Need or Greed…

As a child, I was always in such a hurry to finish my meals, not because I wanted more, but my friends were all out playing and waiting for me, and off we’d all go. I never left home starving and I didn’t come home starving, probably as we were all having fun and actually we walked, ran, skipped the evening away. Many of us were also threatened with no pudding, if we didn’t eat all of our dinner, and I for one was definitely threatened with the starving children in Africa, and how ungrateful we were!

When you get older and wiser, it’s a valuable lesson to learn to slow down your eating. Always use a utensil and put them down between mouthfuls, have a conversation and stretch out your mealtimes. It takes 20 minutes for stomach to tell the brain it’s been fed, and we all know you can do loads of damage in 20 minutes!! I can also remember saying to my children, slow down, it’s not a race and no-one is going to take it off you!

It’s an interesting point, that when you are being mindful about the rate you eat, type of food and portion size, you become very aware of how other people around you are eating. In fact a comment we often hear in meetings from members who have returned from luxurious cruises and exotic all inclusive holidays and stayed in control and focused on their journey, how noticeable it is when greed takes over. I must have a laden plate, or return for more simply because I’ve paid for it! Sadly make no mistake, you will pay for it over and over again.

Is it that people are

• Starving?
• Bored?
• Got to be there first?
• Don’t know when to stop?
• Don’t eat nice food at home?
• I’ve paid it so its Mine!!

Whatever the reason, be sure you know yours, and the reason why you want to be healthier, happier and lighter.

Of course quality, delicious food is part of the experience – but is it ALL about how much can be crammed in to get your moneys worth?

When asked what was different on this journey with in comparison to previous experiences of weight loss, the member replied, being here is not solely focused on a “plan”, the whole approach encourages you to think differently. Now when I eat out, I’ve stopped being greedy. I’m learning that a bit is enough, and if I choose to have a bit more, I don’t throw the whole day/week away, I try to re-balance.

The question is…. Is it “need” or is it “greed” It may be worth pausing a moment an giving it some thought the next time you are in a situation you find challenging. In a less affluent culture, a rounded tummy is considered a sign of wealth, as obviously you have eaten well, and if for many years food has been scarce and limited given the opportunity to eat lots is understandable. In a conversation with someone from Vietnam, we were talking about life here compared to life there and the biggest differences, and it was food. They dreamed of eating a whole chicken, not just a wing with loads of veg. I asked, how was the reality compared to the dream? Disappointing was the reply. It wasn’t as delicious as I imagined.

We are lucky to live in the affluent society we do, but have we forgotten what need feels like? Do we ever really need it? Or is it greed? I’m sure that at this time of year, your house could be overflowing with Easter chocolate eggs… they won’t be yours (of course) but a sneaky bite here and there??? Once you start can you stop? Aren’t you guilty of depriving your beloved family!!!!Easter

Would it be useful to stop, reassess, rethink and actually question ourselves? It may make you pause, reflect and maybe make a different choice.

Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.

Erich Fromm