I found out yesterday that my husband was laid off. I'm a stay at home mom so it hit us extremely hard. All the bills are due at once of course and we have no resources now so I freaked out BAD. I am an emotional eater and I have had a hard time controlling myself but with some patience and perseverance I have been able to talk myself out of a few binges, until...2am
Now I am normally not a day time eater and always want to eat at night but I have been able to stop that by having 3 meals a day and two snacks.
I do not know what came over me lastnight but I ate leftovers at 2am (spaghetti and Italian turkey sausage) and some sugar free pudding. At 2am! I paid for it BAD. I could not sleep, I was so nauseous, all I wanted to do was get sick and get it over with hoping it would make me feel better. Well, when I finally got some sleep and woke up I didn't eat cause I wasn't hungry. Then my husband talked to me about bills, money, etc. and proceeded to eat Chinese then I had 2 slices of pizza for dinner and 2 chocolate chip cookies. NOTHING healthy or good for me and I feel like s%$* right now physically. Of course it's weighing heavily on my mind too.
I told myself that just because I had a set back and a bad day does not mean I give up and give in to bad habits because that's what has given me these physical and health problems. It's just been hard and I have been ignoring myself.
Any words of wisdom would be fabulous right now. I sure can use it.
my husband was hurt at work, since he has been on comp our credit went to the toilet. daughter doesnt have insurance. we live check to check. but it is okay.
it is normal to feel the way you do. and there is always going to be a reason for us to eat emotionally. maybe if you had some "safe" go to grab and eat foods....keep something on hand, sorta like break in case of emergency lol
i always have yogurt, grapes and pickles around, fiber one bars, and vitatops are always within arms reach. i also keep lean frozen comfort foods like smart ones mac and cheese, and lean cuisine lasagna on hand. might not be the best food choices but they are certainly better than the alternative, in an emotional eating situation. and they are lightening fast to heat up
I was also a big emotional eater. Then this last time i began to diet, something clicked...I realized that there are so many things in this life that are beyond my control... but that what I eat is something I can control. The funny thing is that this is the first time that I have actually taken time to do something for myself! I also found a free web site that allows you to record exactly what you eat and it tracks all the nutrition info about what your eating- putting you in control. This "sense" of control has begun to spill over into other areas where I found it difficult to stay in calm... so it has been a win-win situation. maybe thinking about it this way can help you too! Hang in there... things will get better.
Uggg... we have been very close to being there several times over the past 2 years. I am thankful every. single. day. that hubby is still working even if he is only making half of what he used to make. We have had to make MAJOR changes, since my big truck is the only thing the whole family fits in and it's a gas hog, the kids and I now only get to leave the house once every week, sometimes it's only every other week (we live in the country). Then that is only to the store for groceries. We have had to stop letting the kids have a toy each payday (granted they were limited to a $1 thing but 4 kids that is over $100 a year since hubby is paid every other week). We no longer get magazines or unneeded extras. But we are making it. It's a new way of life, and I think it builds character in a family. We have gotten more creative with family entertainment, and their education as well since we homeschool.
I know it seems very dark and scarey, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if we can't see it now.
Today is a new day, get a grip on your food because that is something you can handle right now.
If what's going on in the world today isn't already hard enough on families, it really sucks that it can also effect people's desires to get healthy. = ( Hope things get better.
I am so, so sorry to hear of your husband's jo ending. We went through this 2 years ago. It is very stressful. It feels like everything is out of control. But, remember that food may be the only thing you can control right now. Maybe you can look at that unplanned food as heading towards a red light. Would you go through a red light - just becaause you felt llike it. Of course not - you would stop. You can say to yourself 'red light - no choice - stop'.
Once the shock has worn off - DH will start looking for another job. I hope he gets one quickly.
My DH was laid off on Sept 8th, 5 days after I had my youngest baby. I understand the stress!
Keep your head up, try to keep a positive attitude. I'm amazed how much our DHs feed off our attitudes, good or bad. Things will be ok. Even if the very worst happens and you lose your house or cars or whatever, you still have your family... everything that's truly important isn't stuff. You know?
You ladies are amazing! Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. It helps more than you know.
DH has been looking for work already. He applied at a Temp Service for truck drivers and they want him to go take the drug screen. I asked him if they had work available and he said yes. So once they get the results back, hopefully he might be able to go to work. I sure hope so!
It's good to say that I am back on track today and I joined Spark People to track my intake. I am so HORRIBLY BAD at tracking. But I am going to give it a go and hopefully it will stick.
What an awesome hubby you have! The fact that he is already out there trying to get something is wonderful!! It's great when you have one that devoted to providing for his family.
And great job getting right back on that horse girl, you can do this!!!
You've just begun your journey and through life changes with your food intake...the world continues to evolve around us. There will forever be obstacles that will cause you emotional 'turmoil' in some forms or in anothers. The best thing to do is exaclty what you are doing now. First step to change is to recognize that you are doing (or did it). Identify emotional triggers that cause you to want to eat is part of the game. So you will have to then create a plan to change this bad 'behavior!' You have taught yourself all along how to control your emotions with your food. Sometimes when we feel like crap, we eat like crap and then feel like crap again. Feeling like 'life is crap' and 'who cares' or 'well I'm right back where I started and least I felt good while doing it' Food is an addiction. Just like an alocholic or a drug addict, you will have to learn your personal triggers.
So you see yourself spiraling and in a terrible predicament (which I"m sorry to hear, unfortantely with the economy you have to find some comfort in numbers) So now you will create a plan for you finances and you will create a plan for you well being-
1) what can I do to manage my stress:
2) What activity can I do to get out any extra energy/frustrations:
3) when I want eat, what can I do instead of heading to the pantry:
Believe me, replacing bad behaviors takes a little bit of practice, but so long as you trying it will work for you. Example Yesterday, I came home from the gym and a grocery shopping trip, had to feed my twins and my 2 year old daughter was incredibly whiney/crying in the store and at lunch and I was much too stressed to even think about eating. Instead instinctively I knew I wanted a nice hot quiet shower in stead. Instead of settling into my food like I would have before- and likely over -ate because of it, I opted for a relaxing shower. Associating my eating with the life need to 'have to' instead of 'want to' is a big difference.
Good LUck and hope that hubby can get unemployment or something to get you all through!
Findingfawn: Yes, I have an amazing hubby. He is all about making sure me and the boys have everything we need. I am one lucky lady to have met him.
twinmomma: Thank you for the words, they help a lot especially from someone who knows where I'm coming from. I love the shower idea. I had one lastnight after the boys were in bed and I just stood there and tried to clear my mind and almost meditate. It only lasted a few minutes cause my mind wondered but I so enjoyed it!! I need to quit being so hard on myself and have to realize exactly what you said. There will always be obstacles, I just need a new way of handling them.
Horrible Middle Night/Day
I could not sleep, I was so nauseous, all I wanted to do was get sick and get it over with hoping it would make me feel better. Well, when I finally got some sleep and woke up I didn't eat cause I wasn't hungry. Then my husband talked to me about bills, money, etc. and proceeded to eat Chinese then I had 2 slices of pizza for dinner and 2 chocolate chip cookies. NOTHING healthy or good for me and I feel like s%$* right now physically. Of course it's weighing heavily on my mind too.
don't give up. this is a temporary setback. 
