Mmmmmmm Good!

The journey so far has been interesting.  I have been rediscovering foods that I have not eaten in long while.  A lot of fresh fruit and vegetables have been added to my diet. This salad was lunch today.  Full of yummy fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, red cabbage, and spinach.  Topped with grilled chicken, a half of avocado and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.  All dressed with a yummy lemon-garlic-olive oil dressing.  So filling and yummy.

So then I wonder why I find myself wandering to the kitchen and standing there with the refrigerator door open.  I am not hungry, not even having a craving for anything... But there I am standing with the door open.

As I pause for a moment I ask myself what I am doing.  Why are you looking for food? I am not bored, unhappy or upset.  Is it a conditioned "unconscious" action???  I use the term unconscious because I was not consciously seeking food.  How often have I done this in the past and actually taken something out and eaten even though I was not hungry?  I am sure this is not the first time... I ask "What do you do to stop this unconscious behavior?"

I guess recognizing it is the first step.  So does that mean I will always catch myself before I eat something with out thinking about it?  I don't know.  One of the hardest things for me is going to be recognizing when I am truly hungry.  I think that before I eat anything for a while I will have to evaluate how I am feeling and what I am thinking.  Part of this journey is to learn to be present when I am eating and drinking.  To conscious of what and how much I am putting in my mouth.

As my head clears these next few weeks I am sure there will be more of these Ah Ha moments.  Things that I have not thought of or realized before.  I have kept food journals for months now,  however I have failed to stop and take stock of when, what or how I was eating.   This is a big step in the right direction.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... Well I am on my way!