Comfort Eating

Being a Friday, it was another day “off” from work and I found myself continuing with my “wellness calls”. I must admit that this has taken up quite a bit of my day, but I am not complaining, since it has been nice catching up with friends whom I have not spoken to in months! The video has also made it so much more fun!

I was talking to a friend, whom has managed to self isolate on a guest farm that belongs to her friend. Since the 4th quarter of last year, both of us really started focusing on “living healthier” with our eating habits and exercise regimes. I can proudly say that we both did great, but of course now in lock-down it has been harder, especially for her!

When I had to “stock up”, I must admit that I stocked up on most things, including bags of chips, chocolate, cookies, all the things which I had to avoid previously. At one stage during my “healthy” phase, whilst consulting a Dietitian, she did tell me that I could enjoy all the “treats”, but in moderation and if I could, try and avoid sugar. When she said sugar, since I had already cut it out of my “drinks”, she was referring to cakes and sweets. Now these are things that I would not normally eat anyway since I prefer salt over sugar, but funny when you are not allowed, then suddenly these are the things you start eating!

Now pre-Dietitian days, if I could eat nothing else but fruit I would be happy! Now of course, I have been restricted to 2 – 3 a day because of the sugar content! I guess that is where I was getting most of my sugar from! Bags of chips have always been my “go to”. The saltier the better! I could finish a bag on my own, no problem. Chips and cheese! My absolute down fall, especially if you add in the glass of wine or G&T! Surprisingly I have not been as bad as what I thought I would be. I guess for me it has been absolute will power, as I realized that it took me 4 months to get to where I am and the thought of “eating” it all away in a few days just is not on the cards for me!

We all have different coping mechanisms and had I not already been on a “healthy” path, I guess I could have gone down a different path. I have learnt to substitute and make allowances and not feel guilty about it at all. Life for me is way too short to not indulge when I feel like it, as long as I do it in moderation. At the end of the day it does come down to what gives you “comfort”, whether it be food, long walks, yoga or in my case, exercise and blogging.

The weather is “turning”, looks like it might rain. The fire will go on, my wine will be poured and the cheese will be sliced, not because I need any sort of comfort, blame it on the weather, but it is just that “kind of day.

Until next time

Love, light and positive change

Ophelia