Perfect Storm of Stress and I Want To Eat

Well let me know if you want company in that closet because that sounds like a hoot!

Check out that tapping thing I just did a few seconds of it and I actually do feel a bit better. I started to get an audience so I stopped but even just the first point I could actually feel my chest relaxing.

http://youtu.be/IWu3rSEddZI

Hi Keith,

I wish our brains and our bodies were more in sync, but in a way it is not totally irrational to hang on the patterns that always worked (or at least seemed to work) in the past.  

Glad to hear that you only have foods with you that are on plan. I agree that is an important strategy. Some days I eat everything I brought to work in the first hour but since I cannot leave once I get there, the only damages are to my self discipline and pride not my overall plan. 

Here's hoping some of the stress resolves unexpectedly soon. 

all the best, Katy

 

I have had an extremely abusive and high stress life...most of my life,  from a very young age until about 8 years ago.

Just recently I was laid off of work and I have been struggling since. You know what keeps me going and helps? My best friend called me after my lay off and she said. "Beth, I have a friend that told me something that has always helped me when I get into these situations.... IT IS WHAT IT IS." In other words. There is not a damn thing you can do about it. All you can do is just keep on moving forward and let it play out. It will play out. Usually for the better, not always but usually.

So now when I get really stressed I just say, " It is what it is" and try to focus on something positive. For some reason it relaxes me when I say it. It is like giving in and admitting that you do not always have control over some things but you do have control over how you react to it. That actually gives me back control and makes me feel better. 

I hope things get less stressed for you, soon. 

Unfortunately I am an engineer and the saying actually goes "It is what it is, until an engineer fixes it". My career is fixing things that are broken or building a better bread box. So I have a really difficult time with acceptance because of my mindset. It drives most of the people around me crazy. Even our diet and nutrition for WLS is something I pick away at and constantly read old and new research. You are right though in that I need to work on accepting the things I cannot change, but it is hard when I know that I could fix them.

Trust me, I understand...as a nurse I tend to be a leader, in control and a fixer...I had to learn to let go. 

I love your advice Irishnurse. That is also what works for me. If it is out of my control, that's exactly what I say to myself...It is what it is...It helps me to accept things that I cannot change and either try to find a positive solution or just let it go and move on.

Tap away Keith or do whatever helps you to deal with all of this and good job packing this morning.  You are right, this strategy is KEY to your success.  Great big cyber (((Hugs))) to you for your frustration and I would love to join you and Ravenbrown in the closet, just to laugh and commiserate....

Deb

Thanks lets give you and Keith both a ((Hug))

Keith, I am walking around with Xanax in my pocket these days. That is not an exaggeration. My stress, anxiety, and depression are OFF THE CHARTS, and without my friend food to come to my aid, I am really in a bad way. I yell, I pace, I shake a bit. It's insane. Even my long time therapist said to me the other day, "Who are you? I've never seen this you before." And I said, "I KNOW!" capitalized because I said it that loud and that animated.

Pre op I never considered myself a food addict. I still struggle with the nomenclature for sure. I also didn't consider myself an emotional eater per se... and that one I have to own big time now. I mean really, the level of stress I am under right now between work, finances, family, and this WL journey is absurd, and I'd KILL for a sheet cake. I mean KILL for it. And cake isn't one of my go-to for stress. So yeah... I'm an emotional eater, without the outlet for eating, so I'm now a basket-case. Exercise helps, a lot, but only WHILE I'm doing it.

This is a part of the journey I wasn't prepared for. So I feel your struggle, sympathize and empathize, and will work on pulling together bail money in case you do go off the rails. :)

Ellen

:: hugs ::

Glad to hear you tried the tapping thing. Yeah it's not something I'd really do in public, but i find when i do it it really does help.