Day 20 - Put down the cookie and walk away!

First let me say, can you believe it's already been 3 weeks! It feels like just yesterday that I set my goals and started working it out. It takes three weeks to set a habit, and this feels really natural to me.

I am a stress eater, and that has been something really hard to kick. I had a very stressful day at work on Friday, and it sent me into place where I thought..."I'm having a bad day, and I've been SO good, I should be able to cheat." For the first time in a while I was able to stop myself, and think it through. "Is this going to make me feel better?" I might think so while I'm doing it, but most likely I'm going to feel disgusting after eating it, and then feel guilty for giving in. So I just put the "cookie" down and walked away. Even writing about it now, I feel really empowered. I am in control!

I lost 0.2lbs at my weigh-in today. While it doesn't look like a big number, everything small bit counts! I also try to think how easy it would be to gain 0.2lbs...I could probably do that before finishing writing this blog. :) It's so hard to lose that, and I never want to see that again!

I try not to think of myself as "dieting", but just taking control of creating a healthier lifestyle. The word "diet" has too much negative power behind it. To some, this is a terrible four-letter word. When my co-workers are deciding where to eat, they politely ask me if I want anything...and then quickly take it back..."Oh, sorry, I forgot you are dieting". It makes me laugh a little. I can eat anything I want in the right portions. Some things are worth it, and some things are not. Does that sound like dieting to you? :)

Stress Eating 101

My name is Carey, and I am a stress eater. That's right even after 3 months of booty kicking bootcamp; I still battle this problem. I know that I am not alone in this. I stress, and then I immediately want to shove my face full of food. If you are reading this and you've ever done this I'm sure you understand that there is no easy cure.

So how do you put that cookie down? First, I suggest that you recognize your problem. That is a huge part of the problem. I would always tell Scott that an ice cream sundae helps feed my stress, the reality is that I was still stressed after consuming way too many calories worth of goodies. Once you realize that this is what you do, you can stop yourself. Ask yourself, "why am I eating this, can I make a better food decision?"

If you need your oral fix, try chewing a piece of gum, and it always helps to make yourself full of water.

I also find that snacking during the day with small healthy snacks help keep cravings down because you are never really hungry. Don't ever starve yourself because that's when you start looking for convenience in food which usually leads you right into a drive through. Yikes! This also includes surrounding yourself with healthy options. I keep healthy snacks in my desk.

Another thing that I suggest (that doesn't work for everyone) is to feed your cravings sometimes. If you are really craving a brownie, have a small piece, don't make an entire pan. Portion is key, right? When you deprive yourself of your cravings you fix your thoughts on it, and when you finally get your hands on it, you can get a little out of control. Also know what your healthier options are. If you're an ice cream person, try sugar free, fat free pudding or frozen yogurt.

Any which way you spin it, this is a hard road to be on, but I know I can do it, and I know you can do it!

Remember small goals! :)