I was doing great on my vacation plan. This isn't even about food. It's about the real reason I've always yo-yo dieted and in the past years dragged around the extra twenty plus pounds. People that stress me out.
It's the in-law visit.
It really is high stress.
But, why do I allow food to be the un-solution to my stressing?
(Yes, they really are that hard. If I told you you'd be shocked, and I did tell them how I felt once years ago. It was like talking to a rock).

But....I had high hopes I would rise above the food. And grow up and learn a different way to cope with emotionally charged situations. I know all the "tricks" but guess I have not found the thing that works. Maybe it's really just allowing it to be hard for awhile, allowing it to be uncomfortable for a time.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Hmmm much like you i struggle with this..i was bad at expressing my emotions and i was horrible for eating how i felt...Recently ive been expressing myself on here on the forum through writing lots when i feel that instant emotion come up that makes me want to eat and eat and eat..like right now..right now..this evening i happen to be mad..and instead of eating..im on here typing..and typing and typing and eventually im going to get exhausted and im going to end up winding down to the point of going to sleeep..try it..it works!

Port, very happy for you that you have found a way of expressing yourself on here rather than eating. You will feel much better after writing down how you feel than eating. You can put a big smile on your face and pat yourself on the back and said I DID IT!!...I HAVE THE CONTROL that I NEED!!!

Not sure if this will help you or not but I take 6 mg of Melatonin at bed time and that seems to keep my stress under control for the most part. It is all natural and has actualy helped with the weight loss. Also if you can try to get some "me" time at least every other day. I keep a thoughts and feelings journal and it helps me keep in check. I do this in the morning for 5 or 10 minutes and then at night. It might help pin point any trigger things and help you think of other ways of dealing with them so when they come up you already have a plan of attack. I totaly understand how the emotional eating can put you in a very uncomfortable place.

Boy I feel for you! I am thankful to have wonderful in-laws who live fairly close so they don't have to stay with us. House guests are stressful even when they're nice.

I've been dealing with stress by going for a brisk walk by myself or with the dog. Or popping a xanax if it's bad. I used to drink wine and boy to I miss it! The exercise really does calm me down though.

I am finding myself confronting some real, raw emotion on this plan. On other plans, you can kind of justify the extra helpings of food or the slips, but not on this plan -- food is just fuel to keep you going. So, you're just left with your feelings. Gah!

My in-laws are coming next month and I can't stand them. We can swap horror stories one day -- mine are pretty unbelievable too!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I've been really surprised by how much else I'm dealing with on this diet, other than just what I can and can't eat.

And when things are especially bad, like last night, I just went to bed. I was asleep by 8 pm.

I know this probably wont help, but it does for me in that type of situation... I run away from the in-laws (literally!!!), I will find an event or something that needs to be done so I don't get stuck talking or visiting with them. I also take vitamin B and Omega 3-6-9, they both help with stress and my moods!!!

I never could understand the people who would say they loved to exercise in those situations and it would help. I am one of those people now! Even if you can get away for a walk I think it does a lot of good! I love having my music and being in my own little world running-never thought I would say that! Its nice to get a little stress free alone time if you can!

How's it going with the in-laws? Any chance they are gone yet?

I have 2 mother in laws. Enough said. I also have horses. And flower beds that need tending. Find something to get you out of the house, away from them for just a few minutes. Outside is also away from food. I don't deal with stress by eating. I'm the opposite. When I get stressed, I don't want to eat. However, I can rub the face of a horse and talk to one of them for a few minutes and my stress levels plummet. Find YOUR version of my horse.