I thought it was a good trait

I've always prided myself in finishing what I start. It took me 9 years to get my BS, but I did it. I spent years cross-stitching a Christmas stocking. It was hideous, and never used, but I finished the project. Lately I've realized finishing what I start isn't necessarily a good thing. I had lunch with Tracy a few weeks ago. She delivered the Girl Scout cookies I'd ordered. After lunch we opened a box of cookies. Tracy took two. I took two. We hugged, said good-bye, and got in our cars to head back to work. I dipped my hand into the box of cookies for just one more. Then one more. Then another. You get the idea. By the time I made it back to my home office, I'd eaten the entire box of cookies (well almost... Tracy ate two).

Lately my quest to make butter toffee peanuts has led to way too many taste tests. I buy cans of the peanuts so I can profile the flavor and texture. Of course I have to finish the can. Then I buy peanuts from Costco and experiment with each and every recipe I can find. Even when my attempts fail miserably, I still have to consume all the peanuts. Seriously, I do not know what is wrong with me. Something pulls me to the food. It's like I'm on auto-pilot. I know what I'm doing is not normal. I am not even enjoying what I'm eating, I'm just unable to stop.

Before today I never even felt full after the binge. Today I finally felt the full factor. And I am so excited. I made another batch of butter toffee peanuts. I used 1.25 cups of peanuts. They turned out pretty good. The best yet, actually. I ate some. I ate some more. I shared some with Bob (sharing is caring). Then I ate some more, until they were all gone. I felt miserable. My stomach was very full and bloated feeling. I didn't like that feeling. I'm going to try to hang on to that uncomfortable feeling and revisit it anytime I feel the urge to eat something I don't need.

My mission for the rest of April is to stop and think before each and every bite. It's time to get in touch with my hunger. If I'm not hungry, I'm not going to take another bite. I'm hoping that by the end of the month a habit will be formed and I will be a conscious eater. Someone who is aware of what her body needs, and the difference between that and what her mind wants.

What are some of the tools I'm going to use to help me establish this habit?

1. Rating my hunger on a scale of 1-5. I've never done this before. I'm going to try to stay at a 3. If I get to a 5 and am off the chart starving, that's no good. And, if I eat even though I'm full, that's not good either. So, I'm striving for a 3.
   
2. Put down the utensil after each and every bite. When the fork is down I'll rate my hunger and decide whether to pick up the fork again, or not.
3. Brush teeth, or chew gum after eating. I do this already, but not consistently. It really works. Nothing tastes good after you've brushed your teeth. So it's a good tactic. Chewing gum keeps my mouth busy. I find I don't think about food or eating if I'm chewing gum.

If you have any other ideas for me, let me know. Here's to taking control back!