I've been binging since Feb. 1st and today's been no exception. Here are the reasons I'm flailing.
Boredom: All last week at work was so boring. 8 hrs. with basically nothing to do = Binge
Solution: Keep a list of "things I'd like to get to 'if only I had the time' "
Stress: Bills are way, way, way ahead of me = Binge
Solution: Get a WRITTEN budget and adhere to it. Spend a decided amount of time on paying bills each week
Loneliness: Boyfriend (ex now) living with another woman now = Binge
Solution: He's just not the man for me. I know that...so rather than feel sorry for myself, thank God for His protection in my life.
Failure: Didn't meet my goal of having 40 lbs off by my 45th birthday = Binge
Solution: Keep writing in this blog...so I can see how far I've come.
Tired: Working 7 days a week = Binge
Solution: Get proper rest and do some things that refresh my Spirit each day
Chaos: House in complete disarray = Binge
Solution: Devote some time every day to taking care of my house. It's for the happiness of my family and myself. (Plus...can rack up some exercise points!)
Disbelief: Trouble seeing myself at "un-fat" = Binge
Solution: YES I CAN!!!
Emptiness: Haven't attended church or read my bible in a few weeks = Binge
Solution: Go to bed early enough on Saturday nights to feel ready to go on Sunday mornings. Also, plan to attend Tuesday morning Faith Team. It's soooooooooooo good for me! The Word...as well as an opportunity to with friends.
Hopeless: Looking to the future with dread = Binge
Solution: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future....." Jeremiah 29:11
I've not been taking care of myself at all. I ran myself ragged up to the point of this latest binge. From then on, I nearly shut down. Whenever I get home from work, I waste countless hours late into the night, not getting necessary rest to help me cope with stress, daily life challenges, and depression. These are the things which led up to this week-long binge. There are things on this list which I have absolutely no control over. But there are more things on the list which I do have control over. And I can control how I think about them. I need to be more aware of these things and understand that each of these things are circumstances that can trigger a binge. I need to concentrate on avoiding falling into this pit again. I need proper rest. I need time with friends/family. I need to organize my time so that I feel productive rather than frantic. I need to let go of hurts and resentments. I need to get back in church and under the healing, inspiring Word of God. I need to remind myself of how far I've come weight-loss-wise rather than kick myself for "failing". I need to set realistic goals for regaining control of my house and my budget. When I can look more clearly at TODAY then I will not be so worried about tomorrow. I need to make the best of the day at hand. For the current day is all I am offered anyhow. I will make the best of each day and grab hold of the opportunities that each day presents. Every morning I have the opportunity to treat myself well and to carry out a well-designed plan. Weight Watchers has a well-designed plan. I know that following the plan will lead to my success. And now, I've documented the pit-falls which entrapped me for a time. Just taking the time to reflect, and see where I went wrong, is enough to set me back with my feet in the right direction.
Moral: Pay attention to signs of these types of triggers and don't ignore them. Stop, analyze, correct, and regain control. Chances are, the next binge can be averted.
Well. Looks like we both did some practical assessment of our pitiful situations last night and identified some problem areas!
ReplyDeleteThere are several things on your list that i, too, need to address. The sleeping one for sure! I'm bleary-eyed as I type this. i cannot function well on 4 or 5 hours sleep when I have a 3 year old for 9 or 10 hours a day!!!
That is a pretty big list, tho, Cheri. Take it in simple steps. I bet it occurred to you to combine the "bill paying time" and the "Bible reading time" with the "nothing to do at work" time.
Thanks for your comments on my blog. I've always had to be careful of some foods, but on occasion I let them fool me, because SOMETIMES I can have a little and move on ok. But if I let myself indulge--even within my points budget--in too many or too often, then it's like wrestling a car without brakes down a hill. It can be done, but no way to get where you're going!
Let's pray for eac other! God is working it out in us--Yes, He is!
Deb
Cheri
ReplyDeleteI started off laughing at this post because I could totally relate to so many things that set off a binge; same things set me off. But then I began feeling sad; sad because I could relate and I know how stressful and hard my life can get, so I can imagine yours is just as hard and stressful. All the time I am trying to figure out how to destress and 'find joy' in my life. Not that I don't have a million things to be grateful for, I think sometimes I just tend to stress and freak more than I take time to relax and enjoy life. The only thing I can really say is that I think "taking time to relax and enjoy life" is a conscious effort, and we have to actively seek to do these things if we want them in our lives. Once we decide we want to be happy, we have to consistently tell ourselves to chill and smell the flowers, or we forget and get back to these things that cause us to freak and binge. And now I'm just talking weird. Anyway, girl forgive yourself and move on. You can do this.