Friday, June 29, 2012

Craving! A Compulsion to Munch!!

Yesterday afternoon I faced my biggest temptation to date!  My old nemesis, compulsive eating, showed up and seriously tested my will power. 

I wasn't hungry.  I just wanted to snack... which is one of the bad habits that got me here in the first place!!  From 4:30 when I got home from work until 6:30 (dinner time) I found myself pacing the kitchen, opening the fridge door and browsing cabinets.  The compulsion to eat was almost irresistable.

What was I going to do?
Finally, I decided to treat myself.... but not with a snack.  I made a big pot of a favorite herbal tea, pulled out a pretty mug and treated myself to something I loved that wasn't going to throw me off the diet.  I savored each sip of that lemony tea, enjoying it until it was time to start dinner.

As I mentioned in my previous post, compulsive eating is something I've struggled with since I was at least 12 years old.  When the urge to eat struck yesterday I knew if I caved in I would not only be dissapointed with myself for torpedoing all the progress I've made so far, I knew it would be easier to cheat the next time I was tempted.

I had to get creative and find a way to destract my brain from the cravings.  Tea was the first thing that came to mind.  This morning I thought of other things I can do to distract myself from the urge to snack:

  • Give myself a pedicure
  • Weed a section of the garden
  • Vaccuum something
  • Spend time in my art studio
  • Write an e-mail to a friend
Basically, find something - anything - to get my mind on something else.  If I am serious about changing my life and living healthier, I have to break a lot of old, established habits. 

I made it through a challenging moment.  I am proud of myself and I face this new day with a stronger resolve to stay the course and keep loosing weight! 

5 comments:

  1. I love your site! I know the "grazing" urge all too well. I would sit myself down in front of my computer and google "powitive attitude quotes". There are thousands of them. I would then apply one to whatever circumstance I was facing at the time. I decided if I was sitting in front of the computer, I was not in the kitchen - or anywhere else that food was present. Eventually, you get over that - a little. This past week has been a trial though - I am below my goal weight, and am waiting to go onto phase 2 tomorow with hubby. I have felt starved!

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  2. Thanks for visiting my site. I am looking forward to the day when the cravings aren't such a driving force in my psyche. Last night I vacuumed the bedroom so I wouldn't be thinking about eating.

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  3. And congratulations on your graduation to phase II!!

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