Happy Eaters food fun fitness

I just looked over what I posted a little more than a year ago, and it's all still completely accurate, except I've managed to add sweet potatoes into my diet without adverse consequences (YEAH, I love them), I no longer eat cheese every day, usually more like once a week, and what I'm working on to get to naturally thin is to make the good habits I've developed over the last year more automatic. Interesting to see how much remains the same, though.

FOODS I LIKE: Bread, steak, cheese and crackers, cake with butter cream frosting, seafood, fried food, chocolate, peanut butter.

FOODS I DON'T REALLY LIKE: Ice cream, anything canned, grapes, olives, corned beef.

THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT BREAKFAST: I am better now than I used to be- I used to be a breakfast skipper. I often wish I had more time to prepare and enjoy it.

I HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING EATING WHEN I AM: Bored. Lonely. Sad. Stressed. Tired.

I DO REALLY WELL CONTROLLING MY EATING WHEN I AM: Armed with a plan and staying in my routine, and busy in a good way.

I HAVE A HARD TIME LIMITING MY PORTIONS WHEN I EAT: Chips and dip, pasta, cheese and crackers, appetizers.

THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT EATING OUT IN RESTAURANTS: This is getting better. It used to be a license to leave feeling gross. (Really, what is fun about that?) Now, I am okay with leaving food, saving food to take home, and not touching more of something that is mediocre.

I WOULD DESCRIBE MY FOOD PHILOSOPHY AS: Eat healthy most of the time and enjoy the occasional indulgence. Also, any food is 100% calorie free in the 6 hours after any marathon. ;)

I FEEL STRONG AND HEALTHY WHEN I EAT: Veggies and fruit as part as my daily intake, more protein and healthy carbs.

AM I A GRAZER OR A BINGER: I've been both- more recently, probably more of a grazer.

I AM REALLY GOOD AT: Sticking with my exercise plans. I love to work out (especially run)- it is MY time!

I AM AFRAID OF THESE FOODS: Veal, duck, lamb, asparagus ...and smoothies. Everyone talks about smoothies. How do you make them? Can something green besides a Shamrock Shake taste good?

I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THESE THINGS ABOUT MY EATING: I would like to take more risks and try more new things (see smoothie comment above.) I would also like to eat a lot slower.

I BELIEVE I AM NATURALLY THIN BECAUSE: I believe I have the potential to be naturally thin. Some days are easier than others.
 

This was an interesting assessment... I wonder what conclusions you can draw about me from this. ;-)

FOODS I LIKE: Homemade hamburgers, cheese, broccoli, bananas, pastries, roast chicken with crispy skin, homemade chocolate chip cookies, french fries, brownies, cherries

FOODS I DON'T REALLY LIKE:  Celery, tofu, frozen TV dinners

THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT BREAKFAST: Ambivalent. I really enjoy it when I have a lot of time on my hands (i.e., Sunday brunch). But when it's a regular workday, it's just "whatever." I'd rather have more sleep.

I HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING EATING WHEN I AM: Angry. Bored. Anxious.

I DO REALLY WELL CONTROLLING MY EATING WHEN I AM: Feeling good about myself, and am practicing self-awareness

I HAVE A HARD TIME LIMITING MY PORTIONS WHEN I EAT: Doritos and Cheetos, most commercial pototo chips, actually. Chips and dip. Certain sweet things, such as banana bread or chocolate cake.

THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT EATING OUT IN RESTAURANTS: I love it. I'm either spending it with my husband, or enjoying it with friends or family. The only time I feel badly about a restaurant experience is when the food and/or service is bad. I've never felt anxious about dining out, even in the throes of my worst dieting behavior.

I WOULD DESCRIBE MY FOOD PHILOSOPHY AS:  Feel confident about yourself, and the rest will follow. Be open to different eating styles, but keep in mind that what works best for one may not work for *you*.

I FEEL STRONG AND HEALTHY WHEN I EAT:  Protein (meat, poultry or seafood), veggies, fat.

AM I A GRAZER OR A BINGER: Both. But I'm trying to cut back on snacking at the moment.

I AM REALLY GOOD AT:  Sticking with my eating plans, but also adjusting them according to the situation. For example, there is no way I could eat the way I am currently if I were to stay with relatives for a few weeks.

I AM AFRAID OF THESE FOODS: Snake. For real! My husband has killed and cooked a snake. I just can't fathom eating it, though. I am also afraid of natto (fermented soybeans). However, I've eaten it twice.

I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THESE THINGS ABOUT MY EATING:   Nothing.

I BELIEVE I AM NATURALLY THIN BECAUSE: I don't see myself as "naturally thin." I've had to work at it for a long time. And it still takes practice on my part. I'm still working on self-awareness, and getting comfortable with myself and my emotions. I've learned to embrace food and my appetite, which has been SO helpful for me.

Wanted to add mine. :)

These are some of my favorite foods: Peanuts, spinach, berries, bananas, shrimp (not breaded), Greek yogurt, cheese, eggs, hummus, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, salmon, steak.

These are the foods that I really don't like: meat, canned tuna, processed junk where I don't know what the ingredients are, potato chips, salty greasy food, fast food, cake, cottage cheese (doesn't digest well), nuts (allergic), doughnuts, candy that isn't chocolate (skittles, starburst).

This is how I feel about breakfast: Once in a while it is okay, but usually I am fine with something light like berries and a cup of coffee.

I have a hard time controlling my eating when I'm feeling: Lonely or depressed.

I do really well eating in these situations: When I am busy or during the day.

I have a hard time limiting my portions when I eat: Delicious home cooked dinner.

This is how I feel about eating out in restaurants: I enjoy restaurants. I like eating with people I enjoy. I eat and take the rest home. The only thing I don't like about it is when we pick a yucky restaurant. I will order the best option and if it is gross, I just don't eat it.

I would describe my food philosophy like this: I eat healthy food. I just have to eat less of it to achieve the weight I want to be at.

I feel strong and healthy when I eat: A healthy meal right after an intense workout.

Am I a grazer or a binger? Right now my food personality tends to be: I'm neither. I just eat a bit too much food, LOL.

I'm really good at: Eating healthy food. I like healthy foods, so that's never been an issue. Also, I'm good at exercising. I always get a workout in.

I'm afraid of these foods: Not afraid of any food. But I do tend to overeat peanuts/peanut butter. I haven't wanted any for a week or so now though.

I would like to change these things about my eating: I would like to find a way to eat less. Maybe I will try to cut down on the higher calorie items, like peanut butter and hummus.

I believe I'm Naturally Thin because: I am not, yet. But I won't give up.

 

This is the thread that brought me out of lurking mode and into participation mode!  I've been reading Happy Eaters since it began, and I'm excited to jump in and start joining in the conversation.

FOODS I LIKE: Any and every kind of real food if it's cooked well.  I wish there were some foods I didn't like, but food is my passion and hobby.  Some of my favorites are stinky cheese, Summer tomatoes, any pork product...especially bacon and pork belly, beef, nuts, chocolate, any kind of sweet (I'm embarassingly indiscriminate here), all coconut products, dark greens, smoothies, wine, dried fruit, any salty/sweet combo, fermented food, sushi, spicy Thai soups...just about everything!

FOODS I DON'T REALLY LIKE:  Most crap food.  Fast food, lame restaurant food, processed junk food...usually disappointing and not worth eating!  Out of season produce, poor quality meat/fish and frozen meals don't do it for me either.

THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT BREAKFAST: I'm into it!  I usually eat it 12 - 14 hours after dinner.  Coffee is my reason for getting out of bed.

I HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING EATING WHEN I AM: Bored.  Avoiding something.  By myself.

I DO REALLY WELL CONTROLLING MY EATING WHEN I AM: Busy.  Getting enough sleep and exercising.

I HAVE A HARD TIME LIMITING MY PORTIONS WHEN I EAT: Dessert.  I love sweets and constantly try eliminating sugar and sweet foods from my diet, but it never sticks and I can't do it long term.  I usually try not to eat sugar (besides fruit) during the day and leave dessert for after dinner, but it's not hard for me to keep eating dessert after it would be appropiate to stop.  I have some crazy food greed - my brain gets itchy and I have this little voice that says "eat it!  all!  now!  Or someone else will eat it!" even though I know that's kind of silly.

THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT EATING OUT IN RESTAURANTS: LOVE IT.  When our family travels, we plan our trip around restaurants and eating.  Now that we live in the 'burbs, we do it a lot less, but we eat out at a quality restaurant once a month instead of eating in mediocre places around us more regularly.  When we go out, we do it big.  Order apps, meals, dessert and wine, and I never regret it.  As long as the food is worth eating and a great experience, I'm always happy with the meal.

I WOULD DESCRIBE MY FOOD PHILOSOPHY AS:  Food as an experience and a way to learn more about where you are and who you're with.  I've met friends over food, married someone who is into food as I am and work in the food industry.  Never turn down an opportunity to eat something amazing with someone special - we bond over food and it can be a great window into the world.  I also think food is medicine, and that you can not be healthy without fueling your body accordingly.  I'm a fan of Deep Nutrition and the Weston A. Price foundation, interested in Paleo recipes, but not willing to commit 100% to any of them.

I FEEL STRONG AND HEALTHY WHEN I EAT:  Lots of greens, healthy fat, fatty fish, pastured meats and conscious carbs.

AM I A GRAZER OR A BINGER: Binger.  Once I pop I don't stop.

I AM REALLY GOOD AT:  Stuff that involves food.  I love to cook and shop for groceries and plan meals.  I do a pretty good job of making tasty meals that are nourishing.  I tend to overproduce certain food items to last a while...when I make chicken stock I use this insanely huge stockpot and stock our coffin freezer with the stuff.

I AM AFRAID OF THESE FOODS:  Canola oil, farmed fish, fast food, foods with no expiration dates, grocery store sushi

I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THESE THINGS ABOUT MY EATING:   I'd love to have a more cavalier attitude toward food, especially dessert.  I'd like to exchange itchy "I need it" brain for "maybe later" brain.

I BELIEVE I AM NATURALLY THIN BECAUSE:  I'm in a lot better shape now than I was in college when I started avoiding processed foods, but I could still lose a few pounds and be more relaxed when the opportunity to eat comes up.

Welcome MelB! Loved reading your post.