3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community - Binge-Free Challenge

Life has really been getting the best of me lately. Had a slight setback w/ my dog Zena, who I adopted 2 months ago as her previous owner let a mammary tumor grow all summer and into early October w/o doing anything to help her. I heard from somebody that he also left her out in his backyard all summer in 115 degree heat (along w/ 3 other dogs, 1 of which we have also adopted) while he was at work. We found out about her situation on Oct 5 and we adopted her a week later. We took her in to a holistic vet when we adopted her but her tumor has continued to grow (it was quite large when we adopted her). She' s on chinese herbs as well as other supplements and vitamins. Anyway, it broke open a little bit Wed night and we have been keeping it clean and bandaged. We put her back on antibiotics today as well. Other than this issue, she has a real passion for life--eating and drinking normally and going on walks every day w/ her 19 month old puppy, Zach. We're not giving up anytime soon, though. Zena is one of the toughest dogs I have ever known in my entire life.

On the positive side, I have not used stress as an excuse to binge eat. When stressed, my first instinct is to bury my emotions in food. That has been my coping skill since I was 8 years old. Yesterday I wanted to eat every bad food in sight when I was feeling overwhelmed by my situation w/ Zena. I didn't, though, and I felt much more in control and able to tackle the problem today. It took me until I was 27 to realize that bingeing is not a coping skill at all. It's a way to avoid life, which includes sadness and happiness and disappointment and exhilaration. I can't avoid certain emotions anymore. I have to learn how to embrace them all. It's the only way for me to grow and move forward in my life.

I loved reading how well everyone is doing. Skyra, 12 days is so awesome and now you have a new personal record to beat! Wardhog, it's good to hear from you. Hope to see you back on here soon. Paris, it's great to hear that you're still binge-free. We can both make it to Christmas. :)

As for me, I am on Day 43 today. Today was kind of a weird eating day as I had 1 fried egg; 7 organic low sugar whole grain cookies w/ walnuts, dates, cranberries, oatmeal and dark chocolate chips; and 1 bowl of homemade fish chowder w/ organic white fish, veggies, potatoes and milk/cream. Yeah, I know, weird. I have been really good lately about limiting my sugar and today I eat cookies. It wasn't a binge--I just ate a couple here and there throughout the day instead of a full breakfast, lunch and dinner. They actually are semi-healthy but still had a little bit of sugar. All I can think of is TOM is coming tonight or tomorrow. On the plus side, I was really active today--running errands, walking/taking care of the dogs, and cleaning. I'm abstaining from sugar for the next 3 or 4 days, though, because I feel weird if I eat too much. I can't say I won't eat another cookie before Christmas, but I'll try to limit it to just 1 if it's really worth the calories and sugar. However, after Christmas there is no reason for me to eat cookies or desserts except on rare occassions.

Still have a little bit of Christmas shopping to do tomorrow, and I have yet to wrap anything. I must get to bed now, though, as it is late and I have to get up at 7 w/ my dogs for a 3 mile walk/jog.

Hope everybody has a binge-free weekend!