I've always found the DC metro to be remarkably clean. My boyfriend has never reported any syrup-wielding weirdos, but it might still be a good idea to watch out.

Why IS breakfast so hard to change? It wasn't until I started my winter-break job that I switched up the breakfast I'd been eating for almost three years ... and now I only eat my "new" breakfast. I agree that it probably has something to do with being still half-asleep - you need something comforting to make the rest of the transition.

I've been dithering a lot lately about whether or not I should start eating beef again. I quit sometime in college and except for a few bites here or there, I haven't had any in years. Ironically, I think beef may be one of my "sacred cows"...

Ah yes, the lovely rules. We all have our own, and we all consider them sacred. We follow them, religiously. One of my weirder ones is thinking that if I have Mexican food for lunch, I have to have Mexican food for dinner. Whereas I can say many of my other rules are restriction-based, this one is just out there...except that I guess placing any "rule" on eating behavior IS restricting. Like you, I have trouble changing up my breakfasts. I have gone from one default, to about 3 or 4 options, which is good...but I still go back to my default quite often. Is this OCD? Or is this just the ED thinking up ways to keep us in some kind of box?

I'm new to your blog. I love this post on Sacred Cows. It makes me think about the important things in life and how I want to put more emphasis on them instead of all the ED rules (that shouldn't be Sacred Cows).

I have an ED blog too. I'd love to be blogging buddies.

http://karastrueconfessions.blogspot.com

Lisa,

True- the Metro system is quite clean and safe. But never quite oddball-free...

Kim,

We all have food quirks. For instance, I love raisins and nuts, but I don't like them in things (such as cinnamon raisin bagels). And I think it's important to evaluate how this "sacred cows" interfere with our lives. I mean, if it's no big deal that you then have to have Mexican for dinner, it might be worth a temporary shoulder shrug.

I had to chuckle when I read this - I made homade waffles for breakfast with blueberris on top. I haven't had waffles in ages - oooooh, the scandal of it all!

Hurrah for you.

And Kim - I laughed at your 'mexican for L & D' rule - I'm the same way!

That's a good point -- does the sacred cow interfere with life? I am often very hard on myself about the rules I have. I think I am too far into recovery to have these rules. But, no, they don't really interfere with my life...and if a Mexican dinner was not an option, for example, I would not self-combust (I don't think). There are other quirks I don't even bother analyzing (like why I like olives on pizza, but never by themselves). I should probably just accept some things and move on. A good shrug of the shoulders is great advice. Thank you.

Kim,

I mean, part of the reason I'm challenging myself to mix up my breakfast is so that I know I can do it should I ever need to. So maybe trying the Mexican lunch-but-not-dinner before the situation arises might be a way to boost your confidence that you won't self destruct. And then you can follow your rule as you like and know that you don't have to. It might not be the most comfortable, but you'll be able to do it.

Agreed. It's good for me to break rules to know that I CAN, even if I don't prefer to. I guess even "normal" people have food rules. I'm way too hard on myself about mine. I think I'm a freak and that just feeds into the mean self-talk, blah blah blah. As long as we're not trapped by our choices, it's probably ok. If you can have a different breakfast, that's great, but there's probably not much wrong with the one you're eating either.

I think it's true that people with eating disorders have more "rules" than those who aren't dx'd w/EDs ... but also more likely to see food preferences and patterns as rules/sacred cows than social counterparts.

My husband doesn't have an eating disorder or disordered anything of any kind, but he has eaten practically the *exact* same lunch for the past almost two decades we've been married ... exceptions being special occasions, holidays, impromptu opportunities for something different, or just running out of turkey, wheat-berry bread, yellow tortilla chips, two fruits, and a Little Debbies "nutty bar" or oatmeal pie.

The exceptions are probably the defining difference. And whether, as you say, you feel bound by your rules ... or whether they're defaults that ED-people might be more apt to ruminate about or become attached to.

I have gone through lots of "phases." None of them were so much about the content of the food item(s) themselves but more about the almost superstitious feeling that change might be risky, uncomfortable, "dangerous," upsetting. That anxiety about not wanting to be anxious, so let's not rock the boat. That's what it is for me ... and I notice the same in hospital units. Everyone has their safe/unsafe preferences, and they're all mostly about the sacred-cow'ness of it.

Anon,

You make a really good point. I think a lot of people eat the same things, say, for breakfast or whatever, but people with EDs are much more likely to make that sacrosanct rather than just an eating rut or a habit.

Thanks for pointing that out!

I know I have many rules that I am attempting to work with my dietican on DURING weight restoration, as these things tend to get harder afterwards. . .

Just out of curiousity Carrie, do you find it more difficult to challenge yourself/break up routine after you have been weight restored or during?

How much did you challenge these "sacred cows" during the initial weight recovery itself?

Just curious. Trying to get some pointers from someone who has been there. . .

A

I've been reading your blog for sometime now and haven't commented much-for no reason other then I just well, didn't. I love this Scared Cow post. In fact, I want to copy it (of course give credit to you) and send it to some friends. Eds and Ocd are so intertwined. I am a scared cow most of the time when it comes to food/eating/timing/etc. I don't know if I sent you a link to my blog (emy made that group on FB. let me know. it is revellingandreckoning@blogspot.com
Be well Carrie and keep posting. I love reading what you have to say. Kiersten

Oops I just checked and I already gave you permission. anyway, again great post! Good luck w/ the breakfast change. I'm rooting for you! K

A,

During weight restoration, as long as my "sacred cows" didn't interfere with gaining weight and a balanced diet (my fat free sacred cow had to go, alas), then they were kind of left intact. Tackle the important stuff first- the rest can weight.

Labyrinth,

Feel free to share at will!