Corinnefe Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Day 25 here. I am a minister in a community that has been very wounded by this election season, and by the results. I'm processing my own grief around it too. Tuesday night we held a prayerful watch party, and last night we had a prayer vigil that was open to the community. We've also had several funerals of beloved members this month, as well as an All Saints remembrance, so grief is in the air. It's been beautiful to come together, but it's been hard. I have stayed compliant through these long days and nights and have been diligent about pre-making meals and ensuring I always have healthy "emergency food" (usually raw veggies and homemade baba ghanoush/guacamole plus some nuts or jerkey) just in case. I am feeling pretty awesome about staying compliant through a stressful time. I know my body and mind are healthier and more able to care for others thanks to the good food choices I'm making. I just need a little push to resist the temptation to stress-eat. I am exhausted. My reserves are spent. I'm trying to fill my serotonin tank with breaks to walk in the sunshine, five minutes on my yoga mat, texts to good friends and family, great books. But things are busy, and I don't have as much time for all of these things right now, especially when much of my at-home time goes to food prep. A little part of my brain says, "Ice cream would give you a quick hit of good feelings." I know that I am an adult who makes my own choices. I am choosing not to have the ice cream. But it is a little disappointing that after 25 days, I haven't kicked that craving. Less troubleshooting, more a desperate plea for some encouragement. Only five days to go after today, it would be a shame to fall off the wagon right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators ladyshanny Posted November 10, 2016 Administrators Share Posted November 10, 2016 Nope. Nope-nope-nopity-nope, ice cream wouldn't do you a bit of good right now! You can get through this, food used in that way solves nothing. Stress and lack of sleep contribute to sugar cravings. If you cannot reduce the stress somehow, your best bet is to get as good a quality sleep as you can. You could also make sure that you are eating enough at meal times and bump up your fat a bit. The fat will keep you satisfied so that you aren't also dealing with any symptoms of undereating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corinnefe Posted November 10, 2016 Author Share Posted November 10, 2016 Thank you! Yes, I think undereating is part of it. I lose my appetite under stress. So I've been trying to fill in the gaps with an afternoon snack of those "emergency foods" if I find myself craving. Usually that means I'm actually hungry for some real food. Thank you for the encouragement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen_Suep Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Find other outlets for stress too. I've found journaling Particularly helpful. I also enjoy coloring too. Anything to get my mind off food helps. Yoga is good for distressing too. Basically find non food ways to deal with stress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie23 Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Write yourself a list of all the reasons you want to do this. When you're tempted, remind yourself of all those reasons. I, too, am having a very stressful time right now. Among other things, my husband has been away fighting wildfires since 10/28. He was supposed to come home 11/21, which is still a long time to be away, but I just found out that was an "at least" date, and that he won't be home until later, and is going to miss Thanksgiving... I pretty much want to eat all the things right now. I'm looking over my list of positive outcomes that I expect and/or hope to see from this, along with general reasons that I need to break free from the hold that food has on me in general. And, reminding myself that even though it sounds nice, and it feels good for those few moments of indulgence, like any other addiction, this one is deadly poison. All that binging on sugar leaves me and my body actually LESS able to deal with stress. And, I'm only on Day 7, so I have a long way to go. Seriously, you've made it this far, you cannot give up now! Just think how amazing the victory will feel when you complete these last few days and say I DID IT!!! You are stronger than these cravings. You are stronger than the pull of ice cream. I also have a list of craving-busters (basically as someone above said--non-food ways to deal with stress and decompress), but it sounds like you have a few of those as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corinnefe Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Writing a list is such a good idea, thank you. I've had complete sobbing meltdowns the last two nights, and in the middle of each one, I get upset because food is causing me stress on top of stress right now. But I know the pros outweigh the cons. Four more days. I finish on Tuesday. And after Tuesday, I don't want my cravings to own me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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