My first baby steps......

Well, I've thought about it.  I know pretty much where I went wrong and started gaining after I had my baby girl.  Part of it was the emotional eating....she nearly died on me.  I was so depressed that I ate and ate.  Then when we finally came home I resorted to eating "fast to fix" foods....mostly sandwiches.  I forgot to eat right and started gaining weight way too fast.

So here I am today.  I haven't lost any weight since last week, but that's ok because I was on steroids for a week for my back.  I'll forgive myself for not losing and try harder this week. 

I'm starting with baby steps.  My first baby step was a couple of weeks ago when I started taking my vitamins again.  I had been slacking on them.  Shame on me.  But i'm taking them twice a day like my doctor told me to do way back then.

My second baby step started about 4 or 5 days ago.....NO MORE SANDWICHES!  At least at home.  Maybe the occassional while I am out and about or at work.  But not at home.  No more.  Once I finished my bread and lunch meat I refused to buy anymore.  Good for me!

My third baby step this week has been to stop buying Diet Mt. Dew's at work.  I used to buy 2 20oz ones and drink both of them.  Now I'm doing water with the Wyler's Light (similar to Crystal Light).  I only drink water at home and occassionally some tea.  So I always drink plenty of water.  I have on two days this week bought a large diet coke at Sonic.  But I'm trying to cut them out.

My fourth baby step has been to try and drink less with my meals.  I haven't been able to completely cut out drinking with my meals....but I will eventually get there.  Baby steps....that's all I can do.  At work instead of drink 20oz drinks with my food.....I drink about 5-10 oz of water.

My fifth baby step this week has been to try and eat only when I'm actually HUNGRY.  Not when I'm bored, upset, depressed, or whatever.  This is super hard for me.  But I'm working on it too. 

And this coming Wednesday I'll start seeing a counselor to help me with my emotional problems.  I'm hoping she will help me learn how to deal with life problems instead of by eating to deal with them.

One step at a time.  I'll make it.

Julie

Julie,

I am so PROUD of you!  It's a HUGE step, identifying the things you know you need to change and making a conscious effort to change them.  It's not easy - and we all know it - but this is a GREAT group of people, and if you need support - let us know, we'll all help you where we can.
 
I would suggest one thing - if you're not already - journal everything you eat.  And if you're eating when you're not actually 'hungry', write down what is going through your mind at the time that you're eating.  That will help you identify your 'triggers' and deal with them as well.  I have a food journal that I carry everywhere with me - I write down my intake on the front, and journal the feely part on the back of each page.  It helps me realize that I eat when I'm bored, or when my hands aren't busy, but my head is.  

Let me know if there is ANY thing I can do to help you!   There's room on the wagon beside me :) 

Kellie

Thanks Kellie.  I need all the support I can get right now.  I know I need to journal what I eat, but I haven't started that yet.  Maybe soon I will.  I appreciate the kind words.

Julie

Julie - I wouldn't call those "baby steps" I'd call the "GIANT steps" I'm so proud of you   You're off and running in the right direction   We've all been there and done that or we wouldn't be here.

There's a book I've found very helpful and you might as well - The Beck Diet Solution by Judith Beck. 

If you're comfortable, please post often and allow us to share your journey.  You are truly an inspiration to all of us

I wish you peace and joy

Thank you for your kind words to me.  They feel like giant steps sometimes.  But I'll take it one day at a time and not beat myself up over little slips.  Thanks for telling me about that book.  I may check it out.

Julie

Julie,
Congratulations. You realized what you are doing wrong and you plan to change that.

I have one suggestion that works well for me. I eat when is time to eat.  I aeat 5-6 meals a day.  That helps me not to get hungry.  Schedules meals no more than 200 cal per meal - + protein shake - if I need to add colories and or protein for that day.

Eating when i was hungry got me in trouble before.  When i eat often - I tend to stick to what i planned. The qty and calories.  If I aloow myself to get hungr y - I tend to eat more.  

Eating often and small qty allows me to stabilize my blood sugar - and lose weight (in the past - I am maintaining now).

good luck.

Thank you for replying.  I will take what you said into consideration about eating smaller meals more often.  I know that it's not good when I do get really hungry....because I want to eat everything. 

Julie

Wow Julie

way to go - well done you for taking those steps.  Even just one of those would be great, but you are doing them all - fantastic, you should be so pleased with yourself.

Ruth

PS I hope your baby is doing well now.....

Ruth,

I wish I could say that I was pleased with myself.  But in truth I am still very disappointed in myself for letting myself go like this.  I'm hoping with the counseling I will be able to forgive myself and move on.

And thanks for asking about my baby girl.  She is doing GREAT now.  No health problems and she is growing like a weed.

Julie