Friday, January 4, 2013

I Picked the Wrong Week to Give Up Stress Eating

I love the film Airplane.  I saw it in the movies, I had the VHS tape and I've seen it on TV several times.  I rarely give films the "watch over and over" treatment but this film only gets funnier with each viewing.

My favorite character was Steve McCroskey, the control tower supervisor, who was played by the late Lloyd Bridges.  Steve McCroskey was having a bad week, and, as the emergency situation on the airplane progressed, his lines became more and more anguished:

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking!", he growled.

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking!" he cried, a few minutes later.

A while later, looking disheveled,  "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue!"

(And yes, Michelle, this is a PG movie).


OK, I don't smoke or sniff glue.  My drug of choice is food.  I am a stress eater.  I self-medicate with chocolate and peanut butter stuffed pretzels.  If I am under stress, anything that is edible and not nailed down is in danger of ending up in my tummy.  After one of those binges I berate myself and say "why the heck did I even do that?  What was I thinking?"  Ironic, for someone who blogs about local food and farmer's markets, and takes pictures while exercise walking.

My growth to the brink of obesity began about 15 years ago, when I was under a great deal of stress.
And, except for a brief few months when I participated in a program called Mission Meltaway, it seemed nothing would stop the upward march of the scale.

Until I found Weight Watchers in early November, that is.   I decided that yes, it is expensive, but I knew people it worked for, and a possible looming diagnosis with diabetes (my Dad was diabetic so I have an idea what it entails) scared me into finally trying it.  So far for me, it is working.

As of today, I've shed (I don't want to say "lost") just under nine pounds, and that was during the holiday season.

Now, I need their support more than ever, because I am entering a period of my life that may be stressful in a way I've never experienced before.  So my personal goal will have to be "Can I conquer stress eating? Can I continue to shed the weight?"  And then, when (I'm saying "when", not "if") my weight goal is reached, "Can I keep it off?"

Lots of challenges ahead in my life.  Wish me luck!

Are you also a fan of the movie Airplane?

5 comments:

  1. I think it's time for a new mantra...
    One that you can use as you sense your hand reaching for that next morsel...
    (I can give you one- but it's best if you choose the one that resonates for you and within you..)

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  2. I wouldn't have thought of a "mantra". Nice to approach this from a different direction. Thanks, Roy.

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  3. Good for you! I've heard that WW is the most successful program because of the support system. The question that has to be answered is what: what pain is underneath the eating? You hit the nail on the head - some people self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. And some of us self-medicate with food.

    I'm a stress/bored eater too. Even having gallstones didn't stop me from causing myself agonizing pain. Now, with my gall bladder removed, I need to do some soul searching and find out the underlying cause of my self-medication.

    Congrats on becoming a healthier you! May 2013 be a year of continued health, joy, and unconditional love!

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  4. Wish you the very best in your quest to shed the unwanted weight. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  5. When I was considering working with a personal trainer, two suggested I use Weight Watchers. But like you said, it is expensive. I'm starting the Zumba workout. I'm thinking I'll stick to it because I love dancing. Excited about getting started!

    OH and the way I see it you have lots of CHANGES not challenges ahead! :-)So just keep moving forward and focus on the day.

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