attempt to combat general feelings of “offness”. It definitely wasn’t the easiest thing to do… especially because I didn’t know whether or not my ‘offness’ was actually caused by hunger or something else, but seeing as how my symptoms always seemed to disappear after I had something to eat, I figured that hunger was probably the most likely culprit. And it appears that it was…
After a week or so of eating more… there’s no more offness. No more irritability. No more hyperactivity. No more inability to concentrate. And no more constant thoughts of food.
Thank goodness for that…
I absolutely hated feeling scatterbrained and not being able to think about anything besides what I was going to eat next, so if I felt those feelings start to creep in, I would simply grab something to eat, and the thoughts would disappear and I would be free to go on with my day. Eat and move on… I like it 😀
Quite a few people expressed the same kind of uncertainty when it came to identifying the signs of true hunger, and from my own experiences, the best advice I can give you is this…
If you think you might be hungry, then you probably are. If you can’t stop thinking about food, then you should probably eat more. If you’re tired, irritable, and feeling “off”, then don’t be afraid to grab a snack. I promise you that you won’t “balloon up”, and you will feel 100x better. It might be hard to believe, but you’ll be amazed at how big of a difference even the slightest increase in intake can make on your overall quality of life. And who doesn’t want to enjoy fabulous days? 😀
. – . – . – .
Does anyone have any similar experiences that they want to share?
Aww girly, I’m so so glad you’re feeling better 🙂 I find food such an amazing thing. I mean, it is full of nutrients and is basically our fuel for life and the power that it has not only on our bodies but also our minds is so complicated! Back in my ED days when I was obviously not eating anything like enough, food just took over my mind. My everyday was filled with thoughts of food and gosh it was so depressing. Now that I eat when I’m hungry the thoughts aren’t taking over my everyday life and I can actually focus on other things and be more productive (until I get hungry again :P) which is SUCH a relief. And not only that, but when I was constantly thinking about food, being depressed, I wasn’t a pleasant, happy person to be around. Now I feel so much happier, confident and want to talk to people.
I totally agree though. There is no shame in enjoying food. We only have one body and one life so we might aswell enjoy it whilst we can!
Its taken me a long long time but I’ve finally figured out my hunger cues rather than boredom and stress hunger and I’m more than happy to eat when I need to. In the past I would get to the point of feeling faint and physically sick before I would eat (by that point all the pleasure of eating was lost), now I make sure I eat well before I reach that point. I still have to find the right balance but I’m slowly getting there!
I definitely agree that if you’re thinking about food, you need some in yo belly!!
When I was going through my disordered eating phase, I was constantly thinking about food…now, because I listen what my body wants and needs, it’s not the only thing on my mind! 😀
Eating truly does make one feel better, especially nourishing food that you crave!
Thanks for inspiring everybody once again, Amanda! I needed just a little motivation too. Yesterday at dinner I decided to eat until I was full for a change. I did it and then the late night desire to binge on everything in sight disappeared at once. I didn’t have any insatiable cravings and it was such a relief! I must really listen to the signals my body sends me a little more 🙂 .
I love this: “there’s no shame in enjoying food…” It is such a truth, yet a lot of us was brought up in a surroundings that tought us that food is just a food and we should eat it alone, quickly and only when necessary…Food should be enjoyed, it should be a part of our life we aren´t ashamed of.
Wonderful post Amanda!
I so have to agree with Jenn, you would be a fantastc person for young girls to talk with! And it makes me SO happy that that is your plan too! You will be the best one ever! Thank you for always sharing your thoughts and being so open to us!
I think about food all the time, and I realize more and more that this is a sign of hunger. I always though i should wait till my tummy sreamed for food. But the more I think of it, cravings, thinking of food, sadness etc are all hunger-signs. I look forward to trust those signs more too 🙂
YES YES AND YES! If you’re thinking about food all the time, maybe your tummy might not feel hungry but your MIND certainly is. Food isn’t just about feeding the body, it’s about feeding the mind too. If you don’t eat something that satisfies you, your body might feel full but your mind isn’t. Does that make sense?
You rock. Make me oats now.
xxx
Great post! Sounds like you’re so in tune with your body 🙂 It must be all of your amazing eats! Love that mug, btw!
xo
With my recent troubles with some dairy products and lack of hunger, I’ve definitely been eating way less than I should. I didn’t even think much of it- I just ate when I felt hunger and that was that. Little did I know that my stomach issues were blocking out obvious “hunger” signals- instead I was feeling it in so many other ways that I just couldn’t quite understand. I would wake up- hungry- eat my oats, and go back to bed because I was exhausted for no good reason. I felt cranky and irritable, foggy, groggy, you know- the works. Nothing alarming but nothing good.
I’ve upped my intake in the past few days (as you know, thanks again for the advice. Love you!), and I’m already feeling 100x better! While I do still think about how badly I want to try something new that I just bought or the like, I’m not constantly thinking about food even when I’m not “hungry”.
Oh, the wonders of food. Who knew? 😉
I totally agree with what you said. My mom keeps telling me to watch what I eat (even thought I’m quite skinny) but I try to ignore her and just eat until my body is full.
The pizza looks so good… And how is “Her Fearful Symmetry?” I’m looking for new books to read (:
It’s actually really good! A bit strange, but I’m really enjoying it so far and definitely recommend picking it up.
This post made me smile, right from the title. My dad is practically obsessed with the word “fabulous.” If you ask him how he is, it is always “Fabulous!” with a huge grin, and his work and cell answering machine both include the saying “I’m having a fabulous day and I hope you are too.”
…I guess you are having a fabulous day! My Dad would be so pleased.
wonderful post. Sounds like you are really listening to your brain and your appetite now with intuitive eating, which is so important!! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
I’m glad you wrote this. Thank You 🙂
…omg that was the shortest comment I ever made on this blog. (but don’t worry you’ll hear more from me)
Thank you for this:
“If you think you might be hungry, then you probably are. If you can’t stop thinking about food, then you should probably eat more.”
Quotable Quote.
*I think I have been obsessed with your mug for over a year…what is the backstory behind it please?*
also, I think I see a gnome in your ice cream…not “in” your ice cream but you know what I mean. (0:
Thank ya! It’s my favorite mug 😀 My mom got it for me for Valentine’s Day (I think?) one year when I was really struggling with my recovery. She told me she wanted it to remind me what I was fighting for.
I’ve definitely had the “but i think i eat enough!’ feeling before – I just bite the bullet and eat more (how horrible, right? 😉 )
I loved “Her Fearful Symmetry” – I read it last summer!
Awesome post! I totally know what you mean – sometimes it’s so hard to tell if I am hungry or not, until I sit down with a plate of food and DEVOUR it like a madwoman.
No shame in eating for pleasure! 😀
Honestly, right now I am just not satisfied after I eat. I don’t know if I’m still hungry either. I haven’t been feeling that hungry lately also. I don’t know what’s going on.
Yay I’m glad you’re feeling better! I think there are so many different ways our body can tell us that we’re hungry and that we need to eat more. Also, with as much activity that you and I do, we don’t need to worry about ballooning up…that’s definitely something I continually have to remind myself of b/c I can freak out a bit after indulging.
i’m glad that eating more helped you feel better! i really love and appreciate the topics you explore on your blog. i find them so relatable, and so balanced. i definitely still struggle with a lot of disordered eating thoughts, but your posts help me keep things in perspective 🙂
Thanks for this post! I was sitting here debating on whether I’m actually hungry or not and yes, it turns out I was. It’s still hard for me to identify those signs. Especially because it seems like I eat a ton of food already but I guess it may not be enough since I’ve definitely been feeling the “offness.” I’m a new reader and I’m loving your posts. I mean I can pretty much relate to everything! 😀 I am so getting puddings next time I visit the store. Your breakfast looks absolutely delicious!
Ya, I am feeling like this now. Desperately trying to work through it but it is definitely hard. Under eating pretty much dead sets you for feeling like…well…shit.
Which is the perfect reason NOT to do it. Be strong girl and don’t force yourself to be miserable.
I used to constantly snack & nibble and then I decided to figure out what was going on.. Iit turned out to be a nervous habit…instead of knowing how to deal with my frustrations – I would snack… I agree with you that if your hungry, you prob are — but sometimes it’s about more than that – for me it was about “breaking the habit” Just my opinion — xoxox
food is love 🙂 oatmeal always makes me smile ( I need to try pudding on mine though!!)
Definitely… it’s life changing!
Interesting take – glad to hear your thoughts on the topic. I’m glad you’re back on a happy oats kick. They make me happy too!
I love it–give in when your body tells you to eat! Such a simple concept but it’s hard to accept. And I love that picture of the protein ball and book–it’s so cute and I’m pinning it ASAP (linking back to you of course) hehe 🙂
You mean the secret to an awesome day is NOT starting it off by seeing someone you don’t want to see?! *utter shock* Bummer.
It’s awesome to hear that simply eating more has solved your feeling “off” — I decided that I ought to increase my intake, for pretty much the same reason, but I did not experience any such miracle cure. Unless I didn’t increase it enough, which is rather scary to think…
And I just have to say, I love that photo with the upside down ice cream cone. I have no idea why I find it so hysterically funny, but I just do.
<3 <3
It was a scary thought for me at first too, and incredibly hard to believe… but you can’t argue with the body… it always wins.
Hello love!
Im glad your breakfast was better than yesterday, breakfast always sets the tone for my day, love having a breakfast that makes me and my tummy smile ; )
I eat what I want and when i want, ha! End of story ; ) I just listen to my body, and honor it, my body is my temple, and I only have one, have to be treating it right : )
LOVE the cone with the ice cream yum, Im craving a cone now with some coconut bliss : )
have a good night!
xoxo <3
Yes, yes! Love the part about having to take care of our body because it’s the only one we have, and it’s gotta last us a lifetime!
Girl, what you are saying is toooo true! Food is so important and can make or break your day. It may not be the number one thing, but when your eating is off like it was before you increased your intake, you can end up feeling like crap all the time. Food can also make your day in the form of ice cream 🙂 or even carrots! Whatever tastes good.
I’m actually doing the same thing right now. It’s made such a big difference. Sad thing is i still need to up my intake. Actually, that might not be too sad.. another few scoops of peanut butter in my day sure would lead to an extra fabulous day!
Good food always makes me feel better! Cars can’t function without gas, and our bodies can’t function without food. And by bodies, I mean EVERYTHING we possess in ourselves…our brains, our emotions, our moods, our energy levels, our stress levels, our ability to move our legs from one room to the next. Everything will go downhill if we don’t eat enough. Except our stress levels…those will go up! I’m really glad you’ve realized that upping your food intake makes you feel healthier. I know that whenever I go too long without enough food, I become a bitter monster and a stress case. And I wholeheartedly agree with you about eating food that we know will make us happy. Why eat something if it won’t also serve as a mood lifter? Good food = therapy…whether or not people like to admit it!
Love this post girl!! I’ve upped my cals lately too and have experienced the same positive benefits 🙂 Your recipe for a great day is right on, any day with good eats is awesome in my book!
For so long I felt as though I was supposed to eat a certain amount — the same amount every day. But there were days when I wanted more or less, but I forced myself to have this specific amount. WHY??? There are days when I want an extra helping of this or that, and there are days when I’m just not as hungry as normal. Now that is ok with me. But its taken me a long time to get to that point.
I know exactly what you mean about changing up breakfast! Sometimes I just want to concoct a new kind of meal– but end up screwing myself (and my satisfaction) over! 🙁
Rule of thumb: Eat what you truly crave for breakfast & love every second of doing so 😉
Yay for no more offness!- seems like you are really getting increasingly in tune with your bod – which is awesome!
Ignoring hunger and not allowing yourself yummy foods you’re craving=miserable day , for sure.
I hate the way the media practically makes eating for enjoyment shameful these days-promoting ways to stop you listening to your body /appetite. Brushing your teeth the minute you have finished a meal, sprays to to spray on your food to suppress appetite(whaaa?), drinking water to fill you up etc. Craziness.
Gorgous looking eats,& love your mug at breakfast.
Xxx
Today I had such a lame-o food day, and it’s funny because it makes me feel like the ENTIRE day was lame-o. I think I’ll pack an exciting lunch tomorrow to up my spirits 🙂
Hip Hip Hurray for food! That’s so great that the increased food has helped with your off-ness, just goes to show that listening to the body is the way to go! This post is a great enforcement to that fact 🙂
Have you thought about going into counseling for young girls? esp those with ED? You’re just this fabulous, motivating, amazing ball of energy and I just love how real you are! Its uber inspiring =) you always make me want to high five you every day!
yes! eat what you crave peoples! be happy! enjoy food! you are what you eat… happy food = happy people! =)
*high five*
Awwwr thanks love 😀 I’m actually pursuing a degree in clinical psychology, and I want to go on to work with girls who are suffering with an ED 😀
=)
sorry to jump in hear. But I have been reading your blog for a while and I have been also reading all of your old blog urm sorry for the stalker:p but you will make an absolutely amazing clinical psychologist, I absolutely adore reading all your blog entries you really are so inspiring.
Yess I totally agree with Jenn, Amanda!! I am encouraged by how you’ve come such a long way, and are well rounded in how you encourage and teach others! I also agree that eating the perfect amount of what we need is so important! I think I’ve been eating a little more lately b/c I’m connnnnstantly hungry! But I think it’s also affected by my workout patterns and the fact that I’m more active….? I do weigh a few lbs. heavier as of late, actually! But I feel like I look the same and all, so I’m thinking I’ve just gotten more muscular? Because you know what they say~!! If you want bulk, then feed the muscle! If you don’t, then eat lighter foods. But having a healthy outlook to all this is so important., and I’m trying to be as healthy as possible in that manner although it’s not always easy being a woman! 😀 Have a beautiful day
Very true!
I’ve been eating coconut milk ice cream every night since I injured my back. Emotional eating? Why the hell not! Because it totally made me feel better and was exactly what I wanted 🙂
Every word of what you’re saying is true :), I’m glad to hear that the simple solution was eating more- I gotta say I find it exciting when I realize how much food I actually need to sustain my energy, it’s a blessing for sure.
I’ve had a lotttttt of experience in having my energy levels plummet when I wasn’t eating enough (or not eating the right stuff- aka lacking enough carbohydrates or sodium in my diet), but when I eat properly what I crave and am satiated life is a 1,000,000 better and I’m not obsessing about food 24/7!
The sodium thing is actually something I noticed as well. If I don’t add salt to my food, my blood pressure gets way too low and I’m tiiiiiiired.
AMEN girl! And I agree….food really can make or break a day. And I totally think food can make ya feel better. And whats wrong with that? Screw all that stuff about emotional eating being bad….as long as you’re picking things that your body truly wants and needs I don’t see and issue with it at all! Its all about listening to our bodies! Great post Amanda!