When life is a stressful mess, how do you keep it together??

I think it is safe to say we all pretty much know how to handle our eating and exercise when life is calm and steady. But when life throws you not one, but many curve balls, how do you keep on track with your eating and exercise? Right now I'm dealing with health stuff, marriage stuff, deaths, parties that need planned, friendship issues--it's just one of those times when life is deciding to dump on me all at once. I find myself not having the time or inclination to plan and prepare the way I need to in order to be successful. That leads to the dreaded grab whatever is on hand dynamic which usually leaves me feeling guilty and that just leads to more stress!

I'd love to hear how you persevere when there is so much going on.

Thanks for any hints or tips you've found helpful.

Wearily,

Denise

I try to have healthy stuff on hand that is easy to grab - mostly Carbmaster yogurt, protein bars, nuts, cheese, etc.  If that's what I have on hand, that's what I'll grab - if healthy stuff is what's right here, I'm actually too lazy during stressful times to go out to get something unhealthy.

Hey, Denise.  Sorry to hear that you're finding yourself dealing with multiple thorny issues.  I may not be any better at giving advice than the next person, but I have a few suggestions.
(1) Don't feel that you have to eat the same things, or in the same quantities, or with the same timing, as others in your household.  Remember to advocate for yourself.
(2) Try to prepare several days' worth of meals at a time, rather than cooking from zero each new day.  This might not be as difficult as it seems if you can make large enough meals so allow for leftovers the next day.  Even doing just this, you cut your meal planning (and a certain amount of prep time) down to half of what it might be without.
(3)  Don't feel like a loser if you backslide once in a while.  Nobody's perfect.  If you over-munch today, and know you shouldn't but do it anyway, just make tomorrow a new day and try to be more focused on what is best for you in the long haul.
(4) Lay in a supply of less-than-harmful snack stuff to help you past those stages when eating seems to be the only thing to do.  Get a case of V-8 cans, or a box of those 100-calorie microwave popcorn bags, sugar-free Popsicles, or some tangerines.  Stuff like that.  Keep your eye on the processed sugar and fat content so the snacks don't take you in the wrong direction.
(5) Remember to drink your water.  A tummy full of water will not have room for more caloric things, and the act of swallowing it could help with certain oral gratification issues that might otherwise be met by eating.  Also, recall tha****er comes in lots of forms:  a grapefruit, some hot or iced tea, those s-f Popsicles, iceberg lettuce, and so forth.
I hope for your sake that your stressors get diminished soon.  Good luck to you.

First, I have to admit that when I read your first sentence, I saw "multiple horny issues"! I thought gosh, he knows me better than I know myself!! LOL! :)

Seriously, your advice is excellent. The idea of trying to not let one rough day of eating turn into a week, month, etc. is huge because that is such a common thing to just say screw it when I've already messed up. Part of my marriage stuff is that hubby is the junk food king and he brings it into the house in great supply. I'm going to have to put my foot down, because when I reach for something, there are donuts, Lindt chocolates, honey buns, chips--you name it. I'm actually needing to give myself a pat on the back for not indulging more than I do with the plethora of crap that abounds in this house! But during this time of increased stress, he is really going to have to knock it off with the junk food. I do tend to be a bulk cooker, just have to get motivated to do that. Hopefully when I'm feeling physically better I'll get back to meal planning. I've been really good about drinking my fluids. Should get some sf popsicles in though--those are a nice little treat and a bonus of counting toward fluids.

Thanks again for your suggestions. Sometimes just hearing it from someone else is the jolt we need to move back toward what we know we need to be doing! And thanks for the well wishes. I'm sure my "horny" issues will simmer down soon! :)

Take care,

Denise

It's hard to even imagine how much stress you must be living with right now.  It boggles my senses just reading about it, so cannot imagine what it must feel like there in the pressure cooker.

Anyhow, the best advice I could offer is to do what we women are so bad about, and that is putting ourselves first.

You've got to become your own number one priority; otherwise, your needs will continue to fall further and further down the list.

When I find my life getting stressful, I begin using the word "No."  You will notice that a period came after the word "No"   in my sentence. 

The reason for this is that "No" can be a one word sentence.  No need to offer explanations or excuses...
Take care of yourself because I have found that no one else is likely to. 

I live by my favorite "Brenda-ism," What doesn't kill me, just ****** me off! 

To that, I am a very strong-willed individual, so I am just motivated to push through adversity, and try my damnedest to make the necessary changes.  I hate being pissed off, so it is a great motivator!

Exercise is great, so is writing journals.  I have been keeping personal journals on & off most of my life.  It gives me perspective to look back & see where my head was.  Life is ever changing, bad crap doesn't last forever!

Brenda : )~

Thank God bad crap doesnt last forever this month or the last few months I have been stressed I have been good aboutr watching my weight weekly though. I seem to snack at night which needs to stop. so gave the kids my special k baked snacks and sugar free chocolate and gonna stick to my yogart at night or protien... I have lost 138 pounds so far dont need to abck track..