Summary

The author reflects on their craving for sugary cold cereal, considering whether it's a lazy indulgence or a loved treat to be enjoyed in moderation, and ponders the emotional and habitual triggers behind this craving while contemplating healthier choices.

Abstract

The article delves into the author's internal conflict regarding their desire for sugary cold cereal. The author observes a pattern in their hunger based on the timing of their dinner and questions whether their early wake-up time is influencing their body's signals. They experiment with alternatives like an apple and water to understand if the craving is for food or hydration. The author also explores the emotional connection to cereal, recalling childhood experiences and current financial and time abundance as potential factors. They weigh the health implications of consuming sugary cereals against the enjoyment they provide, considering how this fits into their broader health goals and values. The article concludes with the author deciding to eat a smaller portion of cereal and to hide the unopened box, demonstrating a struggle between indulgence and health-conscious decision-making.

Opinions

The author is uncertain if their cereal craving is due to hunger or emotional triggers and is considering the possibility that it might be a response to thirst.
There is a belief that the author's recent increase in bread and sugar consumption, including cereal, may be part of a cycle contributing to weight gain.
The author acknowledges that their grocery budget and busy schedule might be influencing their craving for and purchase of cereal.
There is a conflict between the desire for sugary cereals and the pursuit of long-term health goals, with the author contemplating the frequency and portion size that would allow for moderation.
The author seems to value not being wasteful, which is why they are hesitant to throw away the cereal they have purchased.
The author is considering creating new habits to manage their cravings, inspired by the concept of turning big goals into smaller, more manageable ones, as discussed by Tim Ferriss.
The author recognizes that their love for certain cereals is genuine but is unsure if this love justifies making room for them in a healthy lifestyle.
The author is leaning towards making

Is cold cereal just a lazy thing I want?

Or is it actually something I love and need to make room in my life like the other indulgences I allow in moderation?

I’ve noticed a weird pattern with my body lately.

When I eat dinner late with my husband, the following morning, I am really hungry.

When I eat dinner earlier and a long time before bed, I am not hungry the following morning.

It used to be different. If I ate later, I was hungry for breakfast later in the morning.

I get up at 4:30am each morning to start my morning routine. I don’t know if having an earlier wake up time is creating some of the change in my body.

Now I have to decide if what I’m feeling is actually hunger or not. Maybe I’m thirsty. I usually crave a bowl of cereal when I feel like this.

I just grabbed an apple and a glass of water. Maybe making a different choice can change the craving and affect what I feel.

Maybe I can retrain my body to crave healthier choices. Maybe I can just delay.

What is it about a bowl of cereal that makes my body want it?

It isn’t usually a healthy cereal I crave. It’s the sugary ones.

And I was craving sugary cereal when I went grocery shopping a few weeks ago. So, I do have some sugary options in the pantry. I’ve been good about eating it in moderation. But it is still in the cupboard. I should throw it away. I’m not ready to do it though. I would probably just go buy more because I don’t know what is creating this cycle yet.

I think something is happening emotionally to perpetuate this cold cereal craving.

Cold cereal was not usually something I had as a kid. So, maybe we only had it in the house when we had plenty of money and could splurge. Or maybe when my mom was too busy and wanted something easy and quick for our mornings so she wouldn’t have to cook breakfast for us.

I do have a little more money for groceries right now. And I have been super busy. Maybe these are part of my brain’s trigger for buying and craving cereal. I don’t know.

I need to decide, once again, if cold cereal is something I should ever even buy. And which kinds. I usually go on a sweet cereal “binge” a couple times a year. Maybe this is what is happening now. Maybe the vitamins in cereal is what I need and if I had a new bottle of vitamins I wouldn’t crave cereal. But healthy cereal has vitamins too.

I have gained some of my lost weight back and I have been consuming a lot more bread and sugar products in general. Maybe it’s just part of that cycle?

Maybe it’s everything combined and I need to stop the craziness.

Maybe I will delay eating cereal with water and the apple.

Maybe I will eat a bowl of sugary cereal this morning.

Maybe I will keep the cereal.

Maybe I will throw it away.

Maybe I will make better choices at the grocery store.

Maybe I will decide to keep eating crap and live with the natural consequences.

Maybe I will decide to stop eating crap and live with the better natural consequences.

Maybe not deciding is the choice I think I am making. But making no choice is a choice.

What do I want my life to look like?

What changes am I willing to make to get the life I want?

Can I create some easy habits to make those changes stick?

This morning I was listening to Tim Ferriss talk about priorities on an Evan Carmichael compilation. He was talking about taking a big goal and making it a tiny goal you could accomplish. Make it too easy. Then you can succeed and if you want to do more, you can.

I need to decide if this cereal and craving cycle can be interrupted with a tiny goal I can accomplish. Delaying the eating of cereal is working right now. Having the apple next to me on the desk is working too. Drinking water is helping.

Now I need to decide what place sugary cereal has in my life. Is it gone forever? Is it in moderation? Is it always allowed?

Long term health goals scream it must be gone forever. The realist in me says, once in awhile is fine. Maybe a different size portion is the answer. Maybe only once a week or once a month or once a year is my sugary cereal decision.

I decided a long time ago to only eat what I love. I should decide if I love sugary cereal for real. Is it just a lazy thing I want or is it actually something I love and need to make room in my life for like I do the other indulgences I love. Maybe there is a love for certain kinds of cereal that I haven’t really taken the time to figure out. I do have certain cereals that I prefer. And I love how they taste and feel in my mouth. But is it something I need in order to have a better life? Or can I let them go?

And what do I do with the cereal I have in the cupboard? Throwing it in the trash cuts into my value system of not being wasteful. One box is open. One box is unopened.

Today I will eat a smaller bowl of cereal from the opened box. I will eat my apple first though.

I will put the unopened box in a different location in the pantry where it will be out of sight for awhile. Maybe I will throw it away. Maybe I will open it eventually. I’m not sure yet.

Photo by Gustavo Bautista Reyes on Unsplash

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