Stress Eating!!

Last week we get the news that my husband got laid off from his job, I spent the 1st three days with a knot in my stomach and lost like 3 lbs well now I am stress eating and the 3 lbs are back so I need to stop being depressed and get back on track. I just needed to post this in a safe place to get this off my chest and tell myself and others that I know what I am doing and I need to stop. Thanks for listening..

Yikes, this event really pegs the stress meter. One of the toughest things. Its hard but you gotta keep reminding yourself that eating more won't get your husband a job or change one thing except your waistline. make a little sign that says "my eating won't get my husband a job" or something like that.

Then make a list of stress relieveing stuff you can do instead since it always reduces stress to take some kind of action.  A little walk or other exercise is a proven stress reliever. Another stress reliever is "mastery" which is the feeling you get when you accomplish something or have control over something. So do something you are good at or are able to take charge of so you have that satisfied feeling of accomplishing something. It may be cleaning out a closet or writing in a journal or finishing a long neglected project. Your husband might try these things too. It all makes you feel more in control of your destiny and less hopeless.  GL. hope things go better soon. diane

 I really feel for you.  Last December, while in Mexico having plastic surgery(wiping out my savings),  I got a phone call.... Thank you for 18 years of senior management, we are closing your office with 5 days notice.  Talk about an emotional roller coaster.  

I traveled home the following day.  Once my appetite returned, I dubbed my fridge "the double wide, walking, talking fridge".  It called to me regularly and still does. I could not throw myself into exercise because healing physically was my priority. I could not even lift a fry pan so had a lot of free time.  My brain is not always the safest neighborhood to explore when I'm feeling less than optimal because I still want to turn to food for comfort.  

Its been three months now and I'm back to exercise, being social and being distracted.  I focus on the positive things in my life and visualize good things (work opportunities) coming to me.  I plan my food so that I'm not a five year old in a candy shop.  I track my food on Myfitnesspal. I talk to my WLS support peeps about how I'm doing.

Something that is working for me is to weigh myself every morning.  I tend to go up and down a couple pounds based on sodium, food choices etc.  if I see my scale hit 143, it's my warning sign to dump the sodium, eat all freakish food etc.   I remind myself how quickly 143 could be 145 etc.  it keeps me from "letting go" and saying F it, I can deal with it tomorrow.  We deserve to hand onto our success!