So in order to really let you understand I have to air some of my dirty laundry. My 17 yr old daughter is a train wreck. She has been running away since she was 13. She has been home about two months in the last year. So today she had court for a minor in possession of alcohol charge. SHE DIDN"T SHOW UP. So I had to stand in court alone. I have never even had a traffic ticket. She now has a warrant.

So I leave the court house and go to the grocery store. I wander about and buy a lot of good stuff but then not so good stuff. So I came home and ate an entire little container of fried chicken gizzards. Now I feel doubly worse.

When I went to the store I was trying to buy stuff for this yummy salad I make. Which I managed but I bought cheese and the chicken gizzards and a few other not so good things.

I am rarely an emotional eater and when I am I hate it. I am just scared that i am going to get in a funk and lose my focus. I feel like I was just really getting focused agaain.

AAARRRRHHHHHGGGGG!!!!

Your daughter and your situation sounds tough... I can't even imagine...

Re: the food. What you've eaten already, you've eaten. No changing that. But throw away -- yes, I said it, throw away -- anything that you bought that you shouldn't have. Yes, it's a waste of money, but it also allows you to exert some control again. Then, go out and take a walk, regroup, and just do it. You wrote that you aren't normally an emotional eater, which is great. Do not let this derail you!!

I am so sorry you are having such a traumatic day - but food will not make it better and eating offplan will only make you feel worse.

That being said - chicken gizzards? I don't want to make light of what's going in your life but that is one of the funniest "offplan treat" foods I can imagine! I would have headed for the Haagen Daaz!

*hug*

Take care of yourself, that includes putting healthy foods into your body. With a teenager like that you need all the strenght and health you can manage. I agree with everyone else, consider it a lapse of judgement and throw out any bad stuff left.

Gosh, what a rough situation.

But eating won't make it better, and you know that, which is why you're not happy that you did it. So I agree with the others - throw away the unhealthy stuff, get right back on plan, and move on.

I am so sorry about your daughter. All I can say is it will get better, and as hard as it is, don't ever enable her! I went through something similar with my little brother. Hardest years of my life. We basically had to turn our backs on him to have him hit rock bottom and get better. He's great now.

Hon, forgive yourself. You had a stressful, crap day and fell into an old habit that sort of worked whenever you had stressful, crap days. Learn from this. Recognize the habit and understand that it is self-destructive in the long run. And try to think of other stress management techniques, like going for a walk, hitting a punching bag in the basement, going for a drive, reading a book, or SOMETHING to do instead of eating. Write them down from 1 to 5, and POST the list in your bedroom or on your fridge door. Then just try, JUST TRY one on your list when you get stressed again. And if you don't quite make it, forgive yourself and try again the next time.

Its gonna be OK, and in the grand scheme of things, it's awesome that you recognize the pattern cause NOW you can address it.



Kira

You guys are great. Thanks so much.

ditto on throw the rest away. I am sorry you are dealing with such a rough situation. I am an emotional eater and my favorite quote is

"the only problem food can solve is hunger".

Oh, and on recognizing the problem and nipping it NOW!
Eating will not change her behavior. Eating will not solve any problem you are facing.

As others have said - ditch the off-plan foods, surround yourself with HEALTHY alternatives, and make a list of non-food stress relievers that work for you. Take some time to pamper yourself and indulge a bit in things that will help you quell those emotions.

You CAN get through this!