Impulse Control
Tagged Under : Anxiety, Chatter, Food, Philosophy
Two things you might hear a lot about if you are in the dog training world are Frustration Tolerance and Impulse Control. Dogs have to learn these things in order to be trained well, and to function in a human based world. Even wild animals learn both of things at a very young age.
I think both of these things translate well in the human world, too. I’ve been thinking about Impulse Control a lot lately. Mainly in the area of eating. I am pretty sure I’m addicted to sugar. And chocolate. And probably salt. I love them all and can eat them all day long.
I get major cravings in the evenings for sugar and chocolate. And usually I give in. Eating right is not only about choosing the right foods. I think a huge part of it is emotionally based, and not giving in to those cravings, and learning about that impulse control. Just because we feel something, either emotionally or physically, giving into it and doing it is not always the best thing!
Sometimes it is. Sometimes we need to follow our gut. But usually in the area of eating, in our society, in our day and age, it’s not. Following the gut, or filling the gut, isn’t a good thing! Eating less, eating healthier, helps us feel better in the long run, and live longer too! And when we lose weight, we can all win trophies for ourselves!
Excellent thought! I am trying to have better impulse control too. I’ve been listening to these nutrition podcasts and they are helping me better understand what foods to choose to make me healthier. They talk a lot about environmental control. Basically controlling your environment to ensure that when you get the impulse to eat things like chocolate – it’s more difficult for you to give into it. For example, don’t keep foods in the house that aren’t part of your dietary plans. If you live with others that don’t make the same food choices as you, make a cupboard or shelf that is all your own so you don’t have to have their unhealthy options mixed in with your own. Oh and if you are at a place where there are foods you are trying to avoid, remove yourself from the situation while others are eating.
All good ideas to help me learn impulse control. I have a soda addiction for sure. I’m not drinking it and I’m trying to avoid even looking at the FREE soda machines at work!!
Christys last blog post..Sandy City Council Meeting – BSL
Hi Christy! Very cool… if I don’t have it around, I don’t eat it either. But dang it’s hard to leave that chocolate at the store.
Oh free soda machines would be hard to resist… ugh!