stress = food
So many of you on facebook already saw that my sister in law had to go to the ER today.
She called me at 11:15 and told me she is having chest pains and numbness down the entire left side of her body and face. I told her I'd meet her at her house and get her to the ER since she is like 1 mile away. I called 911 and they met us at the house. I took her 3 yo son with me. Ironically my parents were visiting a friend at the same hospital and met us at the ER. My brother was also able to get there right away too.
So she was in the ER, stable, BP and Pulse okay, they were running labs, EKG, etc so I left to get back to work and will visit her later. They have since admitted her for testing. She is 38 very fit and healthy and no hx of heart issues or medical problems.
So it was lunch time and what do I do- turn to excess food. I went to wawa, go****ermelon, cheese, apples with peanut butter, and a couple meatballs. Not the worst food in the world, but it was like I couldn't control myself. Granted I did not eat it all at once (I spread it over 2 meals) and I did not fini**** all, I still feel like I totally relapsed or regressed or something.
I found myself just eating potato salad that I don't even like when I went downstairs for some water a minute ago.
Well no major damage done, but I am getting back to being very mindful of what I am putting in my mouth (even more than usual). I am frustrated that I could get thrown off so quickly by stress and change in routine!!
She called me at 11:15 and told me she is having chest pains and numbness down the entire left side of her body and face. I told her I'd meet her at her house and get her to the ER since she is like 1 mile away. I called 911 and they met us at the house. I took her 3 yo son with me. Ironically my parents were visiting a friend at the same hospital and met us at the ER. My brother was also able to get there right away too.
So she was in the ER, stable, BP and Pulse okay, they were running labs, EKG, etc so I left to get back to work and will visit her later. They have since admitted her for testing. She is 38 very fit and healthy and no hx of heart issues or medical problems.
So it was lunch time and what do I do- turn to excess food. I went to wawa, go****ermelon, cheese, apples with peanut butter, and a couple meatballs. Not the worst food in the world, but it was like I couldn't control myself. Granted I did not eat it all at once (I spread it over 2 meals) and I did not fini**** all, I still feel like I totally relapsed or regressed or something.
I found myself just eating potato salad that I don't even like when I went downstairs for some water a minute ago.
Well no major damage done, but I am getting back to being very mindful of what I am putting in my mouth (even more than usual). I am frustrated that I could get thrown off so quickly by stress and change in routine!!
First of all sorry to hear about your SIL - hope that all is OK!!
Second - the food is our old familiar comfort - a Wubbie as my friend calls it. We have to teach outselves to reach for other things. SO glad that you realized it and that will make you more aware next time. However that being said - coping with food is in our DNA as human beings so don't be too hard on yourself. GIve yourself some credit for at least making good food choices!
Second - the food is our old familiar comfort - a Wubbie as my friend calls it. We have to teach outselves to reach for other things. SO glad that you realized it and that will make you more aware next time. However that being said - coping with food is in our DNA as human beings so don't be too hard on yourself. GIve yourself some credit for at least making good food choices!
Best of luck to your sister in law. Glad that everything appeared stable initially. And if it eases your fears at all....MOST people w/ chest pain and other similar symptoms are admitted for at least 23 hours (sometimes less, sometimes more) in order to continue the testing.
Now....about you!!! "I still feel like I totally relapsed or regressed or something." You have done the first thing you needed to do: REALIZE the behavior AND what CAUSED the behavior. Granted - eating for emotional issues is something you need to not allow to get you into it's grip. Buuuuuuttttt.....you also are learning the term "successing" - because you will never be done in this journey of life, and your new lifestyle.
Thank you for sharing - admitting to yourself can be hard (because we don't like to admit that we did something wrong) and admitting to others can be even harder. Truth is - most of us are our own worst critics.
"Tomorrow is another day" (well, actually, in this case it can very easily be changed to "Two hours from now is another meal")
Now....about you!!! "I still feel like I totally relapsed or regressed or something." You have done the first thing you needed to do: REALIZE the behavior AND what CAUSED the behavior. Granted - eating for emotional issues is something you need to not allow to get you into it's grip. Buuuuuuttttt.....you also are learning the term "successing" - because you will never be done in this journey of life, and your new lifestyle.
Thank you for sharing - admitting to yourself can be hard (because we don't like to admit that we did something wrong) and admitting to others can be even harder. Truth is - most of us are our own worst critics.
"Tomorrow is another day" (well, actually, in this case it can very easily be changed to "Two hours from now is another meal")
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. 
Sending many well wishes and prayers your way for you and your family - your sister sounds in excellent health so hopefully this was something very minor and she'll be home in no time. And Pam's right - recognizing the lapse is a huge part of this journey, and most of us go thru it - I know when my mom was just admitted again and we were going thru all that my choices for food sucked - I had so much family coming and going and in and out of the house that there just didn't seem to be time to focus on myself, but I was able to get back on track as soon as the dust settled.
You're going to be fine...life happens - the key is to get back on track ASAP and not beat yourself up over it - recognize it and own it, but move on...
You're going to be fine...life happens - the key is to get back on track ASAP and not beat yourself up over it - recognize it and own it, but move on...
'One shoe can change your life'...Cinderella
Kathleen,
BOY do I relate! First, let me say that I'm very happy that it seems your SIL is stable. Hopefully they'll get to the bottom of it quickly and she'll be just fine.
As to stress eating, I'm right there with you! My first response to stress and emotion has always been to turn to food for comfort and numbness. It was something that I could "actively" do (stuff my face) to avoid the pain or keep from confronting the emotion. The hardest thing I've found on this journey so far is the stepping back and assessing why i'm doing what i'm doing... or feeling what i'm feeling... or whatever.
Congratulate yourself - you've taken the huge step of achieving CONSCIOUSness. You're aware that you were eating out of stress, and you were able to control the impulses and make non-destructive food choices. That's likely a HUGE step forward from your pre-surg self, so in no way have you totally relapsed or regressed.
Next step (and i think it's one that I'll be working on for LONG time) is to learn to just FEEL the emotion and to then channel the stress or frustration into another outlet - going for a run, vacuuming the rug, cardio boxing, whatever.
Hope this helps!
Karen
BOY do I relate! First, let me say that I'm very happy that it seems your SIL is stable. Hopefully they'll get to the bottom of it quickly and she'll be just fine.
As to stress eating, I'm right there with you! My first response to stress and emotion has always been to turn to food for comfort and numbness. It was something that I could "actively" do (stuff my face) to avoid the pain or keep from confronting the emotion. The hardest thing I've found on this journey so far is the stepping back and assessing why i'm doing what i'm doing... or feeling what i'm feeling... or whatever.
Congratulate yourself - you've taken the huge step of achieving CONSCIOUSness. You're aware that you were eating out of stress, and you were able to control the impulses and make non-destructive food choices. That's likely a HUGE step forward from your pre-surg self, so in no way have you totally relapsed or regressed.
Next step (and i think it's one that I'll be working on for LONG time) is to learn to just FEEL the emotion and to then channel the stress or frustration into another outlet - going for a run, vacuuming the rug, cardio boxing, whatever.
Hope this helps!
Karen
Thanks for the support and encouragement, ladies! I am recognizing that I was able to pull it together quickly and even when I was panicking with the food, I still made okay food choices- unlike what I would have done pre-op.
My sister in law is in the hospital- luckily they have ruled out anything cardiovascular and they are now thinking she may have a pinched nerve in her neck. They are doing some additional tests for that today. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers :)
My sister in law is in the hospital- luckily they have ruled out anything cardiovascular and they are now thinking she may have a pinched nerve in her neck. They are doing some additional tests for that today. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers :)
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