Dreams, cravings, binges, wants, needs, oh my!

I'm really striving to listen to my body today. Only eat when I am hungry.

Cravings have been RAVENOUS.

I don't think it helped that I had a dream last night that I binged on Cadbury crème eggs. When I woke up, it was so vivid, I really had to sit for a minute and evaluate if I had really done it.

I didn't... damn... I don't think...

No, no... I didn't.

I just plowed through a snack and a half and I am taking a breath before I keep going and sabotage myself. Snack and a half was 3/4 cup celery sticks with 2 tbs natural peanut butter, 2 oz 75% reduced fat cheese.

Now, I have a Larabar sitting in front of me.

These are NOT bad choices. However, I'm really not physically hungry...

I don't think I am...

No, no I'm not.

I just want something. But what?

OH! I KNOW! Let's play "Analyze My Brain"

What could be leading me into cravings-central:
It's the middle of the afternoon (snacky time, sleepy time)
I am practically alone in the office (no witnesses).
I have work to do but little motivation.
Stressed about getting my run in tonight (I won't be out of class till 8 - Gym, here I come).
Stressed about inclement weather making it's way over, which will likely cause headaches tomorrow with the minions and the school/daycare closing.
Stressed about an exam on Wednesday evening (which is the only good reason for inclement weather - could cancel MY school!)

Ok, taking all of these things into account... what do I really want?

What I want is... crap. I'm no good at this.

I want to be home doing my run.
I want to be home hanging with my family.
I want to be away from this desk, so the thought of scarfing something down just because I am sedentary becomes a mute point.
I want to find some calming of these cravings by doing things like writing this blog post.

And I already have... I put the Larabar away (perfect for before I hit the gym later). I look at what I really want, as opposed to what is actually occurring. And while I can't leave work and go home and run, or hang with my kids right now, etc, deconstructing what I want, and then being able to see the correlation between the things I want "NOW" (Temporarily) and the things I want in the future (Permanently) For example:

-I want to finish my education so I can have the job I really want, therefore, for now, my extra time will be occupied by school.

I have to remember that the whiney "wants" of now are fleeting. I will get my run done tonight. I will get home to my family, all while working toward something great.

Writing this helped me pass on eating anything else I am not hungry for. Cravings are difficult, but they are almost ALWAYS fleeting. If I can abstain for a little while, I can usually beat them. Once I leave here and make my drive to class, and sit through class and stop at the gym... well, it will be hours from now, and I will not have "needed" to eat a thing. I contend that a busy mind is your friend when it comes to cravings. An idle mind... well... a whole different story.

This post may seem tangent-y. Sorry about that. BUT, "it's my bloggy and I'll tangent if I want to" - go ahead, sing it, you know you want to...

I'll be back - I have another tangent on the governments and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics idea of a "good" "healthy" diet... that'll be a doozy...