Now that the pies and cakes and cookies and candies of the holidays are all gone, it was time to start working on what they did to me while they were here. I was seriously considering covering the mirrors with black crepe.
I am an emotional eater. If I am uneasy, frightened, angry…I eat. If I don’t have my normal structure…I eat. If there’s too much available, I have to have a bite of it all before I can walk away. I’d say it’s a compulsion, but it’s really more of a bad habit combined with a coping mechanism.
I could feel really bad about that, but this year, I took advantage of having a partner that I could be honest and open with and I talked about a lot of what I was feeling. And, honestly, I’m lucky all I do is eat. So, I’m not going to feel bad about it. And, when I’m feeling strong, like I am now, I’ll do the opposite and work those worry pounds off.
My employer ran an article about the new year and weight from a health insurance perspective and I downloaded one of the workout apps on my iphone and I finally got around to downloading my music to my iphone and I’ve found a really good stretching workout that I can do on days when I take long walks and a really good workout that focuses on a strong and flexible back and legs that I can do on other days, combined with a short walk. A good portion of my workout time this week was spent finding those and that worked fine because it’s been raining all week and walking was pretty much off the table. But, even the prep work to find the app, download the workouts, sample them; it was all contributing to the goal. And, that feels good.
The most important thing is to find something I enjoy enough that I can look forward to it. I relish the thought of all those back stretching yoga poses every morning. They actually feel good. I have to remember; it’s not a burden to take care of myself.
Along with that, there’s my regular meals, which are healthy and well balanced and correctly proportioned and prepared with the max flavor and the minimum unnecessary fat. Really, all I had to cut out was the bedtime sweets, which according to every dietician, are the devil’s own bad idea.
I’m already down 2 pounds. But, I do catch myself wandering in circles in the kitchen at about 8pm, looking for cake scraps. One trick I’ve learned, and I don’t know why this works on me…probably because I’m secretly really lazy…but I floss and brush my teeth when I find myself wandering for snacks. Given the obligation to floss and brush again if I eat, I’m just too lazy and can happily pass on the snack.
Yeah, I recognize that for the rationalization that it is, but I’m not arguing with anything that works this good. It has something to do with making a choice. I choose to floss and brush and then I choose not to do it again. It’s so much easier for me to do stuff that’s a choice than it is to consistently do things that i see as an obligation.
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I got up this morning and made my first I spy block.
Barb cut the 4.5” squares with her “go” and sent them. I dug through my 2” strips this morning for strips long enough for the borders.
I think I should have plenty, huh? Anyway, now it’s just figuring out how I can mass produce them. I haven’t made this block before, so I’m looking forward to this little project. This is one down and there are three more ready to start.
This year, I’m hoping to start going to the Linus meetings every month. Like signing up for the BOMs at the quilt shop, it’s another attempt to get me out among people. I am incredibly guilty of spending too much time alone. What better way to combine quilting and fellowship than at a volunteer opportunity day.
But, first I have to go to that pesky job again.
Don’t get me wrong, I know how lucky I am to have it. But as my coffee mug says, “a bad day quilting is better than a good day at work.”
Be well. Have fun. Start something new or finish something old. Add a little fun to your day. If you set half a candy bar down today for tomorrow’s snack, blow me a kiss.
Lane
4 comments:
We are related. Or, I wrote this post (except I haven't lost 2 lbs). I love I SPY quilts.
Lucy
Emotional eater here, too. But in comparison to other vices, it could be worse, as you mentioned.
I gave up dairy, which also means giving up just about every delicious treat known to man. It wasn't a new year's resolution, though because listing out a bunch of improvements to do all at once is really too overwhelming. I gave up dairy in a resolution to feel better, which happened to coincide with the new year. It's been a week and a half, I feel better, and I really haven't missed it; not even the chocolate. I did almost cave last night when I did pizza for the Little Bugs, but knew I would regret it later.
Brushing your teeth is a good strategy for getting rid of cravings. The minty flavor of the toothpaste (or sugar-free gum) overpowers the need for something sweet, at least for me anyway.
And you're right. It is all about making choices rather than being compelled. Making a choice to do something is always a better alternative, even when that something might not be so fun.
xo -E
I totally relate -- I, too, have been brushing and flossing early to "prevent" late-night snacking. I used to rationalize a bowl of raisin bran at 11 PM as "getting a head-start on my morning, eating breakfast early." ;-) But I do not have the self-deprivation or discipline required for dieting, so I decided that cutting out late-night snacks would be a good first step. It seems to be working for me, too! This is a good thing, since the last time I tried exercising regularly I GAINED weight because I was so tired and hungry after the bleeping workout that I was eating a lot more...
Thinness is not all it's cracked up to be, and this comes from the perspective of someone who was once tall, thin, blonde, young, and reasonably attractive (in retrospect!), all at the same time. Life is so much better now that I'm older and dumpier, sprouting wrinkles and gray hairs but surrounded by a family to love and lots of fabric to play with!
Be well, be blessed, and cherish each day in the skin you're in.
Mwah mwah here comes your kiss Lane!
I totally empathise about what you say about eating linked to every emotion as I am the same.
Luckily I have 2 dogs who insist on a walk every day, or to be honest, I might not bother. I am lucky enough to live in a quirky little town, where it is a pleasure to just walk up one side of the high street and back home again, which takes half an hour- perfect.
All the best with your new regime Lane, we want you healthy and quilting for many years yet xx
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