tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post4209961516250951723..comments2024-02-23T02:03:23.020-07:00Comments on The Eco Cat Lady Speaks: Enjoyment vs. SatisfactionEcoCatLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-31740193404827140862014-04-18T22:44:50.605-06:002014-04-18T22:44:50.605-06:00For me, cake with frosting is the WORST! It just n...For me, cake with frosting is the WORST! It just never, ever tastes nearly as good as I think it should. I think (hope) I've finally learned my lesson with that one though, and I feel less tempted by it. Chocolate, on the other hand...EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-62955839484211735072014-04-18T20:37:17.595-06:002014-04-18T20:37:17.595-06:00You're onto something with that first impulse,...You're onto something with that first impulse, I think. I also end up doing the same thing if I replace a meal with a snack or spread it out too much, some part of me doesn't register when I've had enoughSarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18013851169213776026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-19390038302461322472014-04-18T20:33:14.084-06:002014-04-18T20:33:14.084-06:00I was just thinking the same thing. We had cake fo...I was just thinking the same thing. We had cake for my husband's birthday, and I kept wanting to eat more of it because I thought it would be/should have been more satisfying. The same goes for a lot of other things that I eat too much of or do a lot.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18013851169213776026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-66632083551471085832014-04-13T14:24:17.004-06:002014-04-13T14:24:17.004-06:00OK... so I'm starting to think that internal w...OK... so I'm starting to think that internal wiring may come into play with this topic too. I like tea, but there isn't enough money in the world to get me to drink a diet Coke! And I could never be a caffeine addict, I just start to feel horrible after more than about one caffeinated beverage. Chocolate, on the other hand...EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-7147619756981167042014-04-13T12:33:20.679-06:002014-04-13T12:33:20.679-06:00I totally get what you are saying that some things...I totally get what you are saying that some things just beg for "more" and aren't necessarily more enjoyable or satisfying than alternate things would be. <br />I haven't ever tried drugs because I am a consummate rule follower and I don't drink because I have alcohol intolerance, but I have a caffeine addiction that could vie any heroine user's "need".<br /><br />I love the taste of tea and Diet Coke but wouldn't water be as thirst quenching. (NO...I slapped my face for even thinking that) Cperzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09062444081488414888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-9328983929384449332014-04-11T16:11:28.485-06:002014-04-11T16:11:28.485-06:00Hmmmm... very interesting. I'd like to say tha...Hmmmm... very interesting. I'd like to say that I'm less tempted by home made goodies... but I fear it would be a lie. I'm remembering the last time I made a batch of shortbread butter cookies because I had a hankering for one. I downed the entire batch in a day or two! Perhaps they fall into the trifecta category? Sugar, salt & fat for sure! Maybe I just need to adjust my recipes to make them less addictive.<br /><br />I wish I was the sort of person who could do what you describe in the last paragraph, but alas, it would seem that I lack the "moderation" gene when it comes to certain foods. I do much better if I just don't have them around. Those giant Costco containers of salted cashews spell trouble for me!<br /><br />It's funny though, I don't react that way with alcohol or caffeine. I'm perfectly satisfied with one glass of wine, or one cup of coffee. Well, at least I don't have to worry about becoming an alcoholic! :-)EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-30289712065575189362014-04-10T10:16:25.122-06:002014-04-10T10:16:25.122-06:00Have you heard of the trifecta of food addiction? ...Have you heard of the trifecta of food addiction? Fat, sugar and salt. And when you use these three in combination with low fiber, it's easy to get hooked on eating more and more, without ever finding satisfaction. <br /><br />Manufacturers use this formula for making repeat consumers. The sugar doesn't even need to be table sugar, it can be something like the natural sugars in potatoes. So, French fries or potato chips contain all three -- fat (deep-fried), sugars (natural sugars in potatoes), and of course, salt. Or, salted caramel ice cream. Or manufactured cookies. All of which are low fiber, too.<br /><br />I've always had a problem with store-bought cookies. I could eat an entire bag of Chips Ahoy in one day, if I had them here. So, I never, ever buy packaged cookies. My home-baking is much less tempting for me for me to eat the whole thing. I found myself satisfied with one slice of that pie I baked this week, even though it was really delicious. It was lower in sugar (reduced some of the sugar with baking soda), moderate in fat (need fat for the crust), and minimal salt, plus, the fruit was loaded with fiber.<br /><br />My own experience with finding satisfaction in the foods I eat has to do with going with my first impulse. If I try to avoid eating something like a piece of candy or some avocado or a handful of nuts, I will eat everything else in the kitchen trying to find satisfaction. It isn't until I eat that piece of candy, avocado or nuts. Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-73953099182551779012014-04-09T19:26:17.358-06:002014-04-09T19:26:17.358-06:00Oh yes... the "anti-anxiety activity" I ...Oh yes... the "anti-anxiety activity" I am quite familiar with that one! <br /><br />I think with the really sweet stuff I've finally managed to convince myself that it won't taste as good as I think it will... it's a bit more difficult with stuff like chocolate and ice cream though.<br /><br />But I just read an interesting post over on Lissa Rankin's blog where she's summarizing some thoughts of an author named Gretchen Rubin about core personality traits. Anyhow, apparently one of Rubin's maxims is that people are either moderators or abstainers. Moderators get really upset if they can't have any of xyz tempting thing, but are satisfied if they get a little. Abstainers, on the other hand, have to go cold turkey or else they're sunk. Interesting timing, don't you think... perhaps there really are NO coincidences!<br />http://lissarankin.com/5-questions-guaranteed-to-help-you-know-yourself-better<br /><br />Anyhow, sounds like you and I both fall into the abstainer category for sure!<br />EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-72624576280804505212014-04-09T00:19:17.960-06:002014-04-09T00:19:17.960-06:00I am the same way with just about every thing. I ...I am the same way with just about every thing. I have pretty much convinced myself that nothing will taste as good as it looks and just try to avoid it, especially anything with sugar. Even in my smoking and drinking days, it wasn't the taste that kept me buying more, it was the act I needed. My own anti-anxiety activity. <br /><br />Oh, and if chocolate is in the house, I will eat it but I am always left wanting more.Loishttp://living-simply-free.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-79638567251331792412014-04-08T11:57:05.306-06:002014-04-08T11:57:05.306-06:00Wow! Now there's a philosophical take on the t...Wow! Now there's a philosophical take on the topic. So is it just that the devil can't find a way to satisfy the human heart or is it that humans are by their very nature not truly capable of experiencing satisfaction?<br /><br />Of course, any way you look it it, satisfaction is a fleeting sensation at best. I mean, just take the food example. Even if you eat a very satisfying meal, you're gonna be hungry again in a matter of hours. Hmmm... food for thought (yuk, yuk!)EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-92094779794796720212014-04-08T11:53:09.460-06:002014-04-08T11:53:09.460-06:00Hmmm... addictive personalities. Well, if there...Hmmm... addictive personalities. Well, if there's a genetic component I'm certainly at risk since both of my grandfathers were alcoholics and my mother was a compulsive eater. <br /><br />CatMan used to work as a therapist and his take is that addicts are never satisfied because what they're really doing is trying to use food or alcohol or drugs or whatever to fill some sort of emotional hole. So how could the food satisfy you when the source of your dissatisfaction is not, in fact, hunger! I know that my own eating disorder recovery began the instant I realized that the gnarling sensation in my stomach wasn't hunger, and my problem really had nothing to do with food.<br /><br />I think there are probably aspects of both theories at work.<br /><br />But in terms of general eating as opposed to disordered eating, I think you're totally right that we become conditioned to eat certain foods. Creating a "new normal" of healthier choices was certainly the key to weight loss for me!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-34024541312658826462014-04-08T11:44:00.878-06:002014-04-08T11:44:00.878-06:00Well, as someone who struggled with eating disorde...Well, as someone who struggled with eating disorders throughout most of my young adulthood I've had plenty of time to think about it!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-18176118860121538082014-04-08T11:40:38.987-06:002014-04-08T11:40:38.987-06:00That is me! I think in the future I'll just po...That is me! I think in the future I'll just postpone a trip to the grocery store if I'm having chocolate cravings!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-4994168086873996732014-04-08T11:38:04.833-06:002014-04-08T11:38:04.833-06:00Ha! Perhaps I'm just channeling some psycholog...Ha! Perhaps I'm just channeling some psychological journal without realizing it!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-23433063337033012902014-04-08T11:37:32.756-06:002014-04-08T11:37:32.756-06:00OK... so perhaps we should just call you Marie Ant...OK... so perhaps we should just call you Marie Antoinette? :-)EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-89365530778489289552014-04-08T09:01:54.275-06:002014-04-08T09:01:54.275-06:00Really interesting post, EcoCadLady. It reminded m...Really interesting post, EcoCadLady. It reminded me of Goethe, where he makes a deal with the devil: the devil can have his soul once he is fully satisfied with any aspect of life. The rub is that the devil can't concoct a scenario that's truly satisfying to the human heart: we've got a built-in longing that's never satiated.<br />Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-88333856279276004552014-04-08T06:37:58.571-06:002014-04-08T06:37:58.571-06:00I recently went to a conference on habits of happi...I recently went to a conference on habits of happiness. The speaker touched on exactly what you have brought up. See, you could be earning the big bucks by traveling and speaking to us lesser beings! :) On a practical level, I have the same experience with potato chips--they never really satisfy but it's hard to stop. I read a book this past winter (can't remember the name of it, sorry!) talking about kids growing up with technology and the addictive behaviors they show with video games, compulsive Facebook checking, etc. I noticed early on with my son similar behaviors when playing games on the computer--irritable when separated, compulsively returning to the computer--so we had a chat about it and I have been more vigilant about reducing his exposure. I think some personalities seem more "addictable" than others and perhaps he is one of them?<br /><br />I've thought for a few years now, ever since my Weight Watchers experience, that our bodies become conditioned to eating certain kinds of food--I don't know if that is addiction or not, but I like to eat certain foods in a certain order every day. At least now my choices are, overall, a lot healthier than they used to be ... I no longer crave salty fatty snacks so did I re-condition my brain on that one? Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-42259032570781009302014-04-08T05:52:10.007-06:002014-04-08T05:52:10.007-06:00As Rachel said, I think you're right on with w...As Rachel said, I think you're right on with what I have heard about addiction and overeating. And you figured it out all by yourself. :)Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-67972862080545621142014-04-08T05:51:50.176-06:002014-04-08T05:51:50.176-06:00This is exactly how I am with chocolate and sweets...This is exactly how I am with chocolate and sweets. I can't just have one; when I start I will eat the whole thing. It feels like an addiction, I keep going back for more because I have to.It's to the point of making myself feel ill.<br />The only way I can deal with it is not have any or only to have one serving in the house.<br />MarieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-30923347066439500752014-04-08T02:30:54.217-06:002014-04-08T02:30:54.217-06:00Spot on. You're right there with the latest th...Spot on. You're right there with the latest theories of addiction. I'll look out some reference for you later, if you're interested.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16619866897155085499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-32433466711546327682014-04-07T18:27:14.598-06:002014-04-07T18:27:14.598-06:00I am the opposite, sorta. My problem is that I rea...I am the opposite, sorta. My problem is that I really enjoy too many unhealthy things. I'd have cake and champagne for breakfast for breakfast every day if I could! I could also buy a piece of jewelry a day too!<br /><br />I swear I must have been a princess in my last life. After all, no one is willing to treat me like one now!Alex Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15562233895276078957noreply@blogger.com