Thursday night I opened a bottle of wine with the intention of ME having a drink. This was my first "more than a taste" drink that I'd had since I started my weight loss. It was a wonderful Pinot Noir that smelled and tasted fantastic. I had a glass Thursday and Friday nights and enjoyed every pleasant drop. I also noticed some interesting behaviors when I'm feeling foot loose and fancy free under the influence. After not drinking for quite some time, even a very small glass of wine packs a punch for me.
When I drink a glass of wine, I want to eat. Pure and simple. Each night that I had a glass of wine, I instinctively went into the kitchen searching for a snack to pair it with. Thursday night it was beef jerkey -- I was craving protein. Friday night I started with protein and then Honey Nut Cheerios and milk started calling out to me. At first I stopped myself. I recognized this carb-craving behavior before. I never paired it with alcohol, but in this case it was like my body was waiting for my defenses to be down so that the craving monsters could be let out of their cages. I caved in and had a small bowl. It tasted good, but I found myself looking at my actions as though I were an anthropologist. Girl in the wild.
I don't know if this was simply an old habit reawakened, or a feeling I get when I drink, but I learned that I will need to have a strategy around alcohol. Now that I'm fairly certain that enjoying that lovely glass of red wine may lead to grazing, I'm going to have to have a plan in place.
First, I think I'll limit my drinking to 2 days per week for now. On top of that, I'll prepare some protein/vegetable snacks (maybe even some salty olives and pickles) on a plate, party style, to nibble on. I'm thinking that if I lay something out right from the start, I won't go foraging in the kitchen, and I'll feel satisfied. Maybe if I plan to feed the beast with appropriate foods, I'll feel satisfied and won't hear those carbs and sweets calling for me. I sure hope so, because I'm determined to find a healthier way to enjoy my glass of wine that will also maintain healthy food behaviors.
This is my plan for now and I'll see if it makes a difference and let you know. If anyone has faced this issue and developed an effective strategy, let me know.
Have a great weekend everyone!
When I drink a glass of wine, I want to eat. Pure and simple. Each night that I had a glass of wine, I instinctively went into the kitchen searching for a snack to pair it with. Thursday night it was beef jerkey -- I was craving protein. Friday night I started with protein and then Honey Nut Cheerios and milk started calling out to me. At first I stopped myself. I recognized this carb-craving behavior before. I never paired it with alcohol, but in this case it was like my body was waiting for my defenses to be down so that the craving monsters could be let out of their cages. I caved in and had a small bowl. It tasted good, but I found myself looking at my actions as though I were an anthropologist. Girl in the wild.
I don't know if this was simply an old habit reawakened, or a feeling I get when I drink, but I learned that I will need to have a strategy around alcohol. Now that I'm fairly certain that enjoying that lovely glass of red wine may lead to grazing, I'm going to have to have a plan in place.
First, I think I'll limit my drinking to 2 days per week for now. On top of that, I'll prepare some protein/vegetable snacks (maybe even some salty olives and pickles) on a plate, party style, to nibble on. I'm thinking that if I lay something out right from the start, I won't go foraging in the kitchen, and I'll feel satisfied. Maybe if I plan to feed the beast with appropriate foods, I'll feel satisfied and won't hear those carbs and sweets calling for me. I sure hope so, because I'm determined to find a healthier way to enjoy my glass of wine that will also maintain healthy food behaviors.
This is my plan for now and I'll see if it makes a difference and let you know. If anyone has faced this issue and developed an effective strategy, let me know.
Have a great weekend everyone!
