Thanks for sharing your "confession", Steve. I hope you don't feel as though you have sinned. In my book, eating is not a sin. (I was raised Catholic so the word confession carries those kinds of connotations for me.) At any rate, I appreciate your openness about this because you have reminded me about myself. As I have said, I have been in relapse for many years, and have conveniently "forgotten" a lot of stuff I once knew. My immediate response to your comment was "Why would he eat something he doesn't want to eat?" And I was reminded of how I used to face this problem myself (and now can make the effort to resume what has worked for me.) So, thank you. So, what have I tried to do in this kind of situation? I ask myself, why did I eat something that will undermine my effort and desire to change. I know I have triggers- was I hungry, lonely, bored? Was I happy, celebrating, did I feel I deserved that food because I had walked more than 30 minutes? Was everyone else eating and I felt left out? Was I reluctant to admit that I am not eating that food because I want to lose weight, or I am abstaining from sugar, and then everyone would know the real me? And next time, they'll know I am indulging my addiction. I can't hide it anymore.(a big one for me) Did I do it to please every one who said go ahead , one won't hurt? Or did I eat because I felt pissed off that I can't eat like every one else? (That's a major one for me- resentment). Why did I do something I really didn't want to do? Once I figure that out, I try to come up with a response for the next time it happens. I try to be prepared. I write my responses down, so they will be in the back of my mind, and I can hopefully pull them out when I need them. This strategy has helped me a lot in the past. Not every time, but many, many times. I have had many good days, because of this strategy. I learn my triggers, and try to be prepared for them. Before I eat soemthing I know is not required, I give myself 5 minutes to try to identify my motivation. Then it is up to me to figure out the appropriate response and use it. Just five minutes. I can wait that long, and the food will still be there. I'm sorry if this has turned into a lecture. I appreciate your responding to me, and I hope I haven't taken advantage of you, but the truth is, you really do make me think about myself and I am unloading on you.I am saying things to you that I really need to hear myself. I hope there is something you can use.
I like to walk also. On the days I feel like it and weather and time permits I like to walk for 30 minutes. I didn't get to today, but tomorrow I hope to.
Also, I have a confession. Tonight I had a donut and a sweetroll. Not a good thing. I will need to walk a little extra tomorrow.
It sounds like you have a plan. By all means keep me posted on that. I have dramatically cut down on sugar and white flour. I've even considered going back to an Adkins diet. I did that once and it worked for me. Like all others I got tired of it after a while. I'll see how the small portions work for me. I hope you are successfull as well.
Hello. Thanks for sending me your thoughts and warm wishes. I'm really trying to get this eating thing under control. Now I'm trying to eat smaller portions, and I have lost a couple of pounds. I wish you well with your loss plan.
