Is this normal? I feel like a druggie in rehab sometimes.

SolidGoaled

I have locked myself in my bedroom for the night. I've been here for a couple hours, and its only 8 pm. I was at my calorie limit at 6 pm, and knew the rest of the night would be extremely difficult for me. So, I have no plans to go downstairs anymore today. I feel like I can't or I will end up in the fridge or cupboards. I have things I should be doing - housework, socializing with the family, but I feel safe in here and I don't trust myself. Is this normal? The thing is, I don't feel like I am living my life. I feel like a person who can't function normally so I need to remove myself from the triggers (my kitchen, the stress level of family life, etc).

Its kindof depressing, and sometimes I wonder if my life will ever feel normal. I've been doing MFP and seriously changing my eating since Feb 1. Its not like this every night, but quite often. Its what I have to do to stay away from the eating - but its lonely. Any thoughts?

sheilamo

You can't do something else downstairs with your family that can distract you from the kitchen? Like take a walk, ride a bike, play a game, etc.?

I hate to think of you locked up in your room....that doesn't sound good.

When I know that I'm done for the day I brush my teeth and put my retainer in (signals my brain, no more food) and then I clean the kitchen and put EVERYTHING back into the pantry and straighten up so my counters are cleared and it looks too neat for me to mess up. Dunno, in some weird way it works.

I hope you find something. No matter how crazy it is as long as it works, then it's okay.

MSgtD911

It probably took you years to get to this point in your life. It will also take a while to break the bad habits and get back to where you need to be. Take one day at a time. If you slip, get back up, brush yourself off and keep going. That's all you can do. I'm sure just about everyone on here has had these same feelings. The important thing is you've taken the first step in changing your life. Keep at it and it will get easier. Best of luck to you.

alecta337

Is there any way you can get some exercise in while you're up in your room? You can do some videos that are on the computer, that way you can go downstairs and hang out and eat!

If I really want to eat, I just exercise first and reward myself by eating it all right back!

teelt13

I think it's normal..but I might not be the best judge :-). I think until you're able to change your mindset of eating to cope..the best thing to do is remove yourself from temptation. That's what I do. I'm sure it'll get better. Hang in there!

mssamuels

I think it is normal for us to limit ourselves because we are scared of the outcomes. Look you have already lost some weight, so you are doing something right. I think we will all have our ups and down and it will just take a little tweaking to get us on the right path. I just ate dinner and I went over my calories by 179. I feel like I defeated the purpose of my hour long walk this evening and it gets a little depressing, but I think sometimes we are so hard on ourselves because we want a particular outcome so bad...You will be fine, just think, if we eat approximately every three hours, then we wont have to think about lthe food so much because we know that in another three hourse we can snack on something again. It helps me to stop trying to hide the food from myself and try moderation...Good luck, this is just a stretch in our future success... :-)

Mustangsally1000

I can't say I've locked myself in my room, but I have decided to go up and take my bath just so I'll stay out of the kitchen.
But I love the bath, I never take one less than an hour...usually closer to 1.5 hours, lots of bubbles, candles and a really
good book. My place to escape..and there isn't food there. : ) Maybe that is when you can do a workout..take a walk..

Good Luck! I wish you the best1

chrissym78

After dinner is the hardest time of day for me too. Some nights I end up munching, some nights I'm fine to drink a cup of hot tea, some nights I'm still full at bedtime. Try hot tea sweetened with stevia or splenda, no calories, warm in the belly and it's a little sweet... Yes, I too feel like a recovering addict at times! You just gotta get control of it and not look back. There's nothing in your kitchen that tastes as good as success, trust me on that one!! Good luck and hang in there!! :flowerforyou:

AnnaPixie

Well, I'd say you were being a bit extreme, but you gotta do whatever you gotta do!

Perhaps after a few weeks you'll get used to the new lifestyle and be stronger to ignore the triggers?

In the mean time, you really should leave some calories to snack on at night. I would be a bit like you if I couldnt snack at night. I found the easiest way to to this was cut out liquid calories completely - drink only water or black tea/coffee. And I dont really eat carbs with lunch or dinner. Bit I eat a ton of veg and a 200g portion of protein (fish, chicken, pork) But I do snack on carbs like weight watchers ice creams or cakes later on. They make me happy :bigsmile:

You should try and make the new lifestyle fit in with you so you dont feel deprived. I think thats why I feel comfortable on it, as I dont feel deprived or hungry.

The last thing you want to do is get depressed, as you'll cave. Try and look at the bigger picture and incorporate good eating into your life.

Oh, and dont keep high calorie snacks in the house !!

Good luck :flowerforyou:

tryinghard2012

Find out what is causing you to want to eat if you're not hungry? Also can you preoccupy your time with talking on the phone, taking a stroll with a friend, watching your favorite show.

If it's boredom, use that free time for developing another hobby. Eventually, that temptation will disappear and be replaced with willpower! Stick in there!

pinkgigi

Perhaps you need a new hand-occupying hobby? I started knitting and crocheting when I first started losing weight because after dinner was my trigger time also. Around dinner can be very stressful, noisy and chaotic and it has always been a difficult time for me. Make sure you are eating mindfully so that you will actually feel physically full, and then direct your mind to something else.

Our mind directs our feelings and actions, train you mind and you will be free.

GG

noexcuses1218

i TOTALLY know what you mean. getting through the last few hours of the evening means LOTS of cinammon gum and distractions. once i finally do go to bed, i put a cabinet and a chair in front of the entrance to the kitchen and yeah i'm considering caution tape or biohazard signs or something.

it's very like trying to quit smoking - as a matter of fact, the mouth cravings are exactly the same for me. addiction is addiction, and everyone has their own methods of dealing with it. escaping the triggers is one way to do it, but it's not going to work long-term and i think you know that already.

what if you had one of your kids or spouse come in and play some cards with you for a couple of nights, or a board game, or something, anything... then when you feel comfortable with the activity away from the kitchen, try to move it downstairs to the same floor at least. bit by bit, you will get into a new groove, a new rhythm, and that rhythm is up to you.

I second the previous posters who suggest doing some exercise while you're in solitary and taking that time for yourself, as long as you're going to take it. Turn it into something positive. Run in place, stretch, meditate - something, anything other than being paralyzed by fear. If your bedroom is a safe place, use it as a sanctuary. You're allowed.

Please know that you're not at all alone in this. I hope some of these posts help.

SolidGoaled

Thanks everyone, these posts help alot. I have made it another hour and I even went downstairs to get a cup of tea.

spcopps

This is exactly how I feel at times. Went shopping this afternoon and coming home I got DH and boys Sonic. This one was easy for me to pass but then DD wanted a to go of Chinese, not so easy. I just kept telling myself I don't HAVE to eat this, I just WANT it. Had to keep saying "I have a nice steak and veggies waiting for me to cook at home for myself." I resisted temptation and now I feel as if I have accomplished this day. Tomorrow may have some bad choices involved but TODAY I succeeded. One day at a time is the only way to live with an addiction!

chrissym78

Thanks everyone, these posts help alot. I have made it another hour and I even went downstairs to get a cup of tea.

Yay! I hope it works for you! I have made a big thing out of my tea habit. I try all kinds of new flavors, blueberry is my current favorite

3LittleMonkeys

I have had nights like this. So yes, I did put myself in my room. I have even made myself just go to bed.

akaMrsmojo

I think it is pretty normal, if I am low on my calories or met my max. I try to exercise the calories back so I have room for a snack. Generally I exercise, I do not feel guilty if I eat back the calories. I will play a Wii game to earn back the calories with my family.

One night my husband made homemade cookies. I calculated how long I would have to play Wii Sports to get to eat three cookies. No guilt.

You can make it, you are normal.