Good & Bad

The scale still isn't moving.....

The Good news is that the clothes sizes are though. I'm in 14's now. I absolutely love my closet. It's full of hand me downs that all fit. To be sure the scales will soon start moving again but until then I'm happy knowing how far I've come already.

The bad .... stress eating does not go away just because I've had gastric bypass surgery. I find I'm struggling with it daily but that's also a blessing in disguise - it means I'm living a very full life. I took my oldest to Augusta, GA and left him this past weekend. He'll be starting school this week (culinary). I think it's the hardest thing I've ever willingly done in my life. And yes I cried like a baby after I pulled away from the driveway. 

I'm proud of myself for resisting the urge to get the biggest bag of Peanut M&Ms that money could buy and getting a coffee w/ splenda and sf creamer instead ( yes I take a jar of the powdered sf French vanilla with me wherever I go) instead. Fear of dumping on a long road trip kept me in check.

Now that I'm back to work and into my routine again - I had a blow out on the way to work this morning. What fun???!!!!???!!!! Somehow or another I'll make it through this too but dang I can't seem to get ahead here lately.

Hi Iris,

I know just how hard it is to part with our kids. Two of mine are completely grown men and I still struggle with it... I'm careful not to be clingy, but I really know what you mean. Wasn't it just a few weeks, months and years ago that we were where Melinda and James are now? How did the time move so quickly? That said, I can hear the pride in your 'voice' as you speak lovingly of your boys. They and you are lucky to have such a warm, loving bond. 

On the stress/food front: I absolutely understand what you are saying and where you are coming from. I think that it's a bit sobering to really realize that this 'stress/comfort' monster is one we will have to actively battle for the rest of our lives... But now, we have tools, both tactile and not, that can and will help us through this. I was just talking to Ben about it this morning. He still hasn't been able to find a job and the stress is mounting daily. That said, I no longer eat bags full of my 'Bullseyes' and my weight is back down to the mid 140's which is where I'm most comfortable. Like you, it's not that I don't have the urge to take the dangerous path, but also like you, I find that I am much more cognizant of my dangerous behavior patterns and generally manage it better. Like you, I make plans to help me overcome these issues and succeed. We will conquer this together my friend.

Wishing us both a smoother, more gentle road ahead as we continue our respective journies. 

Warmly,

I don't know where the time went either. It seems like just a few days ago that Kevin and I were bringing the boys home from the hospital. Now they're continuing their educations and starting their own "grown-up" lives.

- Iris

Wow... I sure can relate about the adult children. My oldest a son is 20 yrs old and has been away from home in the Navy for 2 yrs he is stationed in Hawaii {we are in Ft Bragg, NC} he is currently deployed in Japan. I haven't seen him since Christmas. My oldest daughter is 19 yrs old and she too is in the Navy and has been for a little over a year. {She is visiting now only for a week} She is stationed in Virginia and just got off a 6 month Med cruise {Greece, Turkey, Italy, etc} they both are starting their lives as adults and while we have a very good relationship them making their own grown up desicions can be frightening. My other two daughters {17 yrs old and 14yrs old} Are in a Early College High School which means 5 yrs of high school equals a high school diploma and an associates degree so they are sorta in a grown up world. All this makes for a super stressed Mom. {especially with all the Military craziness} And  phone calls and e mails are NOT the same as being able to hold and hug someone. You have to make peace with yourself knowing you did the best job you knew how to and they will make good desicions because of it. Kinda got off the topic here... I know when I begin to think things are getting a little out of hand I go back to journaling. Very accurately what, how much, why and how I feel when I eat. this way. It makes me feel accountable for any non-hungry momentswhen I find myself staring at the frig, I stop and think when I know I HAVE to write it down. It gives me a jumping point of what I should do when I feel a certain way before eating. Make Sense?

Your post makes perfect sense. I'm an avid journaler - it has helped me through lots of difficult situations and stress eating is one of the smaller problems.

One of the things that I love about this forum is knowing that someone else is in or has had a similar situation happen. Thanks for sharing.

- Iris

(((((((((((((((Iris))))))))))))))))))
Big hugs to you I can imagine how hard it was to take you sone to school I bet one day you will be so proud you did I am sure he is gonna make Momma proud.
                                            Annie
                         

Oh Annie - he's such a cool kid. He's real easy going and laid back. I can't imagine where life will take him - his potential is limitless.

- Iris