Ramblings of a food addicted emotional eater

 Thank you for your insight and honesty!! Congratulations on recognizing that this morning was just a "slip" and will happen from time to time. The important thing is not allowing the slip to go into all day or week long binge. Sounds like you are working on decreasing your black and white thinking. Kudos to you!!!

During my journey, I have also prepared my food for the week on Sundays, so that I can just grab the containers for the day during the week and place them in my lunch cooler. It is a key to success-to have healthy, appropriate food always available. Planning is vital for success. The saying, "Fail to plan, is a plan to fail."  That is my motto and I always carry water and a small cooler with healthy snacks when I am out and about. The time that I spend on Sundays doing the preparation for the week,  is worth every minute and hour of the time invested. I started doing this pre-op, and it is so ingrained in me, that I don't even think twice about it.

I also don't bring certain foods into the house, because of the grazing and mindless eating demons. I have thrown many things away or put them down the garbage disposal to help myself to stay on plan. I don't even bring "healthy" crackers into the house anymore, because I will eat them until they are gone.

I believe that when you decide what your goal is, you will be able to achieve it, because of the work that you are currently doing. You have come so far.


Gail

I'm sorry I didn't see your posts until now.  Damn it, there I was, working.

You are certainly my compulsive-eater-food-addict-sister-in-arms.  Man!  I hate this disease.  I had a complete freakout about my latest size change and decided I could slow that train right down!

Thank goodness we (a) have support and (b) have smaller tummies.  Can't do nearly the damage I used to be able to.  Yikes.

We all struggle.  This is just ef-ing hard!!  Big hugs!  You are one of the strongest people I've virtually met.  I can't believe how you push yourself and meet so many challenges (I mean, my God you're an athlete and you've lost over 200 pounds).  I won't reach any particular weight til I'm ready.  I just have to be willing to be ready.  One foot in front of the other. 

THANK YOU for being you!!

You have come a long way baby and only have a awesome, healthy future in front of you!
You are an inspiration to many. Thanks for the post. I didn't get to read the first one today but apparently you made it through the day with a great acconplishment! Congrats!

What is admirable about you, besides losing over 200 pounds, is your self reflection and honesty. It takes courage to face one's self and call bull**** on one's self. Self recalibrating is tough. you do it well, ms awesomeness.

 Alison, 

Thanks for posting.  A lot of wisdom went into this post.

As I have been moving more and more ino maintenance and upping my calories I have taken this advice form you and frisco and the others to plan ahed.  I found that the compulsions in me would always negotiate - You have the extra caloies, the cookie won't hurt you.

LIES!

So I plan my meals for the day out by mid day and simply execute to that plan.  The plan gives me control.

My compulsions, I think, have been playing with me lately from a number of angles.  A lot of stress and tough times at work.  Also, I have been feeling deprived lately - With my eye surgeries I haven't been able to do anything to exercise strenuously - no Bike riding, running, weight training.  Thank God I got cleared to exercise again today.

So during this time - With my new stress outlet closed off the plan helped keep me under control.  Its a great strategy and a lot of people would do good to pay attention.

Girl you so rock!!  And your post  helped me tonight so thank you!!

 Allison - you absolutely amaze me! You have such self insight and wisdom, and you are so able to articulate your thoughts, problems, issues to the rest of us in such a meaningul way. Thank you for all that you do for us; in doing so you are helping yourself as well. I can't believe you are only 29 - your wisdom is that of someone with a lot of years on you. 

And there is no doubt in my mind that you will reach goal!

Hey Allison, anytime you Share like this it is so beneficial for so many people! It's seems like you've got that recognition/reset on apretty fast turn around.
Your strategies are in my folder for those times.
..hopefully I will review them before I get to crazy behavior! The recognition was always the hard part.
Thanks so much for your honesty and clarity.

 Hey, Acb,
Your daily posts and messages to me have helped me so much.  Your encouragement has reminded me how important planning is becuase when you mess up, you get right back to the structure of the plan.  Like you said to me when I was feeling loss of control despair:  "never give up!"
There will always, always be crackers and things.  It's about the rebound, getting back up in the saddle, today and 20 years from now.
You can do this, my friend, and you are actually doing it!
This new lifestyle of ours is new to us compared to all the abuse years.
I raise my glass of sf flavored water to you, good food plans, and going forward to success!

Hey Alison, sorry to see that your day started off on a bad note. However, you are empowered with the drive to get out there and chase your goal and dreams, way to go. You're one of my hero's. Now that I said that, get out there and run. We have a 1/2 marathon coming up we need to train for my friend. By the way, we all need to make a SB run soon.