Need Help with stress/sugar binge!!!!!

I've been having a lot of stress at work. I sometimes have to deal with people who are mentally impaired/schizophrenic, severe depression, and those who are down right nasty/crabby. I work for a law firm. My boss says I have to always be polite and kiss these people's behinds no matter what...that's the price of doing business. It's really getting hard to do, especially when a couple of them call 8-10 times per day just to scream at me and shout obscenities. It can be nerve racking at times. And to top it off, by boss is a cold, b*tchy person who tries to "conquer" over her employees. There is no reprieve, and I can't quit...I'm single and need the job. With this in mind, I've been on a major sugar binge for the past few months. Mostly, eating goodies in the office from the holidays and after. Seems like I can't get enough caffeine and sugar---deadly combination for us GB patients. I'm drinking about 10-15 cups per day. No kidding. I've regained about 15 pounds and it is driving me nuts. I'm afraid I'm on a failing spiral. I'm trying to exercise 3 times a week to start. Any words of wisdom would be of help. I know "nothing tastes good as Thin feels", but the mantra isn't working anymore.

Hi Gaviella, I hear you loud and clear...I myself have struggled and struggled with regain, more than what you have gained. Your working conditions sound horrible, but I pray you find somehow to "tune out" on the negative and hang in there, especially since you need the job and they are so scarce these days. Stress definately is a trigger for me as well. I don't know the perfect answer...I wish I did. But all I can say is try, try again...You are not too far gone yet. When you gain alot back as I have, it's so depressing to get your head around the fact that you have to work hard to lose it again, so I really hope you find a way to curb it now. 15 lbs is not that far out yet. Maybe take nutritious snacks to work rather than the goodies...I know, I know...that's where the stress comes in and makes you want to eat the goodies, but if you don't have any available, you can't eat them...you will eat the good stuff. Lots of water or flavored water and protein items are your best bet. I hope your situation gets better! I surley can relate! Hugs, Theresa

Hello, and you're not, I repeat NOT alone in this one. For months I've been having stress related issues in my personal life. Fortunately my workplace is my safe haven, all the people I work with/for are great and totally supportive of my WLS and journey. Matter of fact, a couple women are jealous but proud at the same time. The past few weeks I've been on an emotional rollercoaster. First, Joe, the truckdriver called and "isn't interested in a relationship" with "anyone" right now. And the conversation got even worse as in I heard an EGO in him that I had never detected. So that hurt. Then, I find that my home life sucks, having 1-2 friends here in this town, nothing to do, can't go out and ride Junior because I'm on riding hiatus per my surgeon until April 27th, and it's too darn cold to go play with him. Also, I work nights, and during the day the horses are let out to be 'outside' so it's inconvenient for me to bring him in, groom him for an hour, then let him go back out. At least I'm making it seem that way. So I found myself trapped in my little corner of the world depressed, lonely and finding that food of all sorts is delightful. Not alot, but the things I know I shoud NOT be eating. Details not necessary as to "what" I've eaten but let me tell you I came to a die hard conclusion this morning when I woke up. I made my life what it is. I was morbidly obese for the majority of my life, and fought like hell to get to where I am today. Size 12 or 14 jeans from a size 32 jeans. Size 8 tops from a size 4X in tops. Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, bad knee joint pain, chronic asthma, and just close to my death bed with cholesterol and a bad kidney. Since WLS, that has all vanished. VANISHED. I DO NOT WANT IT TO RETURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I chose to have WLS. I fought for 10 years to get it. So whatever it took you to have WLS, you get off the battle of a food binge and get back on track and don't let your emotions rule what you put into your mouth. 1. MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES in what you eat!!! 2. PUT A PICTURE OF WHAT YOU USE TO LOOK LIKE CLOSE BY AND REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU COULD END UP LOOKING LIKE THAT AGAIN IF YOU DONT STOP IT NOW! 3. CALL SOMEONE WHEN YOU ARE FRUSTRATED. (i've recently made friends with a couple people here who have turned out to be great support online and on the phone) Vent about it to someone who will just listen. 4. Don't keep junk in the house. If you do, you're more likely to eat it. 5. Eating goodies? Well, the key here is to stay away. STEP AWAY FROM THE GOODIES AND REMEMBER, THAT'S WHAT GOT US ALL HERE TO BEGIN WITH. 6. WHAT WOULD YOUR WLS SURGEON SAY TO YOU ABOUT THIS? (i have a keen idea what mine would say. and i dont think i want to hear it, so i keep reminding myself all the clothes i got rid of and all the clothes i've bought) I"m just not willing -- and don't you be willing, to go back to that place of eating garbage just to satisfy a binge or upset. There are so many more things we can reach for. Have sugar free things handy at work. They make tons of goodies that are healthy and low carb and decent protein. Make your own goodie box and keep it handy. So that's my 2 cents (well more like 5.00 worth) of support for you ....I can see we share similarities, as I too have done my share of binging but...........as with all WLS rules, I get sick, often dump, etc. It isn't my idea of a sunny winter morning. Keep looking at your inner happiness within and know that you have choices, just make better ones!!!!!!!!!!! (quietly stepping down from the soap box!) Stacey W

Hiya Gavriella, I'm so sorry to hear about the stress! I think it is a trigger for most of us! I have a few suggestions which you can take or toss- but a few tricks that have helped me: 1) WATER everywhere- I keep it on my desk, in the fridge at work, in the car. I have trained my self to take a sip before I decide to eat anything. It takes a minute to get to this place but it forces you to be conscious of what you put in your mouth. 2) Take your breaks and lunch away from your office. Make a point to get away as much as you can (be the delivery person, run errands etc) first it gets you moving and second you are away from the stress 3) Goodie bag - a small piece of protein bar can fix the need for a candy bar, celery is nice and crunchy, SF kool aid and puddings. 4) Be proactive- maybe on your breaks start to look for another job. Find out what your options are. If nothing else sometimes it helps to be looking! 5) Dress up! It helps you feel good if you look good. Take a bit more YOU time in the morning Just a few small tricks to help you get through - since you can't smack your boss with a cast iron skillet :D Maybe getting to a support group meeting or two will help. Keep working at it- you are worth it!

Thanks for the support and advice. Thank goodness it is Friday and I'll be out of the office soon. I'm going to tack your suggestions on the fridge. And how did you know I have a cast iron skillet?!?!?!? I like the latter though....or maybe wack her with the Dutch oven!

There have been some really good suggestions posted here on tricks to help you change some of your eating behaviors, ie. water, nutritious snacks, exercise, etc. We all have stress, in varying degrees, and different situations from yours. You have to decide how you will cope with it. Right now, you know you are not coping in a manner that is healthy for you, physically or emotionally, but you are trying to cope. You have to make that decision for you to cope with your stress in a more positive way. It is all about control. You can't control your clients, heck, they probably can't control their behavior if they are mentally ill. You can't control or change your boss, it sounds as if she has her own problems. BUT, you can control your behavior. You have proven it by having the surgery and successfully losing your weight. That means you can do it again. Do it for you. The final result will be increased happiness and health for you. As someone who carried around over 200 pounds of excess weight, I never felt I had control over what went in my mouth. Surgery changed that for me. Oh, yes, they are many times I struggle still with food demons, there are always lots of sugary goodies at work that call to me, but I will not put something in my mouth without at least making an extremely concious decision to do so. You've done it once befoe, do it again. Walk away from the junk, get the water instead of the coffee, drink a protien drink, walk down the hallway, do whatever it takes to take your life back. Debra M. off of soapbox at goal

First of all, start looking for a new job. If it's that bad you are going to end up quitting anyway, so find a new one before you do. Now about the eating, you need to get yourself under control. get rid of the crap and get back to basics. you need to detox your body of the carbs and caffeine, it's hard to do, but you have to. Snack on fruit or veggies, or even drink some protein. Load up on water and protein, you shouldn't be hungry after that. I drink tropicana sugar free lemonade and water. I don't drink coffee or pop at all. You don't want to regain your weight, you would have done all the work for nothing. Stay healthy and get back on track. Hugs Linda

I read your first couple sentences and I thought I wrote it and was referring to my fellow teachers. I wish I had a magic word I could use and make it happen for you but you and I both know the decision starts with you. You have recognized not only the problem but the cause. Now you have to make up your mind and do something about it. Or not do something so to speak. Find a substitute for what you know is bad. The coffee is gonna be a tough one. Maybe decaf stuff??? You just need to find a substitute. Easy for me to say. I know!!!!! This just came to me. Make your own sweets so to speak. Get a box of Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe or the peanut butter ones and cut them into small pieces like Mars and snickers minis and pop one of those every 15 o twenty minutes. You'll get protein and sweets over a long period of time. I just came up with that one!!! Damn I'm a gem. kp

Ooooooo! Chocolate and pnut butter....my two favs. I'm trying to cut the coffee, but it is darn hard. I don't drink, smoke, or fool around. Damn I'm boring. But coffee is my only vice. I like the Butthead pic with horn. heh heh heh heh