I just can't figure it out...

[cbg]

So, tonight, my DH and I went to my parents' house for Passover dinner. I was really pleased with myself for the choices I made at dinner. I had one potato pancake, grilled turkey breast and apple/fruit sauce. I passed on more potato pancakes, corned beef, duck, meatballs, double baked potatoes, chicken in a heavy sauce, etc. etc. etc.

Then, when my mother laid out a table full of desserts, I kept myself busy helping to clear the table, pack up leftovers and wash dishes.

But then, just as DH and I were about to leave, I went into the dining room and spied a plate of cookies (chocolate meringue with chocolate chips, coconut and walnuts). I ate one, then scarfed a second, then took three for the car ride home.

I'm not beating myself up over the cookies, nor did I take my normal approach when we got home of "well, I blew it, so I may as well eat anything and everything." I don't weigh in until Wednesday, and still had almost all of my WPA left before tonight, so I'm not worried about that either.

But I just can't figure out why, after making such good choices at dinner, I kind of went out of control with the cookies. I admit, they were really good. But why wasn't I satisfied with one or two - I knew how they tasted by then. Baked goods (particularly cookies and brownies) have always been my downfall, and I've never been able to have just one, so I now try and stay away entirely. But it strikes me that if I could only figure out *why* I've never been able to be satisfied with one or two, that would be a major breakthrough for me.

I'd welcome any advice or thoughts from this sage group.

~ Corri

[mary]

Corri
I think we can all relate to what happened. You were so good during dinner.....maybe felt a little deprived? So one taste couldn't hurt then the one more..... just a guess.
The good thing about core, most all else was core and so you spent a few pts on the goodies. Be sure to exercise and eat well on mon and tues to get yourself on track..

Had that been me, the cookies would have been "my secret eating" Everyone would see how good I was during dinner and then when alone with the cookies I could indulge without family retribution.

We all have our weaknesses... no guilt...new day tomorrow

[macca4me]

I'm with Mary - I think it sounds like you were feeling deprived. I do better at special occasions if I give myself permission to eat whatever I want if I really really want it, but to do it mindfully. By mindfully, I mean being fully into the taste, the texture, etc., not just scarfing it down. A lot of times when I do that, I find I really don't want it that bad, or am satisfied with just a taste. I know for myself tho, that when I am feeling sorry for myself, and finding it "not fair" that I have to watch what I eat when other people can just dive in - that's when I have the biggest incidence of going off-program. It IS hard to understand why we do what we do to ourselves sometimes.

Jerie

[Lesley1]

Before dinner, I decided I could have 5 WPA for dessert, and made up a plate with a small piece of cake (3 points) and 2 almond meringues (1 point each) plus some strawberries. It looked very pretty and I ate it slowly. Then I asked my husband to bring me one more cookie. He brought the whole plate over. I took one and I made him put it back on the sideboard. All this was a major victory for me. I did have two more cookies, but all in all, it was 8 points of dessert for me, and now it's over. It definitely helped that I was able to eat satisfying portions of turkey and vegetables. Last year, on flex, I ate huge amounts more of desserts.
So give yourself permission to have a little. It does get easier.

[SusieQ]

I agree with all the wonderful responses you've already gotten. Given the pressures of holiday eating, you did pretty well!

I think the operative word in your description of what happened is "scarfed." You scarfed down cookies, as if eating them faster makes them not count, somehow.

In fact, it's PRECISELY those trigger foods, when we allow ourselves to have them, that we should eat as slowly and mindfully as we can.

As a side note, I've given up eating sandwiches with my hands. When I do make room for a sandwich, counting points for the bread or English muffin, I eat it with a knife and fork just so I eat slower and more mindfully.

Granted, that's awfully hard to do with a macaroon!

All in all, I think you should focus on all the things you did RIGHT during the festive meal, and congratulate yourself! And, the next time you're enaged with a cookie....make a nice, long slow engagement...

Chag sameach! (Happy Holiday, in Hebrew)

Susie

[cbg]

Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful replies.

Even before I saw Susie's message, I had actually been thinking about exactly what she suggested. If I could have eaten those cookies mindfully, I think that I *may* have been satisfied with one (or two or three ). But I needed to have some way to slow the process down so that I didn't just zone out while I was eating them.

So next time (and I'm going to try and do this for everything - not just sweets), I'll do just as Lesley did and decide what I want to have, make up a plate with those things, and then make myself sit at the table and eat them off the plate - not stand at the doorway snatching cookies off the platter. Then, I'll have the ability to make a conscious decision about whether I really want another, rather than regretting after the fact that I didn't give myself the opportunity to be mindful and thoughtful.

Again, many thanks for the terrific thoughts and advice.

~ Corri