Think Less, Eat Less?

Thinking Hard Makes You Eat More

by J. Foster

"New research shows we are hungrier after doing lots of thinking.

"Caloric overcompensation following intellectual work, combined with the fact that we are less physically active when doing intellectual tasks, could contribute to the obesity epidemic currently observed in industrialized countries," (via ScienceDaily)

The research (published in Psychosomatic Medicine) engaged 14 female participants in 3 separate 45 minute tasks. After each task the participants were invited to eat as much as they wanted from a buffet.

Results

1. Resting in a sitting position (control).
2. Reading a document and writing a summary - consumed 203 more calories than (1) - representing a 23.6% increase.
3. Performing a battery of computerized tests - consumed 253 more calories than (1) - representing a 29.4% increase.

Take this one to your employer as a suggestion for a new health policy. Forget about a radical new weight loss regime -- just sit down and relax. Or better still - market "relaxing" as a new kind of appetite suppressant."

The article above was copied from the "Diet Blog" RSS feed I got today. It doesn't tell me anything I don't already know. Just today, a colleague complained that she feels sick from eating so poorly since the school year began. The healthy eating regimen we embraced by August after reeling from a hectic and stressful school year in a toxic work environment has been compromised by Hornet muffins (my school's version of "Egg McMuffins" only with sausage or bacon instead of lean Canadian bacon), school chili and Fritos with cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, fresh veggies with ranch and peanut butter, Pepsi Max, too much coffee, and the list could get uglier by November after lavish PTO catered dinners on parent-teacher conference nights. I witness people who normally watch what they eat load up on a plate of desserts that would feed a family of four. Besides being soooo good, most teachers are no doubt feeding the stress of being there, meeting with parents and struggling to be diplomatic about the fact that Johnny's grade is impacted by the child not doing anything once he walks out of the classroom doors.....
Lots of people, mostly women, eat to fill something that's missing in our soul; some sort of void that we have trouble filling with the things we really need, like rest, like being able to concentrate on maybe just two things at a time instead of seven, like getting something done before moving on to the sound of a bell that dictates what we do throughout the day. A friend once showed me the breathing exercise her shaman taught her to do when she's stressed. I wonder what the kids would do if I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and loudly hummed through my nose until I ran out of air. Might be more entertaining than popping Skittles!

Mmm...ice cream! Or maybe not.

Tired and weary from the heat of the day, David asks if there is any of his favorite Honey Hut vanilla ice cream left in the freezer. "I saw a container in the freezer," I reply, but that doesn't mean that there is ice cream in there. He takes the container in hand, and looks dismayed as it feels pretty light. "There you go," he says as he takes off the lid and shows me a few teaspoons in the bottom.

We see that a lot in our house. I think the kids think they are being courteous by not finishing off the yummy treats. I think that they may feel that by leaving a bite for someone it will make them happy that it's not gone when they go to get it. But what is worse, really? Seeing that the snack is gone? Or getting excited for a little treat and finding less than that in the bottom of the container, bag, box, or whatever?

And what about empty boxes or bags shoved back in the cupboard? Do they not feel that the box is empty when they take the last fruit snack or granola bar?! lol! Are they in such a hurry that they don't notice? Or do they just not want to take the extra five seconds to throw it away? Can't figure that one out. Maybe it's a cryptic message to me to buy some more.