[daisy180]

I am almost 55 and gained 50 lbs trying to stop smoking. I'm working at a blue collar job till 2am at night. When i get home i get bored and stressed and have trouble sleeping so I binge on food and then go to sleep about 2 hrs later. I have a pretty unstressful job but i still feel stressed when i get home at night.

Can anyone give me advice as to what they do when temptation comes calling at 2:30 am? Thanks for any feedback.

I did stop smoking except for occasional relapses but now feel unhealthy because of this extra weight.

[marbleflys]

Hi Daisy:

you've identified the problems....boredom and stress (along with a different schedule from most)....you might find something enjoyable and relaxing to help you unwind before sleeptime? I won't say to do anything really physical, because then you WONT sleep...but maybe something else for yourself?

[Leenie]

My DH quit smoking after 30 years.... he only gained 5 lbs but thats b/c he kept gum with him all the time and those little dum dum lolly pops... kept his hands busy.

[marbleflys]

Gasp! (sorry, I'm having trouble keeping a straight face here)

[OhMomx6]

Originally Posted by daisy180

I am almost 55 and gained 50 lbs trying to stop smoking. I'm working at a blue collar job till 2am at night. When i get home i get bored and stressed and have trouble sleeping so I binge on food and then go to sleep about 2 hrs later. I have a pretty unstressful job but i still feel stressed when i get home at night.

Can anyone give me advice as to what they do when temptation comes calling at 2:30 am? Thanks for any feedback.

I did stop smoking except for occasional relapses but now feel unhealthy because of this extra weight.

First CONGRATS TO QUITING SMOKING!!! What an accomplishment. That is fantastic.

Second, Thanks for your dedication as a nurse. The world needs more nurses. It truly is a stressful job on so many levels. From the emotional ties to the patients, to the buracuracy of the hospital, to the sometimes bitter cold people that one must work with, not to mention the job itself, nursing. It is an honor to know you. A good nurse is hard to come by.


Lastly, regarding the night time eating. I have always said, (to myself) I must know myself to make changes. In other words, I am not a morning person, so if I were going to make a goal to do my exercise at 5:30am then chances are I would probably fail. I may do it a couple of times but I KNOW that I am not a morning person. So I do my exercise more like 8am, and that is much much easier. Maybe you need to accept that you are going to graze at night and you can do 2 things, save some calories for evening, and PLAN the gazing. Just fix up some things a head of time. I have a stash in my bedroom (so none of the 6 kids will devour my stash) ... I have sf/ff jello, sf pudding, 100 calorie pre-made snacks I make up in baggies. Nothing I have is so tempting that I would eat it all at once, but it helps me in a pinch. And you know sometimes I do things for myself late at night when the kids are sleeping that I dont' normally have time for. I paint my toe nails, do my eyebrows (fun fun), just a little extra pampering. Also, I read, and that helps me unwind. I will say that I have found doing email, game playing seems to wake me up and then I end up with a bowl of cereal to help me sleep ... then the snack attack seems to come on. This is a habit I'm trying to break too. (May take some of my own suggestions).
I hope this helps.


OK FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS I MAY BE A LITTLE LOOPY, I THOUGHT THAT DAISY WAS A NURSE! I HAVE NO CLUE WHERE I GOT THAT... SHEESH (EDIT)