Simplicity, I totally agree about the restaurant food... if I'm out, I'm there to splurge a little, and I'm sure not going to skip really good bread or salad dressing. Life's too short to never eat the restaurant bread!:)

Carol, I ditto ChefSam on the chocolate brands. They're really quite reasonably priced, particularly when one package can sit in the cupboard (wrapped well) for several months. Ghirardelli makes wrapped squares that are perfect portions. I like their 60% cocoa, and the 72%; the 86% is a bit strong for me to enjoy by itself, though. Here in Idaho, I can find Guittard and Ghirardelli most places (even W*l-M*rt for the Ghirirdelli squares!), and Callebaut in small quantities at our Albertson's, too (it's a regional chain... not terribly upscale overall, but they have good chocolate none-the-less!) I can even get "Emergency Ghirardelli morsels" at our favorite grocery, WinCo!

I like my chocolates sweet and creamy and I am entirely too fond of them!

I'm just the opposite. I love sweet! Milk chocolate bring it on, I give my dark chocolate to my DH.

I have had those Ghiradelli squares before - I think it was the 60% and the 72%. And, now that I think about it, I remember seeing a section in our Raley's market that had a bunch of different types of chocolate. I'll have to check it out. As, like Bless, I am very fond of my chocolate too (only the dark varieties).

I am one of those strange creatures that eats nearly all of their food "naked". I don't do sauces, dressings, or condiments. So...that area is NOT a problem for me.

I do know that since I started taking this medication to control panic disorder my weight has continually climbed. An unfortunate side effect, but I am choosing to be bigger and sane, rather than thin and a basketcase. Perhaps I should change my thinking and say, "I choose to be healthy." I do know that getting myself more active will help with doing that as well.

Hoping, fingers crossed, that once DD wakes up, she is feeling better today and will be going to Wind Ensemble so I can get my walking in as it's supposed to be a beautiful afternoon here.

I like your term "healthy". It fits every aspect! Good for you in changin' your "stinkin' thinkin'", LOL! I know it can be hard to change what we say to ourselves that we would never say to others.

Great job!

so much for being healthier... DD2 had the flu yesterday, I had a queazy stomach all day, today I have a tremendously sore throat. I had a humungous smoothie for breakfast and now I'm having a cup of (un)coffee to warm up.

I like my chocolate anyway served, but was raised on Swiss so if it gets too waxy I go ick... I do find like Liz mentioned that just a small amount of the dark chocolate is very satisfying (and healthy to boot). If you work your way up the percentage you'll likely acquire a taste for the darker. I really like it with raspberries, cherries, or blueberries in it...

I did discover some emotional eating patterns... Very rough evening with DD the other night (everything in her world went wrong that day) ~ "I deserve a turtle for that", then later "I deserve another turtle"...

Canadagirl: "uncoffee" is that equal to hot water? LOL! I'm not a coffee drinker, but do like the mild hot chocolate with whipped cream. Gee, I can see why I'm on this thread.

A cup of cocoa, even daily, can be healthy... sometimes, it's the one thing you need to keep you feeling contented with some aspect of life!

I was talking with a friend today, and she told me about a really cool scientific study recently published. In it, they determined that oxytocin, a chemical that acts the opposite of adrenalin on the body, is produced by the body at primarily four different times: child birth, breastfeeding, intimacy, and while eating! Oxytocin triggers a cascade of feelings of contentment and bonding--safety, rather than flight.

One part of the study showed that after having a meal with a salesperson, the individual would typically invest or spend 60% MORE with that person, because they felt "trustworthy" and "safe".

She and I got pretty excited visiting: if the oxytocin release is triggered by sharing meals, then having family meals is not just "time to catch up" with one another... it's chemically altering our bodies and minds, and creating emotional bonds among family members! There was absolutely no difference in response based on the timing of the meal, or complexity of the meal... it was the sitting together to share the meal that mattered.

Pretty cool, eh? Something so simple can actually have a positive affect on overall health, by providing those feelings of calm and contentment more regularly over time!

Maureen, good job on identifying that trigger thought! I'm trying to be as mindful as possible when eating a treat or getting some exercise in. I don't want any of it to be drudgery, or dreadful, so I'm looking to concentrate on the whole experience, and really BE in that moment. (That means my notebook is going to get a workout this year, too, so I can do short "brain drain" sessions before things like going for a walk, in order to free up my thinking for being aware of the walk!)

That is cool! I know when there have been problem students, at our school, our principal will eat lunch with them. He found it created an opportunity to communicate about other subjects and the students really look forward to that one on one time. Sometimes, that's the only real communication between an adult and a student occured.

Now we know the scientific aspect of it as well.

Aha!

That explains my predilection for eating! My age and circumstances preclude the first three, leaving me with eating as my sole source of comfort!