Had an off day today. Two of my writing assignments fell through, meaning a loss of several thousand dollars I was counting on. I started feeling very hungry and found it hard to tell whether it was stomach or mind hunger. I ended up eating about 500 calories' worth of cashew nuts on top of my usual maintenance calories. I also didn't exercise as planned. In the evening I had an urge to eat candy, so I went to Bulk Barn to find some. I was able to stop myself while wandering the aisles, and left without having purchased anything. So at least I didn't do as much damage as I might have.

Has anyone else had such an experience recently (reining yourself in after a lapse in control)?

F.

Congratulations on not buying candy ! That is a big step. I was in the grocery store at the checkout stand conveniently located right in front of the candy display.Out of the corner of my eye I caught "get one free" I am a sucker for that but when I looked closer I saw that it said "buy 3 get 3 free" . That would be SIX candy bars !!! Fortunately sanity prevailed and I didn't buy any....it was tempting, though.

I am having a horrible day of mind or body hunger, and I can't tell. I want a hot fudge sundae and some chicken wings so bad. Luckily I don't have access to those things. I think that was a really hard thing to do to walk away from the candy. I would have probably bought a pound of chocolate covered raisins or almonds and went to town on them. Good for you! And besides, the healthy fats in the nuts probably weren't as bad as the candy would have been.

I think you did great!
You had phenomenal will power to go into the candy store and not eat any.
All you had were some extra nuts? Sounds like a win in my books!

I've certainly had up and down days lately. I'm trying not to be too hard on myself for the most part-- you hopefully won't either.

I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. Hugs.

I had that day yesterday as well - I went into the store for vitamins, and was miserable when I went in, came out with vitamins, two bags of twizzlers, a box of lemonheads, a box of mini charleston chews, and two boxes of raisenets. I ended up eating the box of mini charletson chews - about 540 calories. I managed to pull it in and not eat the rest, and haven't any any of them today. I feel better today, emotionally and physically, and have had no desire to eat any of them today. I'm tempted to take them downstairs and give them to the boys who work in the restaurant. They are young, they can take it.

Congratulations on getting out of the store without candy. As overdoing it goes, cashews aren't so bad. And I'm sorry that your jobs fell through.

It's been about a 60/40 split for me---unfortunately with 60% being the percentage of times I've given in. I weighed myself yesterday, though, and saw that I was just a hair from the top end of my "redline" weight, so I've managed to rein in my urges yesterday & today moreso than previously. I find that if I can resist the initial urge for even 15 minutes, I'm okay. Realizing that has helped me.

But I think you did awesome. I cannot keep nuts (especially cashews) in the house because I can't stop eating them and those calories add up. For you to eat just 500 calories worth would be a victory in my book. Also, the fact that you walked out of that candy store without buying anything is amazing.

Btw, sorry that your writing jobs fell through

Stopping yourself before the candy requires a lot of control. I'm sorry to hear about the stress of the writing jobs falling through - I think it's natural and normal to turn to comfort food when things like that happen.

Ouch. The only good thing about that is the time you would have spent working on them, you can now spend on relationship-building or canvassing for new clients and assignments.

Several of the best people in my department are former freelancers who wanted a more regular gig, sometimes for the healthcare benefits, sometimes because of a divorce that required them to go full-time, and sometimes just because they wanted to do more writing and less client-chasing. I love them because they're excellent project managers and they're really self-disciplined.

I'm proud of you for not buying candy, for turning around and walking out of that place. I have those squirming moments where I have to sit on my hands and sweat it out, like the sad little addict that I am.

I pace a lot & try desperately to come up with distractions like getting a manicure. I've learned that I can't be in a retail establishment or I displace eating with shopping.

Thanks for your supportive post, Saef. I don't count myself among those freelancers who want a more regular gig. I've been at this for 18 years and make a much higher income than I would as an employee. I also love the lifestyle and sometimes joke that the only thing that would get me back into an office is a gun pointed at my head. That said, I still get fretful and insecure when an assignment falls through. My kids roll their eyes at my catastrophizing.

F.

This is me, too. I can really spend some $$$ when I want to eat something & can't.

That must have been tough, but you made it.

I had something similar happen today. I had a job offer fall through and it was very much a school I wanted to teach at and felt I would be a perfect fit. Very technology-driven. I also hit it off with the principal very well and felt good about the interview.

Of course, as is the story in the education field right now, the budget was cut and there were less positions than previously thought.

I was devastated; I wanted to eat everything in sight. I couldn't bring myself to do it though; I couldn't see adding it to my calorie count. Instead I drank far too much Diet Coke. Not the best solution certainly, but I suppose it was better than eating too many calories. Tomorrow I will simply go back to my usual one can per day.

A walk helped clear my head too.

Retail therapy helps me at times. I find that the damage is not quite as horrible if I go to a dollar store for my "therapy." Otherwise I too will buy everything in sight...

Sorry to hear about the job falling through, Sontaikle. These things always feel terrible at the time, but I have no doubt you'll bounce back and move on to the next thing. I'm very impressed that you were able to keep your eating in check.

F.