Emotional grazing has been my lot since childhood. I break away from it at times, but now with the situation that we're in, it's one of the few sources of comfort. I can do it any time and you all probably know how easy it is. Reading a good book helps. But good food is one of the only things we enjoy together. I really don't think there is much that can be done bout it, but if any of you have a way that helps you cope with it , I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!
If you find it let me know. I think adding to it is the inactive life we now live. Yes, we are busy and those whose spouse needs more/total care are definitely busy, we are not active - does that make sense? I put on 40 pounds to an already overweight body the first 2 years after diagnosis. Others here have suffered the same results. This summer I am keeping peeled and cut carrots in the frig. I try to grab them instead of a cookie. I would prefer celery but the last year or so seems it rots quickly. I also buy bananas, apples and oranges. Cherries are ripe now so I am going to try and buy some if they are not too expensive.
I find that if I brush my teeth before the evening meal, I don't eat. Of course, that means I've already had my calories for the day, and I want to avoid eating that evening meal. It works.
I brought to the top an older discussion on this topic for you to read through. The only type of eating I do is emotional - I eat when I'm stressed, so you can IMAGINE how many gallons of ice cream I have gone through in the last few years.
I rarely gain weight and I rarely eat a regular meal......I graze all day long. People say to me, you are eating all day long and you never seem to gain weight. I think it is because I eat in small portions and the calories burn off because the a small amount and doesn't have time to settle in and be fat. I really don't know if this is true or not...but, that is what I think. Here is a sample of how I eat....You might want to try it and I am never hungry and if I am I eat, but it is just a very small amount.
Breakfast: Coffee and half a cookie or half a piece of toast or half bagel. An hour or so later, maybe two hours I eat the other half of the cookie or toast or bagel or one-half banana or one-half of an apple.
Lunch: I eat a half of a sandwich or 3 or 4 good crackers with cheese or maybe some cottage cheese and I might eat that other half of banana...left from mid-morning snack. An hour or so after lunch I might eat something else out of the refig. that looks good. Maybe some more fruit or a brownie or something small. Or I might eat 3 or 4 table spoons of some good ice cream right out of the carton...never put it in a bowl...you will eat too much that way.
Dinner: I really am not hungry at dinner, but I eat a small amt. of meat and veggie and salad... In about an hour or so after dinner I eat dessert. Sometimes just a couple of those mimi-candy bars. I have to have my sweets.
You can see I am eating constantly, but not very much at anyone time. It probably keeps your stomach small and you don't get real hungry and you fill up fast.
I have all kinds of restrictions because of IBS, but when I had to start minding carbs because of Type 2 Diabetes, it actually got easier. I have 3 meals and 3 snacks each day, so I can eat in a pattern much like Judith KB. I mind the carb count, but I'm not as stressed about eating because I'm not depriving myself. I can have something nearly any time I want. Just have to be picky on what and how much. But I can have some.
One other thing....I guess some would think...I don't ever want to eat ice cream at Judy's house...she eats it right out of the carton. I do...I do. But, I always have a carton of some kind of ice cream in the freezer in the garage and if company comes (which dosen't happen that often) I always offer them the ice cream that I haven't eaten directly from the carton. But, it seems to be so much easier to eat less if you eat it out of the carton.
I've been thinking (rather than doing) a lot about this over the past few weeks. I used to think that while minor stress drove me to overeat, major stress caused me to not be able to eat much. I used to love to cook for husband and myself. Just cooking was a major stress relief.
What has, I think, helped in keeping my weight down is that I don't eat animal flesh. I eat fish and eggs though. In the past few weeks my weakness has been sweets which is different for me.
Judith, you are inspiring, but I will take cake over ice cream any day!
I don't have a scale and depend on how my clothes fit and waist and hip measurements. In the past, and what I hope to do soon, even next week, is to go on liquids, like diluted juice and those carnation instant breakfasts for a few days and that can break the pattern. It has in the past. Charlotte, I love celery and would probably give myself that exception even if I go to liquids. I also really enjoy the low sodium v8. Problem is, I like a little too much vodka with it.
On the other hand, I have told myself to allow "whatever" until the first month anniversary passes.
linda is right stress and cortisol is a huge factor for weight gain. not to mention we tend to eat more comfort fattening choices when we are stressed and looking for consoling!
Well, it is the only way I'm screwed, sad to say. But life goes on...and on...and on. Brushing the teeth, huh? I"ll try anything at this point. I've got a treadmill in the basement, but it is so hard to waddle down the steps. Buwahahahahahaha!!! No, it's actually hard to take Lloyd down those steps because they are open in the back and it freaks him out. Maybe I will try it anyhow. We've got a sofa and loveseat down there. I could hook up the old TV and play old VHS movies for him.