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Today has been one of the hard days.
I’m so tempted to dive into that giant Costco-sized bag of m’n'm’s that are in the pantry for a birthday sleepover tomorrow night.
The chocolate chips are calling my name.
So are the salami and sliced cheese in the fridge.
Today, I’ve wanted to throw away the last eleven days of progress for some short-term feel better eating.
It’s been a rough day. A situation with the boy – that seemed to be off to a good start earlier this week- took a few steps backward today. We’re realizing, too slowly perhaps, that he needs more help than we can give or that the help he’s currently getting can provide. I got that phone call on the way to the big city to take the girl to physical therapy, something that already causes me stress. I don’t like to drive, but driving on freeways brings me to the verge of a breakdown (if I had my way, I’d never have had to even learn to drive much less do it on a daily basis). The combination, plus the earlier struggles of this week and a crazy Friday on the horizon, have left my stomach a fluttery mess and me on edge.
When that happens, I turn to food.
I’ve eaten more than I should have today, but the stress bites have been nuts and fruit, and I’ve been able to maintain my Whole30 streak (even if it’s a bit higher in some of the foods I prefer to eat less of).
I know that those m’n'm’s have an oddly chemical taste now. I know the chocolate chips will hurt my stomach. So will the cheese. And the salami is so greasy, my teeth will feel funny (you have no idea how big of a deterrent that is for me).
I’m focusing on what will happen if I do give in to the stress eating siren song, and on the disappointment I’m drinking some peppermint tea. I should head out for a walk…but it’s crazy cold out there today (big, fat, lazy excuse, I know). I’ve been cleaning to release some frustration. And I’ve been actively processing the stress, realizing that there were some other factors going into the boy’s breakdown today that couldn’t be controlled.
And that’s okay.
Tomorrow will be better.
For everyone.
How do you cope when the stress of a day threatens to derail you? Any tips or tricks?
I am so with you today, down to the tea! I have no real trick other then popping my favorite movie into the DVD player once my girls are asleep. During the day, they can be great distractions from thinking about food, so the evenings are my biggest problem. I’m also trying to find encouragement online to keep me focused. Blogging the cons on eating those M&M’s is a great strategy too!
I’ll have to remember that tomorrow!
I miss the days that my kids were little enough to be my distractions!
You are handling it well! Hang in there! Try to get to bed earlier to get some extra zzzz’s. I curled up with a good audiobook in bed last night way earlier than normal and it helped melt the stress of the day away!
I was in bed at 8:30 last night – it was definitely needed and I have a much brighter outlook today!
Know that you definitely are not alone. Now that I’m finally getting over my cold, suddenly all of the wicked sugar cravings I missed out on during the first week on the Whole30 are coming out with a vengeance. But I hear nothing but good and positive things in this post.
1) You know that certain foods will affect you negatively. It’s so much easier to avoid a food when you know the consequences of eating it. It’s stronger than “well chocolate will make me fat.”
2) You know that you use food for comfort. This was a huge thing I learned last time I did the whole30. There were times when I felt sad and lonely, and realized that I was using food to give me a hug. Or those times when I am filled with nervous energy, typically around 3pm at work, where I would reach for snack to calm me down.
3) You know that the feeling is temporary. You’re not alone. It won’t last forever. And tomorrow will be better
Something that I did a few nights ago when I just couldn’t relax was do yoga. I tried tea first, but it just wasn’t enough to satisfy (maybe because tea isn’t chewable?). So I downloaded a free podcast on itunes (there are a ton of them! Teachers just record their voices during class and then upload them. You can’t see the moves but if you know some of the basic names, that’s enough), and just did 40 minutes of yoga in my living room. Not sure if that will be more difficult for you with the kids around, but maybe after they go to bed?
I like the idea of yoga – and I had no idea there were podcasts like that! I’d definitely have to get a few more basic moves under my belt. I’m adding running back into my workout plan, regardless of the fact that it’s still cold out. That outside time, with just me and my playlist, goes a long way to keeping more centered.
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