Sometimes I can't help it!!!

[losemythighs]

Sometimes (usually during stressful times) I cannot stop myself from eating illegal foods. It's like something takes over my brain and I can't stop thinking about eating until I actually stuff myself with what I'm craving. Example: my ex-boyfriend is stalking me and the other day he followed me until I called the police. The rest of this week I just can't stop eating. It started with candy bars at my sister's house. (I had to go to my sister's house to try to hide from this guy). She has TONS of candy. Since then I've been eating one illegal thing after the other.(even went to Olive Garden last night.....and to tell the truth it wasn't as good as my brain was telling me it was going to be!) Anyway, I'm back on track so far today. Wish me luck. My life is such a mess right now.

[Iapetus999]

Eating carbs is bad Mmm Kay?

The secret to not cheating is have plenty of induction-friendly food available like cheese. Heck even an Atkins bar/shake will do in an emergency (I said emergency folks)

If you turn to food every time something bad in your life happens you're setting yourself up for more problems down the road.
You could enroll in a self-defense class or assertiveness training so you can find the strength to deal with some of these challenges.
There's an emotional eating board here somewhere that may also help.

[Kent]

Sorry to hear about the stressful time in your life right now. Controlling your ex-boyfriends illegal behavior is hard to do (short of the police, who I would recommend becoming buddies with), but establishing control over one thing (what enters your mouth) may start to improve your outlook. Bear in mind, I have no experience with this, but perhaps you can use this as an opportunity to show what you are capable of without him or IN SPITE of him and his activities. Just a thought...

Take care of yourself, and I hope you regain some normality soon.

[kbuchs]

I feel ya

I have binged three times this week- BIG TIME- and I just can't seem to stop! I was doing so good for the last two months and then I cheated once and have been ever since. I tend to emotionally eat as well. I was doing so good but I am struggling now. It sucks but all we can do is try again and when the temptation starts to try to remember that it won't bring us any closer to our goal. Maybe we can overcome this together! :nod

[Iapetus999]

I found that any kind of cheat, even minor, would stall my weight loss for a few days. That made me feel worse than the thing that made me cheat.
Remember nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

Just focus on what you want from Atkins and your life and maybe that can help with temptation.

[bnzstar]

I'm not sure if this is Atkins approved, but I am a recovering Emotional Eater.
I have only fluctuated about 15 pounds overweight in my life from emotional eating, but I have at times gone drastically in the other direction of NOT EATING and losing TONS OF WEIGHT RAPIDLY.

Anyway, lately sugarless gum has helped me. For me anyway, under certain stressors I just feel this need to bite or chew something. It used to send me right to the vending machine at work, but now I just keep sugarless gum on my desk and pop one in when I have that urge.

Its strange for me sadness and extreme anxiety KILLS my appetite....but anger and "good" stress (say a new work challenge or upcoming special event ) is what drives me to food. So I had to learn better ways to deal with both emotions. Now working out and deep breathes help me deal with anger (MOST OF THE TIME).

Also I think there's a forum here and elsewhere just for emotional eating support.

[tickletussler]

I can relate to both losemythighs and bnzstar - I'm a definite emotional eater and the key to this is to identify what are your triggers and see if you can avoid them somehow or find a way to get through them other than eating.

I recognise that when i'm tired and cold, i tend to want to eat something (anything really) even when dinner's on the way. I say "dinner on the way" because it usually happens just before dinner time. When I'm tired and cold, I'm particularly NOT resistant to any foods, and saying no just doesn't even cross my mind - that's how vulnerable i am.

At the moment, the only way i get through this is to log-onto ADBB - it's my current crutch at the moment, and tides through all my periods when I feel like eating but don't really need it at that time.

I have used bnstar's method of chewing gum - for me the sugar alcohols in it doesn't cause me problems so maybe it could work for you?

I have recently managed to find pork rinds - I definitely have a craving for the "crunch" and as it is a "legal" food, sometimes if I go overboard on it, my logic is that at least I'm eating something legal as opposed to illegal.

[america57]

Stress is amazing isn't it? It makes you do all sorts of crazy things. My DH & I were going through some really stressful stuff last week and I would have done anything to escape that feeling, that really horrible feeling like nothing is ever going to be right again. I told my DH, I wish we could get really drunk, or stoned, or something, just to escape for awhile, but of course, we didn't do any of those things because we are suppose to be mature adults. We just got through it. Stress is hard, I really feel sorry for you. I hope you can get back on track. My "comfort food" during that stressful time was cream cheese on celery and deviled eggs, they made me feel a little better.

[losemythighs]

Thanks for all of the encouragement everyone!! I have been cheatfree for three days...and even had another stressful moment with the ex yesterday......but came home and ate a steak rather than a candy bar and thank goodness I didn't gain any weight from cheating earlier this week (whoo, close one). thanks again for the support!!!! you guys are great!!! we can all do this!

[barelysane]

What a scary ordeal you've been through!! I hope it all ends soon. It's hard to imagine how this same situation would have affected me.

I also try to "cheat" on legal foods. For me it's chicken wings. I LOVE them and they seem to fit all categories for me. Those and deviled eggs. If I have eggs and wings I am able to stay on this wol even when stressed. MOST of the time anyways...

[Iapetus999]

I hope that steak was extra rare...

Good job on finding a "legal" way to deal. :nod

[Starmaker]

Eating carbs is bad Mmm Kay?

ROFL, and I thought no one but me used those Mr Mackie theories!

[america57]

Oh barelysane! I love chicken wings with celery and blue cheese dressing! Who would have thought we could eat these things and still lose weight?????

[barelysane]

America - I CRAVE them - daily!! I am really wanting to buy a deep fryer so I can do them up real quick. I've never deep fried anything though so I've hesitated a bit...