Hello everyone. My weight loss routine was moving along swimmingly and I was down 35lbs. My husband then got laid off at work. He was with the company for nine years and having been laid off before I know the depression it causes. You keep wondering "why me." In his case I know it is because they made the cuts based not on seniority, but on pay rate. Since he had so much seniority he was one of the highest paid employees.
He is now depressed and looking everywhere for work. He is worried that his age is working against him. He is 42, so he is comfort eating. I work from home and make enough to pay about 2/3 of our monthly bills, but we do need him to find something fast. He has applied in other states even within his field as well as at local stores and restaurants. Any job, he does not care and no one has called back for an interview. He fills out about 20 to 30 applications a week and gets a thank you we will put your app on file.
The situation has us both reaching for our comfort foods. Mine big time is pizza and a good old fashioned burger. His is anything sweet. I have gained back ten lbs that I lost before Christmas and am disgusted with myself.
I want to be a supportive wife and I am, but I can't keep up this emotional eating or all my hard work will be gone.
I am using exercise for some stress relief and picked up extra work at my place of employment, but seeing me hard at work in the home office depresses him even though he knows I have to work.
He is doing my 30 Day Shred with me and taking walks with me that are anywhere from 3-5 miles, but does anyone else have any other idea of something that they do when stressed to get their minds occupied on something else and away from their problems. I need an alternative to grabbing food that is bad for me.
We do not have any extra cash right now at all. I have enough saved for May's bills, but after that I don't know what we will do if he is still unemployed.
His main guilt is May 10th is my 40th birthday and our 20th wedding anniversary and he cannot afford a gift. Money was tight at Christmas and he was only able to get me two small gifts, which I love! A fairy coffee mug and some perfume. I told him I did not care about a present I just want to spend a nice day with him and the girls, but he is really feeling guilty right now.
He has done nothing wrong except working in the banking industry and I hate to see him ruin his health over this. I would greatly appreciate any free or inexpensive activities that will help both of us not reach for food.
Sorry if this post is rambling, but I want to help him feel better so badly and nothing I do helps. He is the kind of man who puts family first and this is hitting him hard because the girls are only 2 and 4 and he wants to make sure they are safe, warm and fed. They just think it is great that daddy is home and can play with them more and he is spending time making robots, flying kites and even having tea parties with the girls, but that just allows him to add cookies and donuts to his diet.
Thank you for listening.
Diana