problem with being snowed in - LONG

     I very rarely post but I decided that I needed to reach out to you guys today because I am seeing behaviors that are not good.

     Prior to WLS, snow days always meant that I would cook up a storm and just stay warm and well-fed.  Emphasis on the well fed part.  You would think that I was going to be snowed in for 3 weeks based on the amount of food and junk that I would buy prior to the storm.  Now, I am a teacher so snow days have been a regular part of my life for the last 25+ years.  Needless to say I am feeling claustrophobic these days as I watch the blizzard like conditions outside.  I live in Roxborough - a part of northwest Philadelphia that is always featured in weather forcasts for our lovely hills and narrow streets. 

     This morning I saw myself eating compulsively again - so was good food and some was junk.  I can eat small amounts of sugar and not dump  Last night I just about empitied out my insides from what I consumed.  I know that I am eating out of boredom and frustration.  I went downstairs to make myself some good food and took 3 bites and gave it to the dog.  Instead I had a piece of string cheese.  

     Sorry that I am rambling on here but this is becoming a journal entry for me.  I know the things that I need to do - get the food out of my bedroom, stay out of my bedroom except to sleep and keep myself occupied with reading, computer or watching DVDs. 

     I feel out of control and decided that posting here would be one way to get some control back into my life.  I can't control the weather so I need to focus on what I can control in my life - what I put in my mouth and my thoughts.

     Is anyone else going through anything similar to this or am I the only one *****acts to snow this way?  Thanks for reading. 

Donna

    

Hey there Donna,

It sounds like what I call situational eating. The habits that governed snow days for the past 25 years aren't challenged every day - but lo and behold, we don't have a blizzard every day either. I have cooked this week too, but tried to stick with WLS friendly stuff, and I absolutely don't keep food around that is too risky for me. That way, the only real issue becomes amounts of food....

No easy answers, and I won't give you platitiudes. A couple of suggestions:

Be sure you are drinking enough - sometimes the "hunger" is actually thirst.
Clean the cabinet and toss the carbs and any junk you find. (That is, if you can find your trash can. MIne is buried in snow around the side of the house.)
Get some rest...read...tackle a project to distract you from eating.

And hang in there!

Lynn,

     Thanx for your reply.  I am feeling a little better after I ate an apple with some peanut butter.  I know that part of my problem is when I am not in school I do not eat every 2/3 hours.  The schedule gets screwed up especially if I am sleeping late.  Tonight we are cooking some steak with steamed vegetables so that will definitely nourish me in a healthy way.  I just need to get back to some basics here.  Be safe in all this snow.  Take care.

Donna

Hi Donna,

Try going to Eggy's website and cook today, but cook in a healthy, WLS friendly way.  Eggy has lots of good recipes there.  Take this time to get organized, maybe clean out cabinets, drawers, etc. 

I'm making these suggestions and hope some of them help.  I know it's difficult, especially when we always centered our world around food for every occasion, including a blizzard.  We have to work every single day towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle and utilizing our tool (RNY) to the best of our ability.  It's work, but work definitely worth it. 

Good luck today.  We can do this, one day at a time, one meal at a time, but we can/will do this!

Debbie

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

Debbie,

     Thank you for the web address to eggy's website.  I have read about it on here before but never visited there.  I bookmarked the site for myself.  Tomorrow I will spend some time looking through the archives.

     I appreciate your suggestions and you taking the time to share them with me.  Take care.

Donna

You take care, too, Donna.  We all need to stick together and support each other through the difficult times and share and enjoy the happy times as well.  Let me know if you cook something good.

Debbie

I used to live in roxborough i know what it is like to be snowed in there. There is nothing wrong with realizing what you are doing because that realization leads to change. You dont know any ofher way of handling a snow day....so now is the time to figure it out. What can you do instead? 
Make healthy food? for sure? Do household projects for sure? How about doing something for you? I have been trying to figure out the whole self care thing,....what can you do to make yourself feel good? Bath? do your nails? a facial? what can you do that is nurturing to you? 

Nicole,

     Thanx for the reminder about the self care thing.  When I am snowed in like this sometimes I don't even take a shower because I am not going anywhere.  If that is TMI sorry  Found out that there is not school tomorrow so I am going to get cleaning my bedroom.  I did all my laundry during the last snow over the weekend and have caught up on all my grading papers etc.  There is plenty that I can do in the house but I don't always FEEL like it.  Just knowing that I have options and that I am not totally powerless over my time is freeing in itself.  The weather is out of my hands - how I deal with it is a whole other story.  Be safe in the snow and thank you for you suggestions.

Donna

Hey Donna,

Beth here....As a teacher myself I FEEL your pain!!! I too have also noticed that I am eating more than I should, not necessarily bad stuff just more. I am trying to focus on projects in the house. Today I cleaned out my refrigerator, I mean I took it apart and washed every shelf and nook and cranny. After it was done, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I also have been intermittently shoveling. Of course, my daughter keeps me busy too!! I am here for you if you want to talk....you can email me at [email protected]. 

Tomorrow it is on to the freezer and shoveling and cleaning my car....

Beth

I hear ya!  Although yesterday wasn't QUITE as bad as over the weekend for me for some reason...but I definately ate a bunch of stuff on Saturday I shouldn't have just out of sheer boredom and had a few tastes of things yesterday that I shouldn't have.

The self care thing Nic brought up is a good one.  Towards the end of the day when I was exhausted and more prone to eating crap just because, I took a nice bubblebath, gave myself a self pedi, and then cuddled on the couch with hubby until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and went to bed.  It actually felt VERY rewarding!

Hang in there and GREAT post and a way to reach out - that's what the forum is for - support and reaching out when needed!