As part of a self-change project required of my students this semester I've decided to work on improving my own eating habits and -- with luck -- lose weight. Here's some data which serve as background to my goals.

• I have gained 25 pounds since my college days. I was definitely underweight then. I am overweight now (155# at 5'6 1/2" on 12/25/96).
  
• My weight gain has been slow and steady, especially since 1990 when I began doing therapy, spending inordinate amounts of time sitting in the therapy chair and a car and exercising less. I'm not so concerned about my current weight as the slow and steady gain.
  
• I am spending less time sitting now -- although still a lot -- and exercise at a reasonable rate. Most weeks I use my NordicTrack five times/week and go 3.7k - 4.1k over the course of 25 minutes. I also walk frequently around town.
  
• I have been a vegetarian since 1978 and generally eat well. My blood pressure is low as was my cholesterol the last (and only) time I had it checked. I used to cook frequently and in a very healthy fashion. Now I frequently don't have time and energy to cook well and frequently eat "catch as catch can."
  
• I also have a tendency to come home from a hard day at work and "binge" on generally healthy but nutritionally dense food. Then, when dinner is ready, I'm not hungry and eat to eat.
  
• In the last couple of weeks I've been very distressed to observe myself eating when I'm not hungry, especially food that is simply laying around -- leftovers from my daughters' dinners, an open bag of chocolate chips, "just one more" chip. On at least one occasion I ate despite being full. This doesn't seem to be related to being depressed or anxious, but simply having time and food available.