Do we eat to live, or live to eat?

[joesteph]

I reached a point about a decade ago (I'm fifty-six), in which my appetite has been greater than what I was able to burn off by weight-training or can burn off now by martial arts. I find myself eating when I'm not hungry, and I'm especially fond of sweets. I've gained ten pounds since the summer, meaning I'm 175 at 5'6" instead of the trimmer 165 that feels best for me, and I realize that it's really from my eating habits rather than my age.

It's not that there's a lack of awareness or knowledge in our society about the "right" foods and the benefits of keeping trim, so I feel that I--and I'd say anyone who does as I've been doing--am responsible for my eating habits. Anyone else in this boat? Why do we do this?

(Poll is above this OP)

[bushido_man96]

I live to eat. I have a voracious appetite that is my downfall. I have lost a bit lately, but not much. And I still like second and third helpings.

[DWx]

I used to eat more than I should as a kid.. I think a lot of it came from staying at my gran's during the holidays. What kid is going to say no to chocolate biscuits every half hour?!? Now I don't have that great appetite and I eat just enough so my weight is constant. Am still above my ideal (fighting) weight though but should begin to lose that soon as I pay a lot of attention to what I eat and what exercise I do.. Problem comes when I am under stress for like exams etc. I tend to snack on stuff as a method of procrastination.

[joesteph]

Problem comes when I am under stress for like exams etc. I tend to snack on stuff as a method of procrastination.

I spoke with my sister, DWx, who just turned fifty-five. She's 5'1" and weighs 105. Her view about me is that I've come to associate food with comfort--"comfort food" in time of stress. She doesn't lead a stress-free life, but I have to hand it to her; she's a determined one about controlling her weight, and it's about the same as when she was in her twenties.