STRESS eating

i am SO close to my goal... only one pound to lose!
things have been going GREAT! losing between 2-3 lbs a wk. for the past several days though, I've been stressed, and eating like a pig! well, actually, I do fine all day, then after dinner, I crave junk, and sadly, I find it and eat it.
I know this is stress eating. I hate that it's hitting so close to hitting my goal.

Wed. Apr 26, 7:30pm

congratulations on reaching your goal! that's amazing. you are doing great. maybe it's creating this psychological block for you and you need to not weigh yourself for a week or something to get your mind off of it. you could also tell yourself that 1 pound is 1 pound and depending on water weight and an assortment of other factors, it doesn't really matter and you've already achieved your goal. not to say you shouldn't keep doing the great healthy things you are doing, but that giving yourself a little break might be what you need to let your mind refocus on what's important.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006, 7:50 PM

You are so close, and I know what it feels like to get on the scale and see the weight you want.

But, as above, the number isn't the most important. This is about your healthy life choices, one pound either way isn't huge.

If you feel like you don't have a handle on your eating right now, try replacing the habit with something else, even drinking a nice sweet tea or taking a short walk to enjoy the fresh spring air.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006, 8:35 PM

OP here
thanks for the comments and encouragement.
It feels SO good to have come this far, to be so close to goal, and you're right, the number isn't as important as other factors... how I feel, how I got here, smaller clothes, healthier diet, etc...
as for a psychological block... that is exactly what I'd been wondering about. I wonder if there is anything documented about such a thing... getting so close to goal, and then not letting oneself actually achieve it? self sabotage? I suppose it's possible, I think in my case though, it's about stress... we got some troubling news last wk, and we're waiting for test results to come back... actually we get those results today... so I think I've been turning to junk food to get me through. horrible habit. I just want today to be over already. I'm not looking forward to getting these results, I fear they are not going to be good. one step at a time though. I just need to get through it.
thank you again for the possitve comments, and thank you PEERTRAINER for providing such a wonderful tool. this has really helped me.

Thursday, April 27, 2006, 6:47 AM

I know what you mean about getting so close to your goal you could just about touch it, but then you let it go (self sabotage as you put it). I do that! I know it, and admit to it. But, I'm working hard to get past it. As for stress eating, I do that too. I have delayed a biopsy for a year now, partly because I am too scared to face the truth (if the worse case senerio occurs), partly because if self sabotage (grew up abused, resulting in eating disorders and suicidal tendancies). Now that I have overcome those obstacles, but am dealing with new ones, I sometimes think it would be easier to let God take me if that's his intension. I know that is really a cope out attitude and am ready to get it checked, I realize it's all about fear (fear of the unknown...what happens after I lose weight, who will I be, what if the tests come back positive, what then?)

Rather than focusing on what the problems are (or worse yet, what you think they are)...stop analyzing and start living and believing. Enjoy each individual day. Try not to sit, think, wait and worry...get out and keep yourself occupied with things that make you happy. Time passes by much more quickly and pleasantly. When the results come back, celebrate good news if the news is good. If the news brings forth new challenges, celebrate anyway. Celebrate the things that you can control...and celebrate the things and people that bring joy to your life each and every day. I'll be thinking of you and hoping for the best. We have to take care of ourselves...no one else can do that for us. Be positive!

Thursday, April 27, 2006, 2:12 PM

to the above poster...( 2:12pm)

THANK YOU!

what a wonderful message. thank you for sharing your own experiences with me, and for helping to remind me to be possitive. I am truly touched by your words. thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thursday, April 27, 2006, 9:08 PM

Happy Friday!!! 2:12 poster here. Just wondering if you got your test results back? I have been thinking of you (as my favorite singer sings "the waiting is the hardest part) and wanted to check in. As for eating in the evenings. I have been strength training, resistance training, and/or leg lifts and cruches in the evening while watching tv. I generally do cardio in the mornings, so my evening workouts are pretty light (just something to do while I'm watching some tv). This helps me tame my evening cravings. If I do eat, I get a bowl of frosted mini wheats or Kashi with skim milk. The milk helps promote seritonin (sp?) the thing that helps you sleep better...and they say, getting a good sleep helps to promote weight loss. So, with the milk in the cereal and the light workout at night...I sleep better and lose weight. It works for me. Give it a thought and try it out if it fits into your likings. Have a great day!!!

Friday, April 28, 2006, 12:06 PM

stress eating

I totally understand where your coming from. In 2002 I lost 35#'s but fell short of my goal by 3#'s and have been gaining ever since. I have been disappointed in myself for not going all the way w/my wt loss goal. I also have the same bad habit of non stop eatting after dinner. This is my worst habit. So now I am determined to reach my goal but this time I have 18#'s to go. I now set out my healthy or lowfat snacks that I am allowing myself to eat for that night. I try to set up an activity, hobby, read or something to do for at least an hour after dinner to take my mind off of eatting. I hold out as long as I can before I eat my snack & i also drink 16 to 20 oz of water after my snack. It's working really well so far & has been the key to my wt lose. I also listen to my body & ask myself am I truly hungry or just stressed & bored?

Sunday, April 30, 2006, 10:06 PM

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