Eating Out and Emotional Eating Success!

Along the same lines as my previous post, my husband and I go out to restaurants to celebrate things - whether it be a raise, promotion, birthday, anniversary, or just a date night.  Normally I love this, any chance to avoid cooking and I am all over it!  Not to mention the fun of trying out new foods, spice combinations and flavours.  We also really just enjoy the time to ourselves, when we don't have to worry about the kids and can focus on each other - something that we don't get to do very much with 5 busy and talkative kids at home.

Well last night my husband surprised me with an invitation out to dinner to celebrate a very important certification test he passed.  I have to admit I wasn't terribly gracious when I responded.  All I could think of was but I hadn't planned on this!  I have been trying very hard to be careful with my calories and my exercise.  Going out to dinner was going to throw all of that out the window!  It would mean my day's calorie counts would be blown and I wouldn't be able to go to the gym and work out - which amazingly enough I am starting to enjoy!

But keeping all my healthy eating info in mind and embracing the spontaneity of the occasion I quickly had a change of heart.  I grabbed a large drink bottle and drank down a pint of water to fill me up a bit so I wouldn't overindulge.  Then just as we were about to go out the door, I received some very upsetting news.  News that had me livid, so upset I wanted to physically destroy things.  Not a common feeling by any means but definitely enough to have me reeling and reaching out for food.  But get this.....I didn't!  I didn't self soothe with food, I didn't comfort eat and I didn't over indulge!

We went to the restaurant, I made excellent food choices - and not just for the sake of my "diet" but because I actually wanted a Greek Salad with Chicken hold the dressing and the croutons.  Hubby and I shared a dessert as part of the celebration but really, I could have done without it.  We talked.  And talked and talked.  It was great!  We discussed the upsetting news and what we were going to do about it.  We even went for a walk after dinner!

I feel so many things as I write this.  Normally I would have felt angry, bitter, guilty for overindulging, disgusted with myself for blowing my "diet" again.  Instead, I feel strong, powerful, in control and so, so proud of myself!

I can certainly get used to this feeling!

Food + Family = Love?

I am not sure about you, but as a child and even now with my extended family, food is the centrepiece of all our gatherings.  We don't come together for game night, or head out to watch a football game.  We get together for dinners, brunches, dessert, celebration luncheons etc.  The same has happened to my immediate family.  When my husband and I actually find time to have a date night, we go out for supper.  If I have a mommy and son or daughter date day, it almost always involves a restaurant.

Like this past weekend, I had a date with my 13 year old to see Hunger Games.  We started out by having lunch, then went to the movie where we got pop and popcorn.

A couple of weekends ago it was my husband's 50th birthday.  I planned a nice evening out at a "fancy" restaurant - the portions were huge - but FABULOUS!  We ate every bite.  The next morning we were invited out to a special birthday brunch - again, lots of food!  Add to that the requisite family birthday supper -  roast beef, roasted vegetables, potatoes, wine, cake, ice cream etc.  I spent the entire weekend eating!

Another example - in Ontario we have such a thing as Family Day.  It is the third Monday in February.  I woke up to this surprise breakfast buffet my daughters made for us.  Keep in mind, there was also supposed to be waffles and crepes, but they didn't turn out.  Look at the amount of food for 7 of us to eat!

My daughters have begun the habit of food for every celebration - surprise birthday breakfasts, "picnics" in front of the TV for New Years, hockey finals, favourite movies etc.

For us, food and togetherness does equal love, so how do I change that perception?  Is it something that has to stop all together or is it something that needs to be tweaked to better meet the health requirements of our family?  How do I change the emphasis on food as the focal point?  Any suggestions?

I assume that the MP3 track called "FOOD" might address some of this issue as I understand it is about dealing with your relationship with food.  So I guess I know which track I will be listening to next!