Good morning everyone,

Ugh, I could really use your help! I havent tracked my food since Friday, had a horrifically calorie laden weekend and here it is Wednesday and is still continuing!

I was offered a new job Monday and put my notice in here yesterday. My boss is a psycho, micro-manager who will throw anyone and everyone under the bus because she lacks confidence in herself. Last month she accused me of doing something intentionally to sabotage her and then she denied saying it when we met with her manager. I decided I had had enough (I have worked in this dept for 7 years and have been under her for 3) and secured a new job in a month. It took her 5 hours yesterday to even acknowledge the resignation to my face and we sit 2 cubes away from each other. And all she said was "so, you're leaving us?".

I am going to a great new job, but my eating has gone out the window, I think, for several reasons: I am using it to get through the tense days here (although thankfully she leaves for vacation this Friday and then I never have to see her again), I am celebrating to a degree and things are just so crazy right now that I'm not making the time to plan meals, weigh, measure, pack food, etc. And we have a really awesome cafeteria down here and its easier to go down there and eat something than it is to pull my tired old salad fixings out of the fridge.

How do I get myself under control??????????? I've lost 8 pounds (minus the .4 I gained back this week) and I dont want to gain it back. But it's like I can't even get up the motivation to give a carp!

HELP!!

~Becky

Maybe use the June challenge as an opportunity to get back on track? If you've got 10 minutes to stop by a grocery store, just hang out in the produce section looking at all the things you haven't tried. Pick one (or more!) and add it to your "tired old salad" or figure out a way to cook it for dinner. Jicama is a fun thing to add to salads-- it's like a potato/apple thing. Really good with a lime dressing, red peppers, and mandarin oranges!

I know how hard it is to prioritize this kind of thing when everything in your life feels hectic, but remember that you're doing this to make a better life for yourself and the people you love! You DESERVE to treat yourself well, and part of that is giving your body foods that nourish it and bring you closer to your goals.

Best of luck!

Oh and stress rally. Sounds like you are in it for sure, Karen. I'm feeling it too. Sleep helps. I felt so much better after sleeping last night but funny thing, get to work and boom, it's back. Stress, money, hubs. I had 3 freaking drumsticks in the middle of the night. Hello? 1000 calories! Half awake, I barely even tasted them.

I haven't lost any weight in over 2 weeks. In fact I'm up 2lbs. So, yep. I'm right there with y'all. Something definitely not worky. Hand to mouth disease.

Well Becky, all of the above is great advice! Not much I can add, but will also throw in my 2 cents worth anyway! lol
I have been there too...was there for about a month most recently...I traveled, then go sick and put back on 5 pounds and that was depressing....but I decided that enough was enough...this is all about me and getting healthy (I don't have family, so it is just me and the cats!). I set a date (today was that day) to start back on this journey of weight loss and it is the end of the day here, and I made it thru the day as planned! So I think you should pick a date, and pick it up from there!!! What is done is done...that is the past, move to the present!!! And I agree with those who have said...if your food is boring , then plan your meals....look out for low calorie (or low carb) meals...the internet is full of sites that can help you out with that!!! No extra cost....just move that 'mouse' and click and find some recipes you like!! I find it cheaper to make my meals and take them to work, that to purchase food in the cafeteria. Plus I try to plan my lunches to take to work out during the weekend so I am ready to make the food the night before I go to work.

Congrats on the new job!!! Don't let that toxic manager make you make poor choices in food.....you can do this!!!!

Thanks Karen, Just saw the night eaters thread. Didn't mean to try to hi-jack this thread.

Viki (WA)

Becky,

Obviously, none of use are experts in any of this - or we wouldn't be here! Sometimes remembering that you aren't alone in your struggles helps...I know it helps me. You can ask Karen...just yesterday, I didn't want to bring down the positive vibe in the check in, but I totally wasn't feeling it....so I sent a PM, and went for a walk, and did a few other things, and today is better, other than utter exhaustion... So, all that being said, just knowing that someone else is on your side is a big deal for me.

A suggestion is to find things that feel like indulgences that you can handle in small portions. For me, it is things like Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips. I've got this one down to a science. Each chip is roughly 2 calories. So, if I have 5 - that was a ten calorie snack - but It felt like 25+... If I have up to 50 chips, it is still only 100 calories. I can do this - and I'm on carb restriction per doc (25% daily, period). So, unless you are an unmanaged diabetic or allergic to chocolate, you can probably fit things like this in. (If you can't stop at whatever you decide a portion is, invest in snack size bags. Portion accordingly. Take your serving to work and freeze the rest. Only that that day's portion at a time, etc.)

Another indulgence that feels like OMG! but isn't, is my variation of Strawberries Romanoff (as listed on www.skinnytaste.com). Essentially the original recipe is sour cream, berries, and brown sugar. I don't do well with more than a dollop of sour cream on a taco, so I use full fat unsweetened plain yogurt (Greek yogurt hits me at lot like SC...some sort of weird mild lactose thing from what my allergist and I could tell), so just the regular stuff. I think for one pound of strawberries, I use 1 6 oz (maybe 8 oz) thing of plain yogurt. (whatever Braum's or Hiland's size is). You take the yogurt and you mix it with up to 3 TBSP of dark brown sugar (in the raw is better if you can afford it), to taste. Add a tsp or 2 of vanilla. Stir it up. Now, only mix the berries and the yogurt together as serving. If for later, store separately, as the acid in the berries will break down the yogurt and make it a runny mess (still yummy - I ended up blending it for a drink when I did it...lol). Anyway, when serving, cut and prep your strawberries as preferred (thick enough to use as a dip, but I like tossing it together with quartered berries). Toss together or serve on side to dip. This makes four servings. Each serving, depending on how much BS and V is about 150 calories. Still very low GI and sugar overall because using the dark sugar is less "sweet" but still a bam of flavor. Some people might like a balsamic drizzle or whatever on this, but I like it this way. The yogurt ends up tasting like BAVARIAN CREAM... YUM! I might make some tonight... LOL

Another one I like if you aren't on a major sodium restriction is Terra Chips. These are chips made from veggies - and you can't tell for the most part. I LOVE these and could easily eat an entire bag at once, but they are good if you have to watch the carbs in addition to calories. I gave some to my water delivery guy and he swore he couldn't tell they were veggies... and you feel like you are getting chips!

Also, if you like nibble on things like cheese and apples or cheese and almonds, make sure you get the sharp cheese (or spicy if that is your thing). It is worth it. Your taste buds will appreciate the zing of flavor.

And for anyone wondering, by lowering my carbs, doc had me up my fat, so I don't do this lowfat nonsense... Fat, healthy fat, makes me feel full and crave less sweets (my weakness). That and protein helps too. I'm working on my macros. Two out of three aren't bad. And still hitting calorie goals. So, if major cravings (not the unusual things like night eating and other disorders), but just good old fashioned sugar/salt addition cravings get you, try some of these. I've heard for salt addiction adding iodine to your diet helps (it is a drop you add to your water) because our bodies associate salt with iodine due to the additive in table salt.

And I can tell you, the more carbs I eat, the more I crave, so if I eat the good fruits (berries, apples, etc.), I don't crave the TWIX bars and SNICKERS bars that are my usual stress cravings! LOL

So, long, long story summarized - find manageable indulgences to help manage stress. Combine that with walking, deep breathing, water sips, and loud, angry rock music to manage it - and that is mostly my thing. I'd say it works 75-85% of the time. Good luck on your transition!!!!

Carly in OK, formerly and eventually again of TX

Hijack away! I don't think we have any rules here! Other than me trying to minimize my profanity.

Oh ****! That's a rule?!

Good Afternoon,

Today is my 34th birthday!!

However, My stress is full blast today as well.

Yesterday my husband and I borrowed my inlays credit card (which I hated doing but it was necessary) to pay for $2685 in repairs to his car. We are already down to one car because my car crapped out back in March and I am still paying payments until October. His car crapped out in May and we've been borrowing a car while this one has been in the shop.

So, we picked it up yesterday and today it overheated again!!! After paying all that money!!!!!

I am so at my wits end. Happy friggin' birthday to me!!!! Ugh.

I'm assuming it will all be covered since they just "repaired" it. But it still doesn't make the situation any less stressful.

Angie

Hi all.

Angie happy birthday! hope it gets better for you hun x

I totally agree with the above about not waiting. And it doesn't mean everything has to be perfect, but you could make sure as said you drink your water, or you have a better choice of snack or something. Let's face it there is always going to be something that stresses us out, makes us sad, changes we have to adapt to, jobs that have to get done, deadlines, illness, death... you get the picture. We have to find a way through it otherwise we will always be saying 'when I get through this then I will do it'. Even if you have made less than optional lunch choices, does not mean dinner can be whatever. Make one choice today that is back on track. Just one if that is all you can manage. Tomorrow make two. Maybe the next day you go back to one, that is okay, but push forward and keep trying

I am so home sick I want to cry today. I miss my mum, (died 2 years ago when I was 35). I miss my brother, I miss close streets, public transport, being able to talk to people, my friends, being able to get around without a car. When I get homesick if we have a little cash I do a food order online sometimes of foods from home. But it is usually junk food as they do not deliver fresh stuff and obviously I cannot order a bunch of junk. So I am going to go do my workout and hopefully that will get me by for a bit.

Natasha

Angie, happy birthday and thanks for the comments. I definitely am the Queen of "I will start over (fill-in-the-blank)". As Natasha says, there will always be something going on that tests our emotional eating. If I wait, I just might be waiting forever.

Karen, thanks for the explanations. Going to check out those websites.

~Becky in Florida