In September of 2011, I vividly remember unwrapping a Snickers, laughing and stating, "Damn terrorists are making me eat this." The fear of what could happen after 9/11 paralyzed me at times...I had 3 very young children and was fearful for their future and our families....living in DC and having a husband working in the government was enough for me to do anything I could to control what was going on....at that time, the only thing I could control was my food...and boy did I take it in...
Fast forward a few years, we had moved to another state in the mid-West, found friends with similar fitness goals, and joined Weight Watchers, again...pounds came off, but life was pretty grand there...small town, not too much pressure, stay at home mom, part-time fun little job.
Fast forward to another move...current state, going back to work...kids all in school...all of us under alot of pressure just because this is a faster pace of life than the mid-West...pounds, creeping back on...emotional eating full force again...
And now, today...the past 6 months...I have controlled my food in a way that emotional eating seems to be gone...Have I slipped up?? Sure...I have had days that were not my days off where I felt myself eating 8 Oreos at a time...and I texted each teammate to confess and ask for forgiveness and give myself the penance of 10 extra mins on the treadmill....but this has only happened once per game...Not 5 times a week...
This game doesn't give you the "Oh, I screwed up today, will start again tomorrow." You can't...you are working with not just yourself, but your team...They just had a GREAT day, and you throw up your hands and say, tomorrow is another day?? If you screw up, and take in what you shouldn't, you lose points, disappoint you and your teammates, and move to the next meal...
But what everyone should work towards, is where I feel like I am today. Food is not talking to me because it doesn't make me feel emotionally better when I take it in...it just sustains me. I am in control because I can eat what I want on my day off, and feel BETTER to be back on plan the next day. My body needs the good food. My emotions don't need food...
Food sustains you, keeps you alive, and sometimes tastes really great. Food doesn't make pain go away, solve problems or keep your emotions in check.... This game, if you keep playing, can get you to that point...sure, it is a game...it is a game with food, with friends, with support. What you GAIN with this GAME is control....
No comments:
Post a Comment