I have been away on vacation with the kiddos for a few days, and I ate badly (although not as badly as I have in the past) and gained 3 pounds. When I got home I started right back in on the healthy eating and the exercise. But I had a real turning point the other day.

I got a couple of really stressful phone calls:
1. DH is coming home for two weeks (stressful because it was unexpected and he brings a lot of junk food in and is generally not supportive)
2. my mammogram last week came back with "areas of concern" and they want to do some zooming in and taking more pictures of those spots and possibly a biopsy
3. my pap also came back bad, with moderate dysplasia (pre-cancerous cells) and I have to go in for a culposcopy and biopsies and some kind of treatment to stop the growth. But they can't get me in for at least 3 weeks.

All this combined really threw me badly. I am beyond stressed out. But the turning point was that I did not turn to food for comfort. In the past when I was THIS stressed out I totally zoned out and shoved food in my mouth until I was numb. You know the "stuffing the emotions" thing... Anyway, I didn't do it. Instead, I went and rode my exercise bike. I zoned out on the bike instead. And I really WANT to ride it. It's stress relieving for me. Isn't that something? I have always hated exercise. So that is my silver lining to my dark clouds. It's a pretty huge deal to me that I didn't binge.

Anyway I did blog about this stuff but I wanted to share it here as well because everyone is so supportive, and I think it is important for you to know that your mind really CAN change and you CAN overcome a severe binge eating disorder. It takes a lot of work but it is so worth it. If you even knew the amounts of food I have inhaled in the past due to stress it would blow your mind.

I'm sorry to hear you're under so much stress right now. It can be very overwhelming. I think you are doing amazingly well! Good job not turning to food. It's so tempting.

I have had to go back for lots of extra mammograms and have had three biopsies as well. All turned out to be okay and I hope it will for you as well.

Take care Lyn and stay strong!

So sorry all this hit at once. It sounds like you found something else to use as stress relief. Isn't exercise a great way to do it. Hang in there and remember to take it one day at a time (one meal at a time if necessary)

THAT is AWSOME!!!! CONGRATS on not turning to food from all the stress!!!! You should be very proud of yourself!!!!

WAY TO GO GIRL!!!

As a fellow emotional eater, I understand the compulsion to eat as a stress reliever. Congratulations on finding such a healthy alternative!

I'll be praying for you. You sure a getting hit with a lot of things all at once.

I'm sorry that everything seems to be falling on you at one time.. I'm very proud of you for not eating your way through it!! Good job and stay strong!

Sorry to hear about all this bad stuff happening to you! Good job on not turning to food, when you know it isn't the answer.

Oh Lyn, I am so sorry you are going through all of this. That's a LOT of stress! I am praying that everything will turn out fine for you.

I'm so happy for you that you've discoverred that turning to food would only make matters worse - not better. How wonderful for you. You have much to be proud of.

You can now remember this and when the inevitable stress rolls around again, you can take confidence in the fact that you know there are other alternatives then food to help deal with the stress. It's great to know when things around you seem so out of control, that there is one aspect of your life (and an important one at that) that you can indeed control.

Sending good thoughts and wishes your way.

Lyn
I'm so sorry that all of this is happening right now! I'm right there with you...the never ending waiting for results is torture!

BUT I'm so incredibly proud of you for finding an alternative stress reliever! I've been thinking a lot lately that I should get on the treadmill and walk out all these awful feelings. Maybe if the focus is stress relief, and not "exercise" my brain will adapt to it better!

My prayers are with you for the best possible outcome
Linda

I am SO proud of you for not turning to food in these times of stress. I will be thinking of you!

I had a similar moment a while back and know exactly what you mean about "stuffing the emotions". I wanted to so bad. and then for some reason, I didn't. I ran out and hoped on the exercise bike, cranked the music and turned all the stress and anger into my workout. It was one of my best ever. ;-) Now I don't always make that step, but It is a celebration when we can.

way to go!

~betsy

So proud of you for getting on the bike instead of turning to food!!

I hope everything comes out benign - sending your way. And a

Sending happy thoughts!

Food never helps stress!

When it rains it surely pours, poor thing! How wonderful that you're able to turn to a healthy alternative to relieve stress. Very inspiring and proud of you!

Lyn you are in my prayers. I hope everything turns out alright. I'm also an emotional eater that has turned to walking for stress relief. If I feel emtional urges to eat I go outside and take a few steps and try to walk the feelings off. I'm so glad you are turning to your bike and not food because we all know that food will only make things worse.