Qeustion/thought for the day 12/19/04

[SilkAsha]

What are 5 events/experiences that you use as an excuse to engage in addictive behavior?

My answer;

1)argument with any significant person in my life, but especially my husband or mother
2)work stress
3)exhaustion, especially when I have to be there for my son and can't have "alone time" to de-stress or rest
4)Discouragement or anger or frustration with events or things in the world that I have no control over or really even any reaponsibility for
5) feeling patronized or sexually objectified or just plain old not liked by someone around me

[BluCrystal]

1) Frustration; there's nothing I can do about a situation, I get frustrated/angry/upset about it, and I eat.
2) Bored; I don't know what to do with myself, so I eat.
3) Laziness; I don't feel like fixing a "real" meal, so I eat whatever I can grab ... usually almost always, the wrong thing.
4) Angry with myself for not sticking up for myself in certain situations. I don't speak up; afraid to speak up. IE: at work (months ago) I was demoted, but didn't find out for sure if the reason they said it was for was legit. When I got passed over for the position (that came up again), and I didn't ask why they passed me up when I was the obvious choice for the position.
5) Guilt; my mother will bring me things ... out of love, I guess ... and I eat it because I don't want to hurt her feelings. Same thing with everybody. Don't want to hurt anyone's feelings or rock the boat in anyway so I shut up and suck it up.

I probably went too overboard with this. Sorry. I guess I needed to vent a bit.

[kkladybug]

All of the above, PLUS seeing yummy things I want, for instance today I was at the grocery store and walked by some fresh fudge and now I WANT it!!! I didn't buy it, but my mind isn't clear of it yet!! (which makes another excuse to eat somethin else since I can't have that!)
K

[papajack]

What are 5 events/experiences that you use as an excuse to engage in addictive behavior?

1. If the sun comes up
2. If the sun goes down
3. If the sun shines
4. If the sun is hidden by the clouds
5. In other words, I don't need an excuse to engage in addictive behavior....................I do it naturally.

[SilkAsha]

papa --LOL -- me too. I definitely don't need an excuse! However, some things are guaranteed to set me off even when I'd been doing well for a few days. And in some cases, my addicted brain will convince me I've had an argument with someone just to try to get me eating again! This happened to me Friday, and boy did I have to do some re-framing to come through it.

But here I am finishing up my fourth "sober" day. It feel's pretty good -- each clean day is like a gift, even if emotions and reactions are still pretty close to the surface.

[Dabbadooey]

1) Boredom
2) Laziness
3) too self-indulgent (I want it all, and I want it all now)

I don't believe I have this addiction because of some deep-seated emotional problem. I have it because of a lack of self-discipline.

[SilkAsha]

Kitchenlabs-- I definitely agree with you that we all have the ability to over come our addictions. That's why the question is, "what do you use as an EXCUSE?" I am personally a MASTER of great excuses!

Everyone in this world has to deal with trials and tribulations, the difference for me is that I have developed a very unhealthy coping mechanism for those normal day to day irritations. Part of recovery for me is to recognize that I will always be looking for excuses to overeat, and address those day to day problems in a more mature way, using productive coping mechanisms (in other words, go take a long warm bath instead of stuffing my face, or maybe TALK to the person I am upset with, instead of getting mad and escalating the situation!)

[MaryMary]

What are 5 events/experiences that you use as an excuse to engage in addictive behavior?

One year ago, I used the following excuses. In the last year, I have adapted a no matter what attitude, and don't engage in compulsive eating to numb feelings. Just because I think it, doesn't mean I have to do it.

1. Hungry - really now! I ate or grazed all day long, so never really knew the sensation of hunger, physical hunger. I was eating to feed my emotional hunger and my spiritual hunger. Today I recognize that just because my stomach rumbles for food doesn't mean it has to get fed immediately. I can wait because I know I get another meal. My spirit gets fed with God's words today.
2. Angry - My rage over little things gets out of control. The sugar and flour would numb my body and I would zone out. Today I abstain from sugars and grains and avoid the allergic reaction that my body would engage in. If I am angry about something today, I write about it or call someone or come online to vent or pray to God for guidance, but I don't let it fester. It only hurts me in the long run. Today I know that I am loved by God.
3. Lonely - I was not comfortable being alone in my body, or being alone in my house, and even when I was in a roomful of people, I would think I was never enough. As a result, when I ate, I never felt that I had eaten enough, never knew what enough was, never knew if I was satisfied. Today I weigh & measure my meals and know without a doubt I get enough food. As a result, I am learning to weigh & measure my life and put appropriate boundaries around other people, places and things to insure my serenity. Today I know that God is always with me and I am never alone.
4. Tired - I was always tired because I didn't sleep well at night due to depression and sleep apnea. My doctor said they didn't know if sleep apnea creates obesity or if obesity creates sleep apnea, but once I started on meds to lift the depression and let me fall asleep, I was better able to focus on one day at a time. Today, I can rest in the spirit of God and know I will wake up refreshed.
5. Boredom - Inactivity meant boredom. Because I was so heavy, I didn't participate in life. I would eat all day long. That's all I knew how to do well. Today, I have actions I can take when I am bored. I can call a friend, do housework, prepare my meals, take a hot bath, write in my journal, go to a meeting or pray & meditate and ask God for help.

[SilkAsha]

Marymary
Hey, isn't that the HALT thing?

As in, Don't get too

Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired

Just noticed that. I first heard about that one a few years back, and it sure is true for me too!

[LJ]

1) BUT IT'S CHRISTMAS!
2) I'm really happy, and I wanna get happier
3) I'm really sad, and I want solace
4) I need a day of comforting myself, I've been working hard and I deserve it
5) I plain love indulging in junk food ...but once I get started I want more the next day.

And IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!

Actually I am in ketosis so I foresee no problems as long as I keep going. But I am treating myself with beach girls cheesecake this year, and my mom - god bless her- is baking a bone in ham and greenbeans flavored with ham stock for me Even if I'm not craving it now, having lowcarb treats will ward off any sudden urges.


Alisa