Can't seem to be successful under stress

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Permalink Reply by Michael McKay-Fleming on June 17, 2012 at 3:00am

You are going through some very extreme stress. Don't add to it stress over eating. If you slip once in awhile it's no big deal. You'll do better as time goes on.

Stress is such a big factor when it comes to both eating and weight gain/loss. John Gabriel (who isn't raw but went from 400 pounds to 180 pounds) discovered that stress triggers either the flight or starvation modes in the brain. His book Gabriel Method is fascinating and a good transitional "diet".

I've suggested to some other people here to try FasterEFT. http://www.youtube.com/user/HealingMagic It looks weird but it works. Basically it helps reprogram the subconscious and pull you out of habits of thoughts from past traumas, beliefs, and events. It's helped me break some cravings and stress related problems. Watch the videos and follow along. It's all free.

Again the best thing to do is not be hard on yourself when you slip. Baby steps.

Permalink Reply by John Jasper on June 17, 2012 at 8:32am

Lori,

Thanks for the great tip about the apple cider and baking soda.  I'm already many of your other tips.

Permalink Reply by John Jasper on June 17, 2012 at 8:39am

Zaphirah,

I cannot add much to what Michael and Lori have said but I'll echo the message that you're not alone in the struggle and that there's no better way to deal with the weight issue than eating healthy.  For pain and stress, fasting is the best short-term response as both will reduce your digestive system efficiency, resulting in much of the food that you consume being undigested while wasting precious energy to move it through the body.

Only eat when you're relaxed and mentally poised.  If you're not mentally poised, take time out from the rat race and relax - then have something to eat.

Permalink Reply by Zaphirah on June 18, 2012 at 1:20am

Thank you everyone for such kind words. Unfortunately this is the kind of stress that I have been under for about 15 years. It doesn't look like this will let up for another 5-10 years, unless a miracle occurs (which I am open to!! LOL!) My son's needs are incredibly intense. I have run the gamut of services and have come up empty handed (DCF, DSS, DMH, and many others.) The only option left is to give him to foster care. That was the suggestion of the special ed director, thus the reason for the legal battle with the school. (The school district doesn't want to pay 1/2 the cost of a residential program so they told me to keep him in public school and put him in foster care if I find him too difficult). Not. gonna. happen. LOL!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful suggestions and support.

@Michael-thank you for that link. I am going to look into it ASAP and I will keep you updated

@Lori-AWESOME suggestions! THANK YOU.

@John-I have a history of anorexia so fasting may be a trigger. That worries me a bit. Your words "I'll echo the message that you're not alone in the struggle and that there's no better way to deal with the weight issue than eating healthy" mean so much to me. Thank you.

Permalink Reply by John Jasper on June 20, 2012 at 5:25am

Good for you, Zaphirah.  School district board members want as easy a job as possible and would love it if you gave them an easy way out.  Unfortunately, it does mean a battle for you.  Wishing you great strength and a bit of luck as well.

Permalink Reply by Zaphirah on June 20, 2012 at 10:05pm

Thank you. Had a very intense couple of meetings yesterday. Felt totally DRAINED. Didn't have any time to eat for most of the day. (I had planned to go buy so fruit between meetings but they ran into each other and I never was able to leave. Lesson Learned. PACK FRUIT.) I did eat SAD food yesterday for dinner-but a major accomplishment on my road to a healthier relationship with food and MYSELF, was that I made the *concious* choice to eat it, without guilt, and wake up ready to meet today all RAW again. Not going to beat myself up ANYMORE. Just going to do my best and take baby steps. Someday this stress will lessen and I will be ready to embrace a new way of living, but if I do NOTHING than I will be at square 1 when life gets more managable.

 

Permalink Reply by SoulSparkled on June 18, 2012 at 6:57pm

food can be a way to nurture your spirit and your self, think on it lightly and about it as a way to look after you during this difficult time. Reminding yourself that you are important and making the food choices in the direction you want can help you to be a better carer as well.

Give yourself some healthy food rewards in the form of your favourite fruit and don't let yourself get too hungry -skip too many meals - if you can prepare a juice ahead of time to carry with you it might help the run around practically speaking.. 

I tend to keep dates on hand because they are a sweet caramel like treat and boost the caloric intake i'm learning.

Permalink Reply by Zaphirah on June 19, 2012 at 4:12am

DAY 3. GOING STRONG. I few small mistakes along the way, but I am learning what I need to eat to make it thru. I am very happy about my progress. Saturday was ROUGH. My son had a TERRIBLE day and I really thought we were headed back to the hospital after only 3 weeks at home. (Along with ASD I have been told he has PTSD, Intermittenent Explosive Disorder, ADHD, and Mood Disorder-NOS. It can make for some really intense days! LOL!) BUT I was ABLE TO MAINTAIN my HCRV mojo. YIPPEE!!!