Coping with stress (Looooong)

 So after my good morning my day went from bad to worse yesterday.  My husband was in the ER from 10am until 3:30pm when he was taken by Ambulance to Bethesda (that's where the largest military hospital is).  They don't know what's wrong but there is something going on with his heart and his lungs. . . It was really an episode of House as there is nothing conclusive wrong but he's getting wacky readings, is in pain and his blood enzymes are all jacked up.  To say there was a lot of stress would be an understatement.  It's one that's continuing today and who knows how long.

So where does that leave me without food to cope?  I did pretty well though not perfect.  I went and ordered a ice coffee from Dunkin' on my way to Bethesda and pre-surgery that order would have come with 2-3 donuts so just ordering the coffee was a win.  At the hospital I hadn't eaten and was forced to eat this horrid turkey burger patty it was that, spaghetti or a 1,000 calorie hotdog so I made the best choice there.  But then I got home at 10pm exhausted only having eaten about 400 calories for the day and that's after running the race that morning.  I was so hungry but so tired.  I didn't make an egg, I didn't break out the fage 0% I went to the pantry and grabbed a fiber 1 bar!  It was about 140 calories with 29g of carbs!  I knew it was a bad choice but at that point I didn't give a **** I was hungry wanted something quick and I ate it.

So I'm looking back on it today.  My earlier choices were pretty good, so what fell apart when I got home that night?  I know my body was wanting the carbs to give me a "lift", and I think I'd said no so many times that day I just didn't have another no in me.  So how do I get to where I have another no in me?  I have another day today at the hospital.  They won't release him until they figure out what's going on so this could be a many day ordeal.  I will bring some jerkey with me, but what do I do tonight when I"m exhausted, my daughter will probably have multiple melt downs today (she's autistic) because hospitals are noisy and this is well out of our normal routine.  What I really want to do is hunker down in bed and not leave but obviously that isn't going to happen.  

What do you do when life has thrown you a curve ball?  How do you stay on track?  Any tricks or just white knuckle it?

 I vote to give yourself a complete pass for this while you were in crisis in a completely unplannable, unplanned moment. And in my opinion, you did applaudingly well!  And additionally, you are back to planning now so you feel back in control during this most stressful time. I hope hope your husband fully  recovers and they figure out what happened.  I am sorry you had such a difficult day.

I am so sorry to hear about your husband.  Medical emergencies are the worst! 

Honestly, this is the time I need to focus the most on clean eating - I don't have the energy to give to the monkey, I have to have that peace of mind.  I also can't have the distraction or stress of hunger.  Put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others.

Ask for help.  Maybe a friend can have a dinner pulled together for your daughter so you can pull something for yourself.  Ask for help - these are the times we need it.

What about a half-size grilled chicken Cesar salad from Wendy's?  That is a good go-to fast food for me.  For the hospital, bring jerky, bring lo-fat string cheese, hard boil an egg or two for later.  Do you have a microwave egg poacher?  They're a life-saver for me.  One minute to a poached egg, minimum muss or fuss.  Packaged Starkist lo-fat tuna salad (100 cal/pack).   

I do not always stay on track during times like these, but they are always easier and more manageable if I do. 

Hugs!

First of all you did not blow anything after the day you had! Today try to boil some eggs to take with grab some string cheese and veggies. Next call a good friend to help with your daughter I'm sure you have done favors right? Hopefully today the hospital will have answers as to why your husband is feeling the way he does. Do the best you can today! Speedy recovery for your husband.

Please, please be kind to yourself.  All good ideas above, but you didn't throw anything out the window by eating the way you did!  And i know it's me and my unpopular ideas, but i think a combo of being careful (like jerky and hard boiled eggs (i think you can get them at 7-11) are good ideas.  being kind to yourself is even more important.

sending healing thoughts up the road to Bethesda from Arlington.  ((((((hugs)))))

Wow...sending hugs your way!!  Don't beat yourself up over having a Fiber One bar....but in order to keep you from piling on the stress by feeling guilty, ask for help and plan some snacks.  Yesterday couldn't be avoided, let it go.  You were hit with something unexpected and coped VERY WELL in my opinion. 

Breathe.  I hope all goes well and an explanation is found soon.

I am so sorry about the day you had yesterday & hope today goes better for you, also they find out what is going on with your husband. My thoughts & prayers are with you & your family.

It is never easy, but I agree with the above posts, ask for help. People want to help, they just don't know what to do.

Your eating yesterday was great considering all you went through, esp just having coffee instead of the donuts to go with it. As for today, you are on the right track, planning what to take with you & I liked Happy's suggestion, stop & get something on your way home so you don't have to deal with it when you get there.


Best Wishes & hugs,
Bobbie

So sorry that you are going through this.  I recently spent 10 days at someone's bedside in the hospital and we both know that is a challenge.  And can you believe how unhealthy the food is in a hospital cafeteria!  So to deal with this, as others have suggested, I packed a bag every morning with sleeve friendly stuff.  Protein bars, boiled eggs, jerky, cooked turkey bacon, string cheese, decaf coffee, sugar free creamer, powerade zero and crystal lite.  Those these is not remove all temptations, I sure did a great deal better with them near me than I would have done without them.  Hope everything turns out well for you and your husband.  Be nice to yourself.

I'm very sorry about your husband.  I'm sending good thoughts and prayers your way...

Now, quit beating yourself up about a fiber bar. At the end of the day, you had less than 600 calories and what, about 60 carbs?  After running a race? It's not even off-plan eating, really, and it will probably  do you some good in terms of muscle recovery. For the love of Pete you did not fall apart when you got home in terms of eating even if you _felt_ like you might be. That's the stress talking.  Take a few deep breaths. You did nothing wrong.

Having said that, I live in a pressure cooker, and I physically can't go more than 3 hours without eating without adverse effects.  Planning is what saves me.  I always have food close at hand.  Atkin's daybreak bars, Clif Mojo Bars, starkist tuna lunch kits, things like that, that are fast, non-perishable (although the atkins bars will get sticky if left in the car), and appropriate.  I will grab 2 Clif Mojo bars and pop them in my purse just to go to Home Depot because we might get delayed coming back. 

I have certain staples always on hand at home - we make a big pot of chili that lasts the better part of a week, I buy cold rotisserie chickens from the supermaket and make chicken salad that lasts 3-4 days.  When I spent 27 hours doing inventory on Friday and Saturday (375acre manufacturing facililty, 25 buildings, production runs 24/7. It's a huge undertaking, and I'm ultimately responsible), I had my cooler bag with both chili and chicken salad, plus bananas, plus protein balls, plus a block of Jarlsburg, plus vitamin water zero..   That way, when the 20 pizzas,10 dozen donuts, and cases of soda showed up at various points to feed my crew, I didn't give them a second thought. . By 8:00pm friday night, I was feeding the rest of our management team from my stash so they wouldn't crash. 

I also take the time and clear my head.  A 10 minute brisk walk can do a world of good in that regard. 

I don't have anything to add to the great advise already given, except to echo - don't beat yourself up! This situation is doing that already. You've got the food planing thing down, you just didn't have that option yesterday.

I do want to say that I'm praying for your husband, you and kids. Answers, healing, comfort and peace.

Hugs,
Janet