I'm Not Really Hungry. I'm Hungry for Real.

Image: Ryan Byrd

Back from a 4 day, 3 night trip to Orlando for work. During which I lapsed on my exercises and subsisted mostly on strawberries (the thing about amusement parks is food is not the main attraction). I decided not to crap out and eat bad stuff. And I walked my tail off.

On the plane ride down I accidentally (it's true, I haven't had anything manufactured beyond yogurt/milk and I think there's no getting around that kind of manufacturing) a cheese cracker sandwich into my mouth. You know, the ones with "cheese" in them. And I spit what I could out immediately. It was like eating fake. I mean, I don't know how else to put it. It was the taste of fake. 

So then, for the plane ride back I was prepared. I brought a banana, a bottle of 2% milk from the airport, a plastic container of cranberries/bleu cheese/apples that I picked up at Au Bon Pain, protein powder. And as soon as I was on the plane I set about eating it.

The flight attendant came down the aisle and wondered if I were "really hungry." I said no, but I'm on a diet right now and can't eat any of the crap you have available on the plane. He looked offended and launched into how they have, "animal crackers, 2% fat cookies from ----, and cheese sandwich crackers!" What a protest. As though me skipping eating all that would somehow be a let-down.

I wasn't "really hungry" when I got on the plane but I wanted to preempt the offer of "snacks" this time so I didn't spend 3.5 hours in hunger.

The moral to the story is I was, on the first flight, what many people might call "really hungry." But more important, I was "hungry, for real food." And this nation may be one of overweight folks, but I think we're all in the same boat on one fact: we're hungry for real food experiences. And I'm afraid, on the road, in the air, and in cities all over this nation, we're finding that need unmet. Constantly. We're literally starving for healthier interactions. 

And that's the sick, sad heart of the matter.

Don't Cave to Your Crave

Last week I had that special chocolate craving that comes once a month, no matter what. I had asked Patrick in advance what to do if the Choco Craving took hold of me and wouldn't let go. Studies have shown that the chocolate and menstruation link is a mystery. We don't know why, we just know the craving exists.

This time was no different. I'd walk through the grocery store and discover my body willing itself down the chocolate aisle (what am I, a zombie?!). And the chocolate aisle is painfully long in my local grocery stores. 

What did I do?

I resisted. I walked down the aisle, got in touch with the need, smelled the chocolate and relaxed. And walked out without buying any chocolate. None. Zip. Zero. Not one bar of chocolate.

During the craving times I got in touch with the desire, the craving. And at one point I had a quarter-sized piece of 70% cacao chocolate and that was it. And I feel damn good knowing that I made it through without caving to my craving.

In other news, my yoga instructor said last week that my plank is kicking ass. So, there you have it. It's not just the food, it's the getting on the mat, too.

And I have to say, knowing that I control what I eat - that my craving doesn't control me - actually means more to me than having an awesome plank. But both are pretty cool.

What Doesn't Belong in This Picture?

Jaw-dropping moment tonight shopping for eggs (which I'm eating like they are going out of style, yo). What doesn't belong here? Yeah, I know, product placement and all but srsly.

*lmao*

Day 20/90: America Needs to Rethink Its Menus

Stat. 

Went to see improv comedy this week and this is the menu. Look closely. See if you can find anything on there that a PCPer can munch on. I'll tell you what I had - half a mug of weak-sauce decaf coffee.

Now, I'm not just using this blog to kvetch, but what is up with our country that we can't put a couple of half-way decent items on a menu? Even a snack menu? If you can refrigerate salsa you can refrigerate vegetable sticks, right? I see this everywhere, not just at improv theaters. Forget walking into a bar. And I'm in Boulder, CO. One of the healthiest places I've ever lived in America. Truly. People don't even blink when you say, "I'm not eating sugar, salt, oils or ..."

Nevertheless, I worry about the future of society when we're bumping up clothing sizes rather than focusing on a drastic reeducation of kids on food.