Stop Eating

A few days ago, I sat down to have lunch - I had made my summer salad (taken from the NROL4W book) - and about half way through the salad I got full, really full. However, given that I had completed a good workout in the morning and intended on going back to the gym that evening, I forced myself to finish the entire bowl -- it was, after all, only one portion.

I have to admit that after eating the salad I felt beyond full. I know - full from just a salad? The beans, tuna, and veggies mixed together really fill you up. Although it was delicious, I know that by the end of the salad I was not enjoying it ... so why did I continue eating? Why didn't I just stop?

I really don't have an answer. I think it just had to do with the fact that I had carefully measured out and prepared the salad so that it was exactly 1 portion, filled with good nutrients, that I should finish it. I also didn't want to be finicky with my calorie intake. I wanted to be consistent with what I was eating and make sure I was hitting my daily target -- so I kept eating.

It's bugged me ever since. I should have stopped. I should have just put my fork down and said - wrap it up, put it in the fridge -- if you are hungry later, then you can have it ... it's already prepared, you know the remaining portion is ok to eat because it is part of your allowance, so stop eating already!!!

I really am still irritated that I continued to eat after feeling full ... anyway. Last night I made a loaded sweet potato for dinner (will post the recipe). It was unbelievably delicious. I mean I enjoyed every single bite ... but as I neared finishing the first half of the potato, I started to get full. I finished one half and pushed the plate away. I thought, let me wait 10-15 minutes, if I'm still hungry I can finish it ... if not, I'll just wrap it up and put it in the fridge for tomorrow ... and that's what I ended up doing.

Even though I knew I could have eaten that whole potato with all the fixin's without any guilt or going over my calorie intake for the day, I stopped eating. I was full, not bursting full, but completely satisfied full ... and I didn't feel hungry for the rest of the night/into the morning.

I'm definitely getting better at eating healthier foods and listening to my body - and recognizing the difference between what I need and what I want.

I wanted to eat the whole thing, but I didn't need to ... so I stopped.