Help, I'm sabataging myself!!!

OMG I'm wrecking everything I've worked so hard for the past few months.  I'm stressing out and just want to keep putting something into my mouth.  Yesterday I grazed on these eggplant slices I baked in the oven all afternoon.  I just kept sticking them in my mouth.  Now I know what they mean about grazing.  Just because you can't eat a lot all at once, it doen't mean you can't eat a hell of a lot when you eat all day long.  At least it was eggplant and not something really high cal.  I have had to fight all day to keep from doing it again.  I ate 1/2 c chicken chili for breakfast then at 9:30 I ate a 1/2 c of tuna salad, then another 1/2 c of chicken chili at 12:30 before I finally got off my butt and left the house.  At 5:30 I ate 12 wheat thins with some fat free sour cream spinich dip.  I can't believe I am resorting to stuffing food in my mouth at the first sign of trouble.  I am not hungry.  I haven't been hungry since the surgery.  I'm going to get up and walk to the park right now before I forget myself and try to stuff something else into my mouth.

Hey Sybul,

Getting out of the house and away from the food is exactly the thing to do!!  You MUST find something to do with your time besides eat.  I know you just quit your job, so not only are you stressed, but you are out of your routine and have time on your hands.

Yes, you're right, just  because you're eating things that are fairly good choices (not junk), you're still grazing.  Realizing your behavor is the first step in correcting it.

Sit down tonight and PLAN what you are going to eat tomorrow and what time. Then stick to the plan. If it's not on the list, you can't have it.   Do it for one day, then do it again tomorrow night.  You can do this, I'm sure of it!!!!  We'll be here to help

Thanks Susan,  I am so grateful to have all of you to talk to.  I am going for some pre-employment testing today at Sparks for the temp agency I am signed up with.  Monday is orientation, then I start working in post-op recovery so at least the work issue is resolved.  I am waiting on a position to open at another facility so this will tide us over till then.  All of you guys rock!  I am planning my meals for today right now.  Thanks for the advice.  I will take it a day at a time.

I completely agree with Susan. 

You are out of your routine and stressed out.  When you get the urge to eat for no reason (other than to stuff your face), the best thing to do IS get your mind off of it by getting out and/or doing something. 

I was a big binge eater pre-op.  Occassionally, I still have a day where I KNOW that it would have been one of those days pre-op where I would have binged all day long.  I even think to myself, "this would have been a binge day if I hadn't have had surgery" because that urge was there all day long to just eat and eat and eat. 

But I know in my mind that that feeling/urge will pass so I do my best to keep myself busy throughout the day until the feeling passes (even if it doesn't pass until the next day). 

Don't let all this be for nothing.  You can do this.  Your MIND is stronger than your URGE and you CAN beat it. 

You are right Wendy.  I was one of those eaters that ate for every reason...happy, sad, mad, sick, you name it.  Now I just need to quit freaking out over it and get on with it.  I just look to all of you and your stories and advice and it keeps me going.  I can do this and I will.  I'm heading out of the house this morning and plan to keep busy today and away from the food.  I plan to put in some extra time on the Wii this afternoon too.  Thanks again.

Syb sweetie,

See you should call me on those days and invite me over, it doesn't sound too bad in all actuality but a lot at your stage of the game is all.  One day is not bad and quite honestly, sometimes at certian times of the month your body precipitates what you need and it is saying I need that, I can tell you that for sure.

Now on the other hand I still don't have any homemade salsa! lol

You are fine and we love you!

AB

I've got a jar with your name on it, lol.  I am bound and determined to make it to this month's support meeting.  I have a van if anybody down this way wants to meet in Alma and ride together that night.  Does anybody know what date it is?

I am game, I missed this past month because I was still tired from my foot surgery and started my period that day.  And I love you for the salsa!

AB

I agree with Amy. It's good to recognize that the day was not normal and your eating was off due to stress. Stress eating is not good. Any kind of emotional eating is not good. Let's look at what you really had for the day. 1C of chili, 1/2C tuna and wheat thins with a healthy dip. The day before, you went buck-wild on some eggplant!

Now.... let's consider a pre-op bingified day when you're bored at home(or me for this example). I can't really remember since it's been so long, but I'll give it a shot! If there was food in the house it probably would have been a bowl of cereal for breakfast or pancakes if I was in the mood to cook. (however, when I stress eat, I usually want things that are convenient so it would have been the cereal) Then at about 10 there may have been a saltines with cheese snack. Then at lunch a lean pocket with a good third bag of baked chips(because they're healthy ya know!) Then a little later I probably would have had the other lean pocket because the first was so good(and they're LEAN!). Then a dinner...now if I was really stressed it probably would have been time to head to the restaurant of choice, but if I cooked...meat, a side veggie, potatoes, pasta or both and maybe some rolls. In other words...a big freakin dinner! I find that my pre-op binge days don't look as bad as many since I was never big on fast food.

I told you that to give you some reality to the situation. Now is the time to get it under control, but just think back to what it "was" and how far you have come. You've got this girl! Oh yea....if you find yourself feeling guilty for snacking in the morning...STOP. Just stop right then. Continue the day as if nothing has happened. You may want to add a few minutes onto your walk in the evening, but that is no big deal. Don't wait for tomorrow or Saturday or Monday or whatever day better eating habits start. Correct the problem as soon as you can identify it. I can tell you that I came from the mindset of "well what's one more after all I've ate today". Now I can look on the package and see just exactly how much one more is!

Oh yea, kudos on the high protein splurge

Thanks Shawna.  You're right.  If I put it in perspective, it really doesn't even compare to a pre-surgery binge.  It was still a whole lot considering what small amounts I've been eating since surgery.  I find myself no****ching the clock all the time and drinking too soon after eating sometimes too.  I usually do pretty good at work because I just set my timer and go on but at home I suck.  I need a second timer here.  I set the one on the stove but half the time my dh turns it off and assumes I already heard it.  Generally I will just see his tea and reach for it to get a drink forgetting it's not time.  I'm working on that one too.  It hurts when I take a big sip of something when I have a full pouch.   I'm getting better with that though.

 

I start temping at Sparks Hosp. on Monday until the other job I really want opens up.  I'll be too busy to eat then, lol.