So flipping hard sometimes

At some point on your journey life is going to kick in and potentially derail you. Personally, this is what I find the most challenging to deal with as I work to stay at or under my goal weight. It is different things for different people- job stress, relationship stress, etc. My nemesis is emotional eating. I am a couple days out from yet another surgery (double mastectomy revision) and true to my normal pattern going into surgery I ate everything in site. I tried my normal go to strategies, but a big one for me is exercise and that just isn't an option due to other health issues. So, I take stock and adjust. I weighed in post surgery 7 pounds over goal weight. Most of it is the fluids they shove in you for surgery, but still seeing that on the scale  I think it is important to "lean into" the emotional fallout it can trigger. I am a few days out now and the scale is starting to shed those extra pounds, and I know to be gentle with myself until I can get everything back on track. My point of the post is that at some point life happens. Do you have a plan to deal with it when it does? Share your strategies if you are comfortable doing so.

Well its not really a strategy, but sometimes I do go with a hell screw it type of thing, if just for that moment. I still log everything, including the stuff I said screw it, then look back over the week & try to figure out how not to screw it up so much. 

One thing I tell myself is the hey you can have it, just not right now, then I go do something else, reading, watching what else I can catch up with on Hulu or Netflix, update my Amazon wish list. Mostly I distract myself, other times I try thinking about why I want something, cuz I'm an emotional eater sometimes too, so I think will I truly feel better?, what feeling am I trying to avoid by eating whatever, whatever right now, will I truly stop if I indulge in that 1 thing, or will it set me off to eat more **** I have no business eating. 

I also remind myself that its ok to *** up every now & then, to forgive myself & move on. Life happens & it can get overwhelming sometimes. I'm not as far out as you, & I wish I could give better advice, but so far this is what I'm doing. 

I hope everything goes well for you., & yes it is so flipping hard sometimes. Hugs 

Those are some really great strategies- all of which I use frequently! Usually it has to be an unusually unusually difficult something to have those not work. Forgiveness without bull****ting yourself is important! You are making fantastic progress- keep going!

Happyteacher,

So sorry you're struggling. I pray that your surgery will go well. Please be easy on yourself. You have been going through a lot.

Robin

Relative to you, I am really new to this whole thing.  But here is my sleeve version of my earthquake kit. 

--I have a few basic days from myfitnesspal saved that can act as my template of an easy plan to follow when I seriously lose my path. 

--Always have a supply those basic foods available in the freezer (mostly frozen shrimp and other seafood as well as frozen, portioned, leftovers,) or, literally, in the earthquake supply kit (tuna, etc)   I almost never use protein drinks, but I keep a few Premier RTD's in the back of my fridge for emergencies. 

--Use distraction if at all possible.  Leaving the house is frequently particularly helpful.

--Keep up with daily weighing to keep from hiding my head in the sand.  

--Contact my therapist?  I have a hard time imagining myself calling my therapist in between appointments, tho.  

--I might ask my husband to at least temporarily rid the house of his of processed carbs. 

Can't wait to see what others have to say so I can copy them.

Hope you have a speedy recovery in all areas!

~Shel 

"Earthquake kit"... now that is a keeper! I totally can relate to all of your strategies too! 

Shel,

You are so right. Distraction is the key. If I keep busy I am less likely to get off my path.

Robin

Nothing unusual is going on with my life, but I still occasionally succumb to empty carbs. Yesterday I bought and ate two candy bars. It's as though someone else was controlling my hand when I reached out to pick up, buy, and later (secretly) eat. My brain sometimes, somehow, automatically hits the "off" switch when it comes to making good decisions about food. 

My strategy for these episodes is: 1-Try to prevent them before they happen (usually I can do that); 2-When strategy #1 fails, I get back on that horse and make up for the empty calories over the next few days; 3-Be sure to attend OA meetings and talk about my mistake; 4-Log everything I eat, even the candy. 

And that's with everything going well! I'll let you know what happens when life "kicks in."

psychoticparrot

Really glad to read that you use support groups. I have stopped going to mine due to a change in format- I need to resume even if I am not a big fan of the format. Just put that on my list of things to do once recovered enough to venture out! Thank you for the reminder! I used to eat secretly too- I decided to make a couple of my go to secret patterns off limits- not all of them, just picked a couple that put me at highest risk. In my case, no trips to the staff lounge for free sugar and no eating in the car. It really helped. 

Like you, life has kicked me in the arse this week - two brain surgeries on your 15yr old will do that.

ive not done badly, but I have snacked more than I should this week - a little creature comfort when sitting alone in a hospital room.

what I did try, was to make sure I bought protein snacks with me - I've eaten a lot of cheese this week. And to make sure I reached for protein for a meal vs the candy my emotions wanted. It might have been more carbs than usual, but not full on sugar at least...

So I know the scales not loving me, but it's not hating me either. I've got enough guilt going on this week, not losing weight doesn't much make of a blip