Peanut Butter Shame
Peanut Butter is a trigger food for me. It can sit in the pantry for weeks and I don’t even think about it, but once I open it, I eat WAY too much.
We had two containers in our pantry from November – creamy and crunchy. They were both half full this week. They are now gone – mostly because of me.
We went to Target today to get groceries, and even stopped by the peanut butter, but I didn’t say that we needed any, because I didn’t want it in the house. I was being selfish.
Steven noticed we were out when we got home. He was upset that we didn’t get any. I can understand that. He likes to have it every once in awhile. And it was wrong of me to only think of myself when making the grocery list. I told him I would go pick some up, but that it is a trigger food for me, so I had no idea how long it would last. And I have no idea how long this overeating/binging phase is going to last for me. Why do I go through phases like this?
So now I feel guilty for eating too much AND for not getting any more peanut butter for the pantry. Yay.
Themocracy
Peanut butter is one of my favorite foods. In college I had my own jar of peanut butter that I would eat right out of like some people eat ice cream. I totally understand this.
And I’m cracking up because right after you left today, my 5 year old had a bowl of peanut butter for a snack…right after he told me he wasn’t hungry at all.
But I wonder if you are craving peanut butter recently because you need a nutrient in it? Protein? Maybe because of all the running? Is that possible?
It’s soooooo easy to eat peanut butter! We get the Peter Pan Honey Roast. I never eat it because I know I’ll end up eating way too much!
I love, love, love peanut butter! I used to feel guilty about eating it, but I’m pretty much over that now. I go through phases of putting it on everything from tortillas to carrots to oatmeal. You’re not selfish if you feel that it’s a bad trigger food for you. Would your husband understand if you explain? I think having it around and dealing with whatever comes up for you is good. I’m all for a healthy relationship with peanut butter 🙂
I have the same problem. I used to buy one jar of crunchy, organic PB for myself and a huge (5lb) jar for the boyfriend, who eats it every day for lunch. Then I realized that I’d just eat out of my jar with a spoon, which was gross, so I stopped buying it. Now, I still steal from his jar, but knowing that it’s “his” helps keep me away. Maybe if you designate the jar as “his” (and hide it way up on the top shelf), it’ll help.
Oh, Kim. With every post and every comment, I believe more and more that we’re the same person. 🙂
When it comes to PB and cereal, I do what Mica does as well. I tell the roomie (who has now decided that PB Puffins are her new favorite cereal after having pilfered mine) that the box of Puffins she just purchased yesterday (because I binged on and finished the last box) is STRICTLY hers, and that keeps me out of it (because I know that I would want her to respect something that was strictly MINE).
Sorry, long comment with lots of parentheses. 😛 You’ll find a solution, try your best to communicate your issues with him.
tori – That is too too funny! They were all saying they “weren’t hungry.” See?! Everyone can always use a little bit of peanut butter! Ha ha. I like to think I need the protein in it. It might actually be partially true. I just don’t need to eat as much of it as I am! 🙁
Etta – I think I have to go back to that. Just staying away from it! I wish there was an easier way to measure of serving of it, besides getting a tablespoon all messy then trying to get it all out again!
Kim Hooper – Thanks for visiting! I did talk to Steven about it. He listened and I think he understands to the extend that he knows why I didn’t buy any, but doesn’t understand why I am overeating it. Which I am trying to figure out too. I know it has to do with stress and anxiety, but I cannot figure out why I feel so overwhelmed NOW when I haven’t for months!
Mica – Wow! That is actually an idea that may work for me, until I develop a better relationship with it (omg, how weird is it to talk about food this way?!). Maybe if I even wrote his name on it or something. Hmm.
Jen – I know! I am starting to feel the same way!!! I think I am going to try what you and Mica recommend. I know that will work – I have a bag of cookies that I have been saving for someone in my pantry for almost 2 months now and I haven’t touched them because they “aren’t mine.”
Peanut Butter is a total trigger food for me too. Right now I am doing the South Beach Diet, which allows unlimited proteins but uh, they like you to watch the fat. Last night I was feeling sick and ravenous and sat down and ate my freshly ground peanut butter from Whole Foods with my fingers…out of the tub.
I know I shouldn’t have it in my house but sometimes it is such a treat.
I am a peanut butter freak too!! I only buy the reduced fat Skippy now, because of that. I have been known to eat it straight out of the jar, usually only a couple of teaspoons. I love it smeared on a banana. I noticed that you pictured JIF and I wondered if you have ever bought the individual serving cups that they have? That MIGHT be a way to help control your peanut butter intake. I can hide stuff, but, hey I still know it’s there. However, if I’ve bought something for Larry to eat, just knowing that he will know that I’ve been sneaking it to eat keeps me out of it. So if you designate the jar for Steven only that may help. If I’m craving peanut butter I will often time spread a serving on 2 caramel corn rice cakes. That way I have my peanut butter craving satisfied and I’m filled up too. In fact that sounds good right now. 😀
I am so glad that I don’t have the peanut butter gene. I can take it or leave it. My hubby has the gene, and he eats way too much of it.
Hilly – It is definitely a treat 🙁 A treat I wish I could give to myself and not lose my cool! I used to do the finger in the jar thing – when I still lived at home, many years ago. I wonder if any of my family will read this and be disgusted!
Denise – I have seen the individual serving ones and thought they seemed very wasteful – but appreciated the concept. I think I am going to try to designate it as Steven’s and ask him to help me with portion control – it’s lame, but I think it will help.
Jo – You are one of the lucky ones! 😉
i love peanut butter too!!! way too much!!!! unfortunantely i have too many trigger foods though… once i start i just can’t stop… damn!!!!
=^..^=
What do you think caused you to go off the deep end? Often I find there is an emotional or stress connection when I “fall off the wagon and into a mudslide”. Ha ha. 🙂
That said, pobody’s nerfect. We all have our moments. Man, I ate wayyyy more fresh baked rolls at the Amish restaurant Saturday than I should have and my belly poofed all up to show me why I should not be doing that. But after a full year of self-deprecation in those dark times, I’ve learned that I can just start over the next day and not do it again!
CourtneyInControl – Sweets are another trigger for me. I think I want to just stay off of them. After Lent was over, I ate a few and they have made me want more and more. I am surprised, because I thought the reverse would happen. I think it is just because I am stressed.
diane – I think it is stress and anxiety and maybe avoidance and frustration. Ha ha. I know it is all of those things. I will have to tell you more about in person. I am trying to start over too. As soon as it happens, but it’s hard lately 🙁
I’m curious: could the binge eating be your body’s way of telling you to eat a lil more? Just wondering.
Gina (Mannyed) – I think you are right. I think that me searching the pantry starts because my body wants a bit more, then it sometimes turns into a binge. 🙁