STARS 9 WEEK HOLIDAY CHALLENGE (CLOSED GROUP)

Just trying to figure out how to add my ticker....

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09/28-2011 QOTD, Wednesday: Have you resolved any emotional issues connected to your weight? And What's the biggest one you have over come, if any?

I've had many ups and downs with my weight. The biggest emotional *issue* that is connected to my weight is fear. My mother and aunt have battled obesity their whole lives. My mother had the gastric bypass 20 years ago when it was a barbaric procedure and she has dealt with issues from that ever since. She originally lost around 100 pounds and ended up putting all of it back on over time. She has been on every diet imaginable and to this day struggles with depression. My biggest fear is struggling with that same depression and being obese. Also, my aunt is obese and was just diagnosed with adult onset diabetes about 3 years ago. I've seen the tears, the depression, and the physical pain that is involved in obesity and I'm terrified of that happening to me. So....I'm trying to change my family tree. I'm trying to be fit and healthy.....so my children one day don't fear being like their mother. :frown: : (This was kind of hard for me to think/write about)

09/28-2011 QOTD, Wednesday: Have you resolved any emotional issues connected to your weight? And What's the biggest one you have over come, if any?

Unfortunately the issue isn't resolved for me yet. I am a major emotional eater - bored, happy, tired, etc. I'm working hard on this issue. Counting calories every day helps me keep it under control though. I build in a small night "treat" daily and being able to look forward to that helps me stay out of the pantry during the day. Keeping my fingers crossed that this new routine will become a habit over time and I won't automatically head to the pantry to deal with every emotion I'm experiencing.

09/28-2011 QOTD, Wednesday: Have you resolved any emotional issues connected to your weight? And What's the biggest one you have over come, if any?

Yes and no, and I am still working on this issue. Although I love to blame my 60 extra pounds on carrying two children, the reality is I was depressed for many many years and comforted myself with food. As I said in an earlier question, I have realized that I am an emotional eater. When I feel down, there is never enought food. It doesn't even matter if I'm, hunger, I will eat! I have been working on my depressioln for a few years and seem to have iit pretty well inder control, even though I still will sometimes get in a funk for a couple weeks. It helps being out of the situation that caused my depression in the first place, but the internal affects last a lot longer that the exterior ones do. I caught myself beginning a slump a few weeks ago, and through watching my diet and beginning to work out, I am pretty sure I have diverted it! So here is to overcoming my emotional issues and being a happy, skinny, me again!!!!

09/28-2011 QOTD, Wednesday: Have you resolved any emotional issues connected to your weight? And What's the biggest one you have over come, if any?

Like all of you, I emotionally eat, and that is why I am fat. When I lost my 50 pounds a few years ago, I did overcome most of the emotional issues which caused me to gain weight. I used food when I was depressed, sad, and especially anxious. I finally learned to just "sit with the bad feelings" and feel them. That's what I did, and that is how I was able to lose a lot of weight. Then I miscarried and got pregnant again with a terrifying pregnancy in which I had to go on bedrest where I gained an immense amount of weight. I had a one pound baby and it has been very hard and I feel anxious a lot. So I have turned to food again. So, I think that I am going to have to go back to just "sitting with it" and just feel the feelings.

I'm just "sitting with it tonight" as I am very anxious. I hope to fall asleep soon.

Thu 09/29/11 01:35 AM
09/28-2011 QOTD, Wednesday: Have you resolved any emotional issues connected to your weight? And What's the biggest one you have over come, if any?

First of all, let me say, I am sorry I didnt get this answered yesterday, but here goes. I am realizing that alot of the time I was just eating because I was bored. I am a stay at home mom, and my eating seems to go through cycles. I get really busy at home and outside activities with the kids and I do really well. But then, when things slow down and I am at home, I just walk around getting a "snack" all the time. I am truly working on that. I have learned that alot of time I ate, but I wasnt really hungry at all. Also, when I started MFP I gave up Dt Mtn Dew....I did really well until my uncle passed away, and I was having a hard time....one of my first thoughts was...."I need a mt dew!!!".....weird huh??? After weeks of not even wanting one...there it was!!! Well, I live way out in the country, and come dark...EVERY thing is closed...lol...thank goodness, cuz I couldnt go buy one. I laid in bed and told myself, come morning...I am going to get one...but you know what...come morning...I didnt want it anymore...I was so proud that I didnt give in. I am still discovering my "triggers" and overcoming them!!! We all can....

hi, ladies. i'm sorry i didn't answer yesterday. so, here it is:

09/28-2011 QOTD, Wednesday: Have you resolved any emotional issues connected to your weight? And What's the biggest one you have over come, if any?

unfortunately, i have yet to overcome my emotional issues. i'm taking things day by day, and it is improving. i will get there (:

QOTD - Thursday, September 29: What is one of your favourite recipes?

I love pasta so here is one of my favourites. i made it up off of the no count plan at weight watchers years ago.

Cook some whole wheat pasta
grill a couple of chicken breasts and fry some red onion
drain the pasta and add in the chicken
add in 1 whole jar of salsa
add onions, raw sweetcorn and heat through!

it so yummy!!

QOTD - Thursday, September 29: What is one of your favorite recipes? (please share with your fellow stars)

Here is my go to meal when I am running out of calories, need to get in my veggies and it needs to be quick:
1) 3-4 cups of raw spinach
2) 9 slices of Oscar Mayer Rotisserie Chicken Breast - chopped
3) Tablespoon of Chopped Garlic
4) Pam Olive oil spray

Spray the pan, put in the Garlic and stir. Stir in the chicken breast slices and let them cook a little in the Garlic (i like to brown it a bit), then add the spinach. Stir good and put a lid on it and turn the heat down to medium low. In about 2 minutes stir it up. The spinach is really kind of steaming in there, so once you stir it is breaks down, but does not get mushy.

Eat it right away.

QOTD - Thursday, September 29: What is one of your favourite recipes?

white chicken chili! (never got an exact recipe)


half a pan of skim milk
half a big block of velveta cheese (lowfat or mexican style)
2 lbs of cooked shredded chicken
Large jar of salsa
I can of white northern beans


Mix milk and velveta together in pan until cheese is melted
Mix all ingredients in crock pot
Cook on low for 8 hrs.

QOTD - Thursday, September 29: What is one of your favourite recipes?

Great question!-Looking forward to reading the recipes. My favourite is home made burger:

1 small onion
1/4 of red pepper (capsicum)
Teaspoon of olive oil
Shake of paprika
100g of 'Super Lean' beef steak mince
'Rustic' bread bun

Dice the onion & pepper in to teeny cubes and then cook them in the olive oil, over a low heat. Throw in a shake of paprika and let them soften (but not brown). When they are cool, mix them with the mince and then shape in to a patty. I leave this in the fridge to firm up and then I cook it in the oven. Depending on your taste, you can add a slice of low fat cheese to your burger and some cherry tomatoes & lettuce. I serve it with a side salad with balsamic vinegar dressing.

i LOVE white chicken chili too!!! I like to add diced fresh tomatoes, jalepenos, cayenne pepper, and diced green chiles in mine! Gives it a kick!

09/28-2011 QOTD, Wednesday: Have you resolved any emotional issues connected to your weight? And What's the biggest one you have over come, if any?

Wow. This is a loaded question for me. I would say I have some resolved emotional issues and some unresolved. I too am an emotional eater. I also felt that I never quite measured up to expectations of growing up. I was also the victim of what for the purposes of my answer I will just say was "unwanted attention" in my late teens and again in my late twenties. Both times after successful weight loss. The instances ranged from minor to pretty serious and left me reeling from feelings that there was somthing wrong with me! Pretty sad for a young person with poor self esteem anyway.

So what did I do? I became a driven workaholic and became a succesful women that has the world at her fingertips. Except of course for the one thing that eludes me......a healthy body. I found I could medicate all of the feelings from all the things above by stuffing myself with the foods that made me fat again. Of course science tells us now that over feeding the body with bad carbs releases some of the same chemicals in the body that some drugs do. On the upside the unwanted attention stopped (sarcasm).

I have found that excercise has been a life saver in dealing with these feelings. I can feel them sweating right out of my body. I have found that medatative practices, such as prayer, soothing music and making oneself still can calm these feelings. Apparently answering these questions is pretty cathartic too because I feel pretty calm at the moment!

i LOVE white chicken chili too!!! I like to add diced fresh tomatoes, jalepenos, cayenne pepper, and diced green chiles in mine! Gives it a kick!

sounds yummy! I should try that!

Any good recipes and share

Unfortunately I don't have any good recipes but I am enjoying reading y'all's!