Confessions of a STRESS EATER...

mjenne74

"Today I went to McDonald's for lunch and boy did that Bacon Cheeseburger and French Fries taste so good..."

What is wrong with that line? Well though it is true that it tastes good, it is horrible for someone trying to count calories and follow a weight loss plan. How horrible? Well, about 800 calories horrible. More than half of my daily allowance. And do you want to hear the real zinger? I contemplated it. I made myself drive by. I pulled off in front of subway and tried to convince myself to get lunch there where I know what is healthy. But NO...I wanted the McDonald's. And for the first time in the 8 weeks that I have been doing this, I didn't care about the consequences.

Sad, but true...

Lately I have been in a real rut. I have lost 20 pounds since I began this 2 months ago. I have been so proud of my healthy eating and the changes I have made. Then I went away for the weekend where it is always a struggle to stay on track. I came home to nothing but stress. I have had the worst work week I have had in a long time. And I have struggled all week with my choices. I had Taco Bell for lunch one day and cupcakes for snacks yesterday. But somehow those things didn't push me over my numbers. But today I knew what I was doing and I didn't care.

I am a stress eater...

I DO NOT want to go back to where I started. But I haven't had a real full on workout in two weeks. I have been too busy, too tired, had too much to do and about any other excuse you can think of. So I wasn't exercising but still eating right. Now this week I have failed in the diet and haven't exercised. And I know that will land me right back to where I started if I am not careful.

So how bad do I want this?

My mind wants it and my heart wants it but sometimes my cravings under stressful situations get in the way. Up to this point, I've been able to keep them under control. But today I just flew off the wagon...so to speak. And now I want to skip my dinner which I know is not a good idea. Now I feel horrible for my choice. And now I feel the consequences of failure.

I need some support, encouragement, words of wisdom and advice. How do you all get through stress and wanting to make bad choices? With my job, it is tough because I drive and individual I care for into the community daily so I constantly deal with the temptation of the drive-thru. I am for the most part good about packing my lunch, mid snacks and waters. But some days I still struggle.

So that is my confession for today. I sure hope this stress passes and I am able to find some motivation again. Thanks for reading!

Michelle

cmriverside

We all struggle. It's not the daily struggle that will make you "fail" (your word - I don't like that word). It is giving up.


There are so many things I could say. The thing that helps me is - I can't change the past, and I can't control the future. I can only live in this moment. Today. One day at a time. I can only be in this moment.

Begin again. Now. Not next week. Move forward. Know that we all struggle sometimes and that you can do this.

elizabethl27

You can do it! Don't worry. You've already come this far, and we all get in a rut. I love McDonalds, but I found a way to eat there occassionaly and not have too many calories. I usually get a grilled chicken snack wrap with ranch (270 calories), 6 piece chicken nuggets (I only eat four of them. They used to let me order four but now they don't), and a parfait. It fills me up and totals about 600 calories or so. Not too bad for McDonalds and a filling meal. So, if you have to give in, you can still make healthy choices.

But, again, don't give up! You can do it and you have a whole community to support you

stanvoodoo

Its done and now you are back on track! Happens to us all you just accept it and move on! Add alittle more exercise to help compensate and eat better the rest of the day! Good Luck, We believe in you!

cmriverside

Here's a great post...an oldie but a goodie:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/32807-make-a-u-turn?page=1#posts-350572

PaulaDDN

That happens to all of us, you can do it, dont feel like you fell out of the wagon, you can start all over again and start it with your next meal, you'll feel better

liberty741

I am SO glad you just posted that because I am sitting here thinking about how much I absolutely hate myself for the lunch I just ate. I had a HUGE salad with gorgonzola cheese and grilled chicken. It sounds healthy, but then I just HAD to get a big piece of white garlic pizza TOO! The lady I work with looked at my lunch and said "now I could eat that for 3 days" and she didn' teven know I had the pizza. And I had a frosted croissant for breakfast. I have been in a major rut lately myself. My life is in transition and I just eat whenever I am stressed or emotional. It's how I got this way in the first place. Like you, I will be really strict for a few weeks then once I fall off the wagon, it's almost impossible to get back on. I'm really upset :-(

juliakhanna

I feel the same way - I experience the same equation where stress leads to intensive overeating. If we lived our lives without stress triggers - stress from our jobs, or our children, or our spouses, our finances - then perhaps we can nail our diets and achieve our weight targets with ease. But what I'm afraid we all need to learn is how to manage stress without turning to food. Food amazingly provides a quick, chemical source of pleasure. It's a guilty indulgence, it's giving yourself something great when perhaps you feel like life is only subtracting from you.

I know this sounds very simple, but I think when you're feeling totally stressed out, it's nice to go to your local park and go for a long walk. There's zero prep needed for a walk (you don't have to get your workout gear on, water bottle, mp3 player, etc)....and being surrounded by trees and breathing fresh air also has a way of giving one immediate relaxation. For me, it helps me get the opportunity to reflect on what is causing my stress and what I can do to manage it.

I used to work at a very busy, high-stress office where people felt burned out by 10am (including myself). People turned to destructive eating habits to manage their stress (i.e. guzzling the largest size McDonald's sweetened iced tea, snacking on sugary foods all day, etc) and were sometimes personally destructive (i.e. extremely gossipy, catty, snippy). Yet there was this one employee who made a point to go on a 20 minute walk during his lunchbreak, every day - and he always had a spring in his step and good words to say to people. You probably already know all of this, but this is my best advice! Hang in there and bravo for your success in losing weight!

AHealthierRhonda

Hi Michelle! Cut yourself some slack! We all slip up every once in a while. For me personally, I allow myself to have small portions of treats when I crave them. I know myself and I will do, as you did, and go over board in one sitting at some point. Allowing myself the cheats when I want them stops the latter from happening. Also, I will plan to exercise a little more that day to make up for the cals.
Remember, this is a life style change, not a diet plan. Its easy to lose weight but to keep it off permanently is the hard part. You have to be able to live your life eating how you are eating to lose the weight. When I get the urge for McD's, I get fries or a kids meal, depending on the craving, and it gives me my fix without too much guilt. I find now that I don't really want that food and I can have a fry or 2 from my daughters meal on the rare occasions she gets it and it satisfies the small craving I get when I smell the fries.
Don't beat yourself up over this slip. Its done and over with. Take the frustration you may be feeling and burn it off with some exercise! That's what I do. When I feel mad, sad, anything negative, I put on my iPod, crank it up, and go to town on my elliptical machine. I always feel terrific when I am done. I think it is because I have #1. taken some time for myself, and #2. done something good and productive!
I have a home daycare and deal with children ages 1-4 all da long, not to mention their parents. It is stressful at times, but a workout wipes it out of me everytime!! Look at exercise as down time for yourself to think, or not to think, and just go with it.
Hope your day gets better!!!! Only you can decide if it will!!!!

mommacool

I too am a stress eater, and I relate to everything you have said!!! I have been strong this time on MFP. My focus has been on ME and what I need to do to get and stay healthy and at a normal weight. I am not sure what has changed, but I did. I finally said to myself that I HAVE TO PUT MYSELF FIRST for once in my life\. And you know what, everyone else is going about their business just fine. LOL! In the past I would have "McDonald" moments like you described, where i just did not care and would just eat the thing I craved. Now I can resist, because I so badly want to lose this weight. And I have to be accountable at the end of the day. AND because NO ONE but me can do this. If I do not do it, I will fail. And I am sick of failing when it comes to my weight.

you can still salvage the day. First, you had one high calorie meal. Don't beat yourself up too much.

Get yourself a big bowl of veggies for dinner. Top it with some healthy protein.

Here are a couple day savers for me...

A nice big salad with cucumbers, peppers and some other bulky veggies. Some lean chicken, or garbanzos. Watch your dressing
A stir-steamed extravaganza with mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, broccoli or whatever you love. Add some lean protein. add a little soy or stir fry sauce or jsut season with some herbs and seasonings.
Whip up some veggie soup. Heat up broth and throw in all the veggies and cook till soft. Add some beans or meat, top with a sprinkle of cheese. Make is zesty with some cayenne or add some chinese five spice powder of italian seasoning.

I am not sure what you have your settings for the amount to lose a week. I have mine set at 1.5 lbs. I found it helpful to go into the setting and see what the calorie amounts are to lose 1 lb per week and .5 lb per week. That way if I go over, I know what I have done for the day, if I am still in the losing zone, or have really blown it. Sometimes I find that when I am over for the day, it just puts me in a zone to lose less, but not in a zone where I have been in the calorie range to gain.

Hope this helps. Stick with it. Tomorrow is a new day. And if you can even squeeze in a quick walk today it might help.

mjenne74

Thanks everyone! I am still really stressed and struggling but trying to take it one day at a time.