The biggest problem with being an emotional eater is that I'm always feeling something. It doesn't matter what emotion it is, I want to feed it. Happy, sad, glad, mad, exhausted, confused, ecstatic, frustrated, disgusted, frightened, depressed, overwhelmed, hopeful, bored, anxious - it doesn't matter, food is what I've always turned to. I'm either trying to stuff the bad feelings back down or celebrate the good ones with good food. One of the biggest triggers of emotional eating for me is stress and I am feeling very STRESSED right now.
As you know, I was laid off in November 2009 and was blessed to have the opportunity to get my life back, focus on my health and happiness and remember what it's like to be happy. I am so thankful to have had the time to get my shit together, lose over 90 pounds and make some big changes in my life but now the bubble has burst and I have to get back to the real world. My unemployment benefits ran out and unless I hit the lottery in the next week I will be going back to the daily grind very soon.
I just got a decent job offer and I know I should be happy about it but instead of celebrating my good fortune of being able to get a job in this crappy economy I want to cry (and eat). I'm so afraid of falling back into the bad habits that made me miserable and obese. The office is too far away from the gym where I take my kickboxing classes so I won't be able to go anymore and that makes me sad. I love those classes. I know there are other gyms and I'll be able to find something in the area but it won't be the same.
I'm such a creature of habit and I don't handle changes very well. I'm so scared of losing myself again, letting stress take over and not having the time or the energy to do the things that make me happy and healthy.
I know many people have much bigger problems and are able to juggle and prioritize all the things they need to do to stay healthy, I just hope I can be one of them in time.
Do you have any tricks or tips on how to make time to workout? I know, just do it, right?
Wish me luck.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
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One of the more successful ways to ensure you have time to work out each day is to do it first thing in the morning. . . . even if that means getting up very early to do it. You always have time for the first thing you do each day, and if you schedule your exercise at a time when the only other thing you'd be doing is sleeping, you can never say you're "too busy" to work out.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound oversimple to say "just do it," but I do think that is sometimes what it boils down to. We all make time for the things that are most important to us, whatever those may be.
I went back to work a month ago after 7 years of staying home. I am having a really hard time getting back in the workout habit. :(
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'm going to email you - so head's up ;)
ReplyDeleteSecond, you need to correct something about your thinking. No matter how things were with your weight and your life, you NEVER lost yourself. Whether you were fat or thin, happy or unhappy, in kickboxing class or not, the one thing YOU DID HAVE was yourself.
I have lots of tips, the first of which is to get up earlier than you need to and get it in first before anything else gets in the way.
My post this evening, I don't know that it applies to you, but it sounds like it might. We're not in such different places you and I. It's important to remember that you KNOW what to do. You're good at it. You have all the choices at your fingertips, and no one can take that away. YOU have the power, don't make the mistake in thinking it's gone into someone else's hands. I promise you, it hasn't.
I think you need to give yourself some credit for how you have changed over the past couple of years.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I would suggest would be to not worry about exercise the first week or two of your new work experience. Give yourself time to get into a schedule rhythm and the you will easily be able to see how to fit it in.
Hi MB! I had to change my gym schedule up too this year. It ended up being a very wonderful change (I wrote a post about that this week). But now I'm only going to the gym 4 days a week. That's what it has to be.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't my big stress revelation but: a stressful day at work is going to be stressful whether or not you eat a lot. I'm an attorney, so I know this to be a *fact.* Over-eating will not make deadlines or awful clients better--just frustrating in a different kind of way. Make good work/food habits from the very start on the first day of work and refuse to break them.
I'm an emotional eater too, so I feel lots of sympathy.
:-) Marion
I was nodding through this whole post. The emotional eating is a huge one for me. I can't believe I didn't read this post before I just wrote mine. I was just talking about "just do it". It will be tough and there's going to be a learning curve but I have faith that you can do it. I hate change too but really, we've always come out the other side. Now i just need to tell myself that too!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm such a creature of habit too and I don't handle change well either! You have to remember that you didn't just lose weight since you have been unemployed - you CHANGED mentally as well. You can't lose weight without a mental change. And since you did it so gradually, I think you are more apt to sty with those new habits you have developed over time. You are not the same woman you were in Nov 2009 - you have morphed into a new woman that has adopted a healthier way of life. There may be an adjustment period once you begin working again, but you WILL make the new lifestyle work because you now know what is most important - your health!!! I wish you luck as you transition to your new job. I know you can do this! You have already moved mountains! This is just one more step in the process.
ReplyDeleteMake an appointment with yourself for 30 minutes per day for exercise. Hopefully that will turn into an hour, since you will be enjoying it so much. First thing in the morning is best for me, because then it's done and I feel a sense of accomplishment for the rest of the day.
ReplyDeleteI am the emotional eater, too, no matter what the emotion. Except for death. When there is a death of someone close to me, the appetite goes out the window for a few days.
I agree with everybody who said you need to give yourself credit for how you've changed. And with Lori who said to see what your new schedule will be and then work with that. Good luck. I know you'll figure it out.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...not sure I can add anything that hasn't already been said, but I've been working out before work in the morning (treadmill in the garage) and I like how it makes me feel for the rest of the day. Or you could go right after work - take your stuff with you and don't go home until your workout is complete. You will figure it out - think of it as an experiment - you're good at challenges, so I'm confident you will find a way to make it work. Hang in there Turtle Girl!
ReplyDeleteah just wrote a comment and lost it :(
ReplyDeleteHere goes again!
Firstly, sorry for not being around sooner/more! Secondly, I know pretty much EXACTLY how you feel (as you know!) except I haven't lost any weight so be grateful for that much anyway (I know you are). I am such an emotional eater too and I'm still trying to figure that one out! It will be hard but you can do it. You didn't lose 90lbs without lots of hard work and dedication so I believe in you and you gotta believe in you too. I'm starting to realise more and more that support is the key so I am here for you!! Email me whenever!