Personal Update

Today I thought I'd just share an update on my progress.

I wish I had more to report. Sadly I haven't done that well lately. I seem to be spinning my wheels but going no where. I think my biggest problem is stress. I don't deal with it properly and it tends to get the better of me. Emotional eating is a problem I deal with regularly. While I do much better than I used to, it's still an issue. I just have to keep reminding myself to take one day at a time.

I'm trying a new battle plan starting today. I'll once again plan out every bite that goes into my mouth, including "emergency" foods. You know... those times when things don't go as planned and you can't eat what you intended to. It seems to happen to me often enough that I need to be better prepared for it. I also am going to watch my macro nutrients closely. I do seem to do better when my calories are a bit lower. It may be that I'm simply taking in more food than I need and when watching my calories a bit I tend to eat only what is necessary. I still believe that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to calories, but if I'm over eating it doesn't help. I'll closely track everything again and see how it goes. (I used to do that all the time... I got lazy.)

Another step will be more water. I'm not getting enough in. Also more exercise. Even if it's just an extra few minutes, I think it will be beneficial.

I strongly suspect I have thyroid issues. I've had proof in the past of this (t3 tests), but it wasn't enough to convince my doctor. I then lost my insurance due to a job change and never pursued it further. I may be getting insurance soon, and if I do you can bet getting my thyroid checked will be on the top of the list. I'm having a lot of symptoms that fall right in line with thyroid dysfunction. This may also explain why I'm having such a tough time losing lately. There is also the distinct possibility that my short stint on Kimkins really messed up my metabolism. It could be all of the above. I hope to find out soon.

I plan to keep myself busy today while I struggle to get back on track. Being sick last week really messed up my determination to eat right. I ended up just eating what was convenient instead. Never a good thing. And again I had a lot of stress. It's not something I feel like getting into, but it was a tough week and I'm still recovering emotionally.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Emotional Eating & Slow Burn

Hey Gang! Sorry I wasn't around yesterday. Too much going on. You'll be proud of me though. I done good. :)

My kids had a 4H meeting/Valentines Party yesterday and I didn't eat one bite of anything carby. I brought my own diet soda and a small bag of nuts with me to munch on.

I also determined in my mind yesterday that I would not longer eat emotionally. I know that's easier said than done, and I may fall flat on my face here and there, but yesterday I did it! Wanna know how? I started a challenge on Low Carb Discussion forum called "What's Eating You?" where we go to post our feelings when we feel the urge to eat emotionally. If this is something you struggle with, feel free to join us! No huge requirements. Just check in daily, if you can, and let us know how you are. And anytime you feel that maybe your "hunger" isn't true hunger, come post about it and get the support you need. It helped me a lot yesterday.



Another new thing I'm trying is a workout program called Slow Burn by Fred Hahn. I read the recent interview with him that Jimmy Moore did and was very impressed. I decided to look into it further and I like what I see. I ordered the 3 dvd set and it arrived yesterday. I've only watched the first DVD, but I am really pumped about this workout! It requires very little equipment - just basics like dumbbells, ankle weights.. you can even use soup cans and water jugs! And the best part? It requires very little time, which is about all I have anymore. The testimonials sound good and I'm going to give it a shot. I'll be sure to keep you updated on how it's working for me.

OK.. another busy day ahead of me. I am dying to tell you about that new nutrition scale I have and hope to get to that tomorrow. Have a great one!

Mayday! Mayday! I'm going down.....

I blew it.

Just completely blew it.

I had the best of intentions today. I was going to eat strict, or at the least smart. I didn't do either this afternoon. I ate like a pig with it's head in the trough.

*snort* Oh chocolate! Is this bad for me? *snort* Yeah.. this'll probably make me sick after I eat it. I really shouldn't. *snort, bite, gulp* Yum.. gotta have some more of that! Just another bite...*snort, chew, slurp* What else can I inhale around here after I'm done? *snort, slurp* Uh... is that a fry up my nose?? *snort, snort* When is dinner?? *snort*

I think I know what's going on, although it's not an excuse.

First, I tried cutting way back on diet soda. That should be a good thing, right? I'm not so sure it is for me. While I certainly need to get my minimum of water in, I think not having any Diet Rite in the house has been more harmful than helpful. I really think the Diet Rite helps curb any cravings I might have. Since I haven't had any soda around, I've indulged in other things to deal with cravings. I've ate quite a bit more than normal and I'm no longer in ketosis.

Second, I'm a severe emotional eater and have not conquered those demons. My emotions are running on high today. My hubby was one of 3 being considered for a job. A job that will be better for all of us. He'll be home every night instead of traveling and the pay will be at least as good as he gets now. It will require a move, but we were planning on that anyhow. So hubby calls me today to tell me that the guy he sent his resume to called him this morning. He was very impressed and wants hubby for the job. He is no longer considering the other two candidates. This man is forwarding hubby's resume to another man, who has the final say-so, and recommending hubby for the job. I think he said the two men were to have a meeting tomorrow so we may know something soon. Stuff like this makes me anxious and I tend to want to eat or sleep through it. Eating is a bad idea and sleeping isn't really an option either.

So anyway. I flubbed big time today. Thank goodness tomorrow is a new day. I doubt I'll even eat tonight. My stomach is rebelling big time.

I'm listing reasons I should never go off plan here. I'm going to print it off, laminate it, and carry it everywhere I go.

Reasons I Should Stick To My Diet

#1. I'll feel reeeaaallllly icky!
#2. I'll bloat like a balloon!
#3. My IBS, GERD, etc. will come back!
#4. I'll beat myself up for sabotaging myself!
#5. I'll gain weight.
#6. I'll continue to gain weight because it will set off my old bad habits!
#7. My long-term health will be compromised!
#8. My clothes will get tight, or worse yet not fit at all!
#9. I'm setting a bad example for my kids and others who are watching me!
#10. I deserve better!

I'm just a little peeved at myself. I promise I'll be over by tomorrow.

May 16, 2007

Happy Wednesday!

Yesterday was a rough day for me emotionally. I had some major stress yesterday, but I'm glad to announce I didn't cave in to it. I kept myself preoccupied and busy. At some points the stress was so bad that I was literally sick at my stomach.. which also aides in my lack of hunger I guess. Whatever the reason, I did well and the scale rewarded me. I'm down 1.5 lbs.. which only leaves 2.5 until I'm back at my lowest weight.

Today so far:
Breakfast: EAS Carb Control Shake - 2 carbs
Water: none yet

I'll update more later.. need to go get on the treadmill.

Update #1

Exercise:
Treadmill - 33 minutes, 1.32 miles, 153 calories burned
Pilates - 10 minutes Thigh workout

Water so far: 16 ounces (I need to get a move on this!)

Update #2

Lunch: Low-Carb Pizza - 5 carbs

Snack: Atkins Bar - 2 carbs

Dinner: Hamburger Patty, green beans almondine, pickle - 5 carbs

Dessert: Frozen Chocolate Kisses - 4 carbs

Total for the day: 18 carbs
Total water for the day: 48 ounces

Stress and Emotional Eating

It seems like the last couple of days I've been bombarded with stress. And wow is this a bad time for me to try and deal with it. I'm already an emotional wreck due to TOM. I was talking with my husband last night and just broke down crying. We were discussing the source of our recent stress and I just couldn't hold it in.

Now I know a good cry is beneficial now and then, so that doesn't bother me. What does concern me is my seemingly built-in need to eat when I feel this way. Emotional eating will be something I battle the rest of my life. Despite the things I've read, the advice I've been given, and the techniques I've tried, it's still an issue. Of course there are always those who have no clue what you are talking about, and love to hand out advice about it as if they were the expert on such matters. Don't you just love it when someone says "Well just don't eat!"? Well now, why didn't I think of that? Surely it's as simple as you make it sound. (insert sarcastic eye roll here)

I've found the only thing that will get me though times like these are what I call distraction tactics. I have to get my mind off of food and my emotions. If I can focus on other things and stay busy until the craving passes, I can keep myself afloat. If I don't find a successful distraction - I sink right to the bottom.. and usually that bottom is a McDonald's french fry sack. Several minutes later I wake up from a carb-induced trance, berating myself for what I've just done. Then the emotions get stirred and it starts all over again.

It's taking me some time to learn my triggers, and the methods of distraction that work for me, but I'm getting there. Last night I wanted to eat, even though I knew I wasn't hungry. Instead I picked up a book I've been reading and became engrossed in the written page. It wasn't long until I'd forgotten about eating. For a short while I wasn't a mother who's struggling to guide her children, a wife who is trying to encourage her husband and help make major life decisions. For those few chapters I was able to look through the eyes of the author and see issues far worse than my own. And while I'm not the type of person that takes pleasure in seeing others who are less fortunate (it breaks my heart!), I certainly put my book down realizing my problems weren't so big after all.

Were my issues and emotions still there after I put down the book? Yep. But by then the urge to eat had subsided and I could think clearly. I knew that if I would have given in to emotional eating, I would have started a cycle that's tough to break.

While I may not have won the war, last night I won a battle. And I intend to beat this thing in that very way - one battle at time.