When I comes to food I don’t have an off switch.

If you have ever met me you’ll know I’m full on with life and I have learnt that some people find my approach to life a bit overwhelming, tiring and maybe even annoying. I avoid these people because I’m a caring kind of person and because there are so many people get me and enjoy my enthusiasm. So, this area of my personality is organised, ish.

However, one part of my life where this “no off switch” often causes me challenges is when it comes to food. I love food and I love a lot of food. I have noticed that “naturally slim” people seem to have one thing in common: they stop eating before their plate is empty. I really find this difficult, if there is food on my plate I eat it. I was born in 1953 (Yes I know I look fabulous for my age, thank you) Why is that year relevant? Well in 1953 post war rationing finally ended in Britain. This means that I, and more importantly my parents, lived at a time when you didn’t waste food, you ate what was on your plate and dinner and tea, (Translation for southerners, lunch, and dinner), always included a calorific pudding.

At home I can usually manage quantities and choices, but my real challenge is when I go out to eat. I like everything on any menu and, because we have never gone in for nouvelle cuisine, quantities are always huge. Before I devised my own plan which has enabled me to lose 140lbs, I would try to be “good” this meant trying to stop eating before the plate was empty. Since I always eat quickly, I would then have to wait while others finished their meal. When they finished I would look down at my partly finished meal to discover that the plate was empty. I’d picked until it was all gone. I knew this had to stop and I had to devise some strategies to help me.

Here are a few:

·        Have a side salad, no dressing, for my starter so I’m not watching others eat their starters and feeling deprived.

·        I may have a couple of starters instead of a main meal.

·        If the meal is huge and something uniform, say a pasta dish, I’ll ask them to take it away, half it and give me the other half to take away (Lunch the next day sorted)

·        When I’ve finished ask one of the staff to take the plate away, however much is left on it. If there is a large amount then ask for it as a takeaway.

·        Share a dessert. I have a deal with beloved, he chooses what he wants as a dessert and I get to have a teaspoon full if I want it.

These techniques help me to deal with consequences of not having an off switch.

Do you have any techniques you’ve tried?

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   Have fun, stay safe.

   Glenys