I have really struggled the last few weeks with cutting out flour and sugar - namely cookies, candy, ice cream, pizza, etc. It's been frustrating, upsetting, daunting, etc. I always wonder how I got through law school, but I don't have the willpower to stop eating junk? Probably because I soothed my law school stress with junk.
Despite the setbacks, I realize that I have gained a lot of perspective and insight since January 1. For me, eating and exercising right consistently is directly and primarily linked to stress and emotion management. I am focused, thoughtful, deliberate, and smart with my food choices and exercise when my life is in balance and calm. As soon as I get busy, stressed, anxious, upset, tired, overwhelmed, or anything remotely off balance then I start to make poor choices. I eat a cookie and then that cookie turns into 5 because my body starts craving sugar.
I realize that I spend a ton of time reading and researching how to eat and exercise right, but I don't spend enough time focusing on my mental and emotional well being. I could know everything there is to know about being "primal", but it makes no difference if I'm letting my stress get the best of me.
So, what do I do? I plan to finish reading a book about emotional eating I bought last year. It is a great book and is filled with exercises to help overcome emotional eating. I've also created a list of ways to "self soothe" without food when I'm feeling stressed. Maybe I shouldn't have chosen such a stressful profession? However, some stress is inevitable in any profession and better I learn to deal with it then try to run away and hide. As much as I try to keep my life in balance there will be days when a ball drops - I don't get enough sleep or work is busy etc. I can't avoid these times, but I want to better deal with them without food.
Do you have any suggestions for ways I can stop turning to food (especially bad, sugary carbs) to make myself feel better?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Absolutely. Read www.knowmattic.blogspot.com (my other blog). I write about stuff everyday directly correlated with this issue. Also, when I feel like I am going down a bad path (not studying, staying up too late, drinking too much, etc.) I will sit in the tub and read. (Actually, I fill the tub with hot water first and then sit in it.) Or, I will watch a TED talk. These things are fantastic! www.Ted.com.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the operative word in your entire posting is "perspective." A month ago, you were hardly aware of The Primal Blueprint. Now, you are convinced that it is something you want to conform to. Kate, this stuff takes some time and there is nothing wrong with slipping up. As you go along you will eventually determine (read: settle in) what level is most effective in your life. I follow the plan with about 80 percent accuracy.
And yes, a lot of the time you have to be mentally tough. I have also found that natural peanut butter in a smoothie or on sliced apples will eliminate any junk craving.
Thanks for your suggestions, Matt. I think it helps just saying my strugges "out loud" to other people - no more denial.
ReplyDeleteI found an interesting post on Mark's blog about the addictive quality of sugar. It helps confirm why I only seem to binge on sugary, bad foods, and not on lettuce.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/your-brain-on-junk-food/
I'm not sure if I can add anything better than what the two of you have already discussed.
ReplyDeleteI think the bottom line is to identify the trigger (what does it feel like when are at the beginning stages of stress), then understand that you are entering a potential 'eating without thinking' period and then have something in your arsenal instead---bath, peanut butter, short walk, hot tea etc. If you can recognize the problem at the outset then you can manage it.