The Plan

Photo: k.Akagami

For someone with such a free form existence I certainly love structure, and it seems that structure loves me. Setting up a routine with my exercise has really paid off. I'm now doing 30min of cardio every day with the regularity of a timepiece. Now that I have worked out a schedule for my resistance exercise I'm in a state of elation as I complete each task according to plan.

There is just that little matter of food. I mentally did an assessment of what I eat today and it's not so bad, lot's of antioxidants, good protein sources, not too much processed crap. The problem is I eat way way way too much. I eat like I am on the brink of an apocalypse, I eat to keep myself entertained, I eat as a procrastination, I eat, I eat I eat.

Part of this problem is the fact that I eat at the speed of light, I am the Superwoman of eating. I could easily make a three course meal disappear in the time it would take a "normal" person to begin to contemplate their entree. There they would be savoring the smells and presentation and I'd be there tapping my fingers thinking "hmmmm I wonder if that great dessert place is open down the road".

Now any dieter worth their weight in Cadbury Creme Eggs knows that over eating and eating too fast is a combination that equals weight gain like no other. I think part of the problem is not having a clear picture in my mind of what I should and could be doing to get that scale edging in the right direction.

My usual attempt at a solution goes like this:
Hmmm I eat too much, I'm going to eat less.
Hmmm I eat too fast, I'm going to eat slower.

I was sitting there thinking these exact thoughts today when I realised something seemed very familiar, I'd been down this road many times before and where had it got me? Here. I had a long hard look at here in the mirror and realised it's not where I want to be. I want to be there, in the land of no back fat, slender thighs and shapely arms. I want to be over there, where looking in the mirror isn't quiet so painful.

So I have devised a plan. Like my new exercise routine, I am going to start slow, be accountable and be consistent. This is my plan, it is long, overly detailed, and probably totally boring for you, but this is part of being accountable, now you know what I'm doing. For all those who know and eat with me in the real world feel free to pull me up if you see me with the crazy eyes, inhaling plates of food like a tornado let free.

To combat eating too fast I am going to eat slower, to do this I am going to:

1. Chew each mouthful until I have munched recognisable food bits into oblivion.


2. Pause after swallowing and take two deep relaxing breaths.


3. Not reload my fork until steps 1 and 2 have been executed.

To combat eating too much I am going to eat less, to do this I am going to:

1. Observe above guidelines and ask myself after each mouthful if I am still hungry


2. When I stop being hungry I will:
   a. If out, get up, go to the bathroom, wash my hands, look at myself in the mirror and tell myslef I am finished.
   b. If I am at home, take my plate into the kitchen and wash it up. I will not sneak extra bits while I am there.


3. If eating out and sharing a variety of dishes, predetermine portions before they arrive at the table and eat accordingly, remembering to continue to abide by above guidelines.

There it is, you've seen it, I've seen it, time to do it. Any suggestions would be muchly appreciated. Watch this space for a report in the coming weeks.

"Innovation is not the product of logical thought, although the result is tied to logical structure"
Albert Einstein

*Note: Much love to Roni at SkinnyMiniMedia for her posts on HTML for beginners I made headings and lists, yippeee!