Food porn
Funny post from Kottke.org on food porn.
Now, to get all Debbie Downer on you…
The food porn article reminds me of the experiment they did on the effects of starvation during the Second World War. Of course, I’m not starving! But sometimes I observe the same types of behaviors in myself and other dieters. A striking recent example from the-f-word.org is a Turkish woman Akça?l?lar who died of anorexia — if you click through and read about her, she actually wrote cookbooks.
I lose weight best when I don’t think about food too much. (Harness the power of distraction for good, not evil!) I don’t watch Food TV, read cookbooks except when meal planning once a week (and I’m quick about it), buy food or diet-related magazines, etc. I document what I eat, but as quickly as possible and without obsessing. Likewise for exercise. I used to create the most elaborate food and exercise plans that were totally unsustainable.
Now, my exercise plan is Just Do It, my food plan is eat less and better, and I use my camera to create my visual food and exercise diary. Done. Then, I spend the rest of my time (now that I have a lot more of it, plus more energy) living life!
Let’s hear it for living life, not obsessing. Well, too much 
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Hear Hear!
Or is it here! Here! Whatever, you know what I mean!
I’m curious about the picture taking of the food you eat. I’m seeing several people posting that they’re doing this. Does it really help? Is it the visual of everything you’ve eaten that curbs the hunger? I’m curious. It seems like it’d take a lot of time to take the pictures and post them, but maybe it’s worth the effort if it helps.
Thanks!
Ha! That was from reading my stuff wasn’t it, the obsessing part. I know I made you write about that!
I agree with you for the most part that obsession is bad, well other than I like to wear the cologne. I think it is ok to obsess in the very beginning as you learn about it. Then ease out of the obsession and into the just do it phase. For me, if I had no idea how many calories I needed to burn or should burn or was burning, I would begin to feel like it wasn’t working. Now that I have an idea how big the mountain is and how much I can shovel in a day, I can reset my expectations with the reality of my plight. Something I wouldn’t be able to do without the early obsession.
True enough that it would be possible to keep moving along with the hope of getting there, but knowing what is possible allows for realistic goal setting.
I don’t obsess about the food, I obsess with the numbers. My obsession is with a spreadsheet. I agree with you wholeheartedly not to obsess with the meal planning portion. That much time in a cookbook is like going to the store hungry and must be avoided.
Diana: I’m going to post the details — I’ve gotten a bunch of questions! Look for a post tomorrow on the visual diary details.
Brian: I swear, I didn’t write that for you!
Coincidence. I think you’re right, in the beginning, it’s just the learning process. I think, for me, there’s a difference between focus and obsession, so I just need to watch that. I’m not trying to project my personal character defects on anyone 
And I’m happy just reaping the benefits of all your calculating!
I find that when I watch tv or read magazines with food I start to want the food even if I am not hungry. I stay away from it too