stress and anxiety- snacks

I think I realized this week that I have a lot of stress and anxiety with my new professional life.  You see, my previous work place was extremely toxic, unproductive, unethical, with diminishing quality. It was an embarassment just to work there. Of course, I was a star because I refused to suck that bad.  Those people were nuts, and I refused to forget my values and upbringing. Now, I'm in a new place that has much higher standards and expectations.  I feel pressure for the first time in almost 10 years.

I know that this is good for me and my professional advancement, but I have started snacking big time. My old friends would find that weird because I've never been a snacker.  Binger- yes; snacker- hell no.  I had to learn to snack because I never wanted to eat between major meals.  So, I realize that I have a new habit.  I would talk to my therapist about it, but I can't see one for insurance reasons...yet.  Needless to say, I will when I am able to do so.

I'm not gaining weight, but I'm not losing either. My exercise is good. My food choices are mostly good- I stopped eating out. What I cook is good. I say food choices are mostly  good because of the snacking. 

I don't think that stopping cold turkey will work. So, I'm thinking that I have to just pick better snacks. My new habit is mostly carb snacks.  I think back to early post-op when I needed to snack to get my calories and protein in.  Clearly, the snacks were all or mostly protein.

I'm going to feel that pressure for at least a few months. There are many deadlines (August- October will be crazy) So, I have to deal with it. I know from my previous therapy that addressing it by talking and writing it out is good as well as finding ways of relaxing- i.e. reading and socializing. I'm working on both of those now.  The biggest thing is to stop blowing the situation out of proportion.  I earned this opportunity, and I need to stop stressing over it and just see it as a blessing. -taking one day at a time.

 My job comes with a TON of pressure...I get that totally. Actually, my job is killing my WL mojo haha. It's getting in the way of my reali priorities in life (depsite the fact that it's my entire career and pays my bills and buys my food haha)

Sooo how I deal with it knowing full when that I eat when stressed - when all else fails

I pack mini meals - usually between 75-120 calories. That way, i can have 6-7 mini meals to spread out over my day from about 7:30-5:00 and I might end up around 600-700 calories. I do it this way so that if I have an unplanned treat, it doesnt put me crazy over my calories, and I still have calories left at the end of the day for dinner. 

I'll give you a sample schedule at work

7:30-8:00 - ish I eat my BK which is usually scrambled egg whites/turkey sausage (1/2 cup or so)

10-10:30 -ish - hard boiled egg, and a iced coffee thrown in there (sometimes i add protein, sometimes not)

12:00-12:30 ish - I eat my "lunch" - maybe 3oz of plain meat or what ever.

2-2:30 - 1/2 cup cottage cheese or some veggies

4:00 - usually eat some SF jello (sometimes 2-3 of the little cups)

I usually keep a small portion of beef jerky and an extra hard boiled egg or extra scrambled egg white dish around in case I really need to eat. But I never ever have carby snacks around at work. That would do me in for real.

I drink tons of water - I usually barely wait the 30 min to start drinking, but I easily drink 120-150oz during the day with Mio (its sweet and tastes good and does the trick for my OCD eating issues).

I always try to remain on top of my emotional eating, and usually about 75% of the time, I'm able to just stick to pre-determined meals/meal times, but when i can't, I definitely plan ahead so I have good healthy, low cal options that wont blow my mind calorie wise. And then there are just the days at work when the pressure is too much and I end up eating the crap thats laying around.

You know what?  This kind of reminds me of what I used to do.  I used to eat every 2-3 hours- mostly protein.  And I don't think that I have bought SF jello or reduced fat cheese stick (Sargento-the others are gross) since I moved here in mid-May. Other than to make tuna salad, I have not had one boiled egg.  I used to have it and a cheese stick for a snack.

I think that I have been all out of sorts since I've been here.  I got my exercise and cooking on track.  Now it is time to get my water and healthier snacking on track.

I'm going to grocery store tomorrow for protein snacks, and I am going to weigh myself next friday.  I need to make that commitment. 

 My  menu looks alot like Allision's.  I add roasted soy nuts,though, for crunch and protein.  I stay away from the other carbs, but these satisfy my need for "crunch".  They dont carry the heavy calorie count that nuts do.  Lord knows, I could plow through some almonds, so those do NOT go in my lunch bag unless I have the individual packets.   My co-workers used to laugh at my small cooler I bring to work. But I am never hungry or wondering what I am going to do for lunch or dinner.  Plus I work 12 hour shift so its a wierd 2 meal kinda thing. :-)

Kat

I haven't tried soy nuts. I need to give them a try.  I'm allergic to peanuts and wondered if I was allergic to soy nuts.
 
I'm not allergic to tree nuts. For me, the trick to not over doing almonds and other tree nuts is to buy them plain.  I roast them myself. Honey roasted anything will make me lose my mind... and control.  Plain nuts kill my appetite but I generally don't like them enough to have more than half a serving.

I went to the grocery store this morning and stocked up on protein snacks. I have some carby snacks to throw out today. 

Carby things call to me on a regular basis.  I work in a hospital, and one of the things we alway have around are graham crackers.   I got the munchies the other day and plowed through 4 packs of those babies.  I had left my regular crunchy stuff at home.  Now I am a like a crack addict for graham crackers.  Its work to not eat them!!!!  Good luck with the healthy snacks~~~ and if you can have soy protein in your shakes and protein bars, the soy beans shouldnt bother you!!!

Kat