And I just BARELY managed to bring in the reins.

I am a member of a clubhouse that is helping me form job skills and good work habits. Yesterday I overslept and didn't have time for breakfast, making me vulnerable. I got there, and some grocery store had donated their one-day-expired sweet stuff, two big crates full. Packages were free to take home. I tried eating an orange, but then I was still hungry, claimed a package of cinnamon rolls, and had one. And then another. And a third....

I then asked people to PLEASE take the remaining ones off my hands. Thank God someone did. I openly admitted I have binge eating disorder and couldn't stop myself.

I have neither gained nor lost weight this week, and surprisingly, my blood sugar was decent after the cinnamon roll binge. But I definitely felt that sense of being out of control, and it did scare the daylights out of me.

Gotta hop off the computer now and have breakfast, so I can minimize this happening again.

I then asked people to PLEASE take the remaining ones off my hands. Thank God someone did. I openly admitted I have binge eating disorder and couldn't stop myself.

Hi, I am also in the Pacific NW.

Hey, did you notice that you DID ask for help and STOPPED eating?
Kudos to you for doing that.
Don't beat yourself up too badly. At least you realized what you were doing and STOPPED.
Ya, ya, so you ate a few too many, but YOU STOPPED when you realized what was happening.

Way to go.

KELLI

Thanks neighbor. Today went much better. I made sure to have breakfast before I went in.

Oh my gosh, that is too funny. Not the fact that you faced such a difficult time, but that a Grocery store donates day old junk food to your organization. Since it's a job training class...the store must want to get you prepared for what happens in an office setting! Day old donuts and left over holiday goodies are a staple in most office break rooms! Just think of it as they are training you to walk away from the junk-food.

I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right.

It isn't *just* a job training class. This is a program for people like me, with a mental health diagnosis. Mine is depression and PTSD. There are also people with schizophrenia and other illnesses. I have the job skills, but in order to return to the workforce and be successful, I need:

* the emotional stamina to get up and go someplace every day
* the assertiveness to deal with all kinds of people
* the self-confidence not to crumble under criticism or when I make a mistake
* the supported job search they offer, where employers already know I have a disability
* the experience and references to put on a resume

And I'm getting all of that.

Apparently I also need to learn not to "see" the junk food.

My suggestion is to keep "portables" always on hand for those days when life gets in the way. What I do is always have a few boiled eggs on hand, cups of yogurt, apples and part skim moz cheese sticks. Instant breakfast that you can eat in the car

Liking that idea.