How to Keep this Up over the next few days.

[spirittalker]

Hi all. I am not sure if this is the right forum to post this on. My grandfather passed away this weekend. Tomorrow I leave for Ohio to go to his funeral. The area he lives in is very rural and the diet is very traditional and dessert is almost mandatory, don't ask me why it's just like that there. I will be there for 2 days. During that two days of grieving and eating I will be without my usual support system. How am I ever going to make it through this without cheating. Right now I am on extended induction and I really have no desire to sabatoge myself.

[changin]

I am sorry about your grandfathers passing. :hug
Most menues consist of a meat and vegtable. Try to stick with those.
Pass on the dessert or give it to someone else.
Maybe take a journal to write down your feelings if you get a few minutes alone.
Thoughts and prayers,
Changin

[JoanOH]

Susan:

First, my deepest sympathies in the passing of your grandfather.

I've been absent from ADBB for nearly a month because my mother-in-law passed away in early Feb. and DH and I flew up for the funeral and then I helped his Dad (who 3 months ago went blind) get settled in and found services in his area to help him with daily life. As soon as I got back from that, my best friend's mother passed away very suddenly, and I had to fly back to New England and go through a second funeral -- this one with an Italian food extravaganza that tested my willpower to the max.

I've been on Atkins since 01/24/04 and believe me, this was the biggest "test" I'd faced since Day one. But you CAN do it. YOU are your best support system in the long run, don't forget. Take a copy of the Acceptable Foods list with you wherever you go. If there is an after-funeral gathering, look for foods you can eat. Resist the urge to "graze" or do the "just one bite won't hurt" thing. If you can't find foods you can eat, then make a quick, quiet run to the grocery store and get some. No one will be focused on what you are or are not eating, so don't be shy about it.

If you're not travelling, make sure you have PLENTY of acceptable snacks on hand -- so if the emotional eating urge kicks in you can indulge it by eating acceptable foods. Exercise can also help relieve the stress and let you focus on something other than the emotions.

If you're travelling, try and plan ahead and take some snacks with you. I discovered airports have plenty of acceptable foods - chicken ceasar salads, for example. We had a 4am flight and found a place that had a breakfast buffet - eggs, sausage, bacon.

What things do you do that you enjoy that gets your mind focused? For example, I hand-quilt and my concentration has to be focused on what I'm doing when I quilt -- that takes my mind of wanting foods I shouldn't be wanting. Reading is another focus method for me. Find things you can do that will focus your mind on something other than what you're going through.

You can do this. No excuses. There will always be stressful and trying times in you life and if you use this one as a way to learn how to deal with stressful times, you'll be that much more prepared for the next stressful life event.

Take care of you.

Joan J

[2big4mysize]

my sympathies on the death of your grandfather.

I understand how all that food as a confort during the time of the funerals is a major issue in dealing with our new WOE.

By now you are back. How did you do?