Ok, folks
Here goes nuthin'. I promised myself that I would get serious about my weight loss in the new year 'cause I've got "big stuff" to do.

I'm getting married this year and we plan to start a family as soon as possible. Considering that after my first son I got up to a bit over 300#, I figured that I should lose as much as possible. beforehand. Also, my family has a history of diabetes and heart disease.

I started Optifast in October and have lost only 26.5 pounds. I have had serious problems staying on track.Since being on the program I have not managed to go one full week completely on program. I considered myself a compulsive eater with a tendency to binge. I would use any excuse to eat a "little something." That little something would turn into a lot of something-I wold feel guilty and give up.

For the new year, I'm changing a few things. I'm going to exercise on a regular basis (starting with at least 3x a week) and do a food log. I also want to keep track of my emotions 'cause they're so tied up in why I have a hard time doing what's best for me.

Yesterday was my first day totally on program. I was proud of myself. I stuck with it even with getting some bad news about my dad (they think he has prostate cancer) and being left alone in a house full of food by my S.O and son. Usually that would be enough to give me license to stuff myself but I held on.

Goals for today:

Get some exercise in, Boyfriend is trying to get me to go to the park...I would rather send them away and do a tape here.

Stay on food program.

Listen to relaxation tapes.

Tracidee,

Congratulations on holding on ! I will say a prayer for your father to give the doctors the wisdom to find the best treatment for your him.

I am an emotional eater and I am a binge eater. I use food to feed my emotional hunger. I have used food out of habit, eating by the clock, out of boredom, depression, frustration, anxiety, anger, etc. I used food because it gave me an emotional release. The only problem was that it was short lived and I was still left with the same emotions and/or problems. The only difference was that I felt guilty and had added weight to my body.

I have lost weight and I am trying to lose the urge to binge. I tend to binge one or two days a week and then I work on losing the weight the rest of the week. I belong to Tops and I try to keep at my goal weight. I lost my weight before I lost my unhealthy eating habits.

I am trying to feed only my physical hunger (The Weigh Down Diet). On this program you only eat when you are hungry, you eat slowly (putting your fork down between bites and taking a sip of a non-caloric beverage) and stopping when you are full. I like this program because there are no "forbidden foods." I can eat anything I want as long as I am hungry and as long as I stop when I am full. I am trying to eat more healthy-eating less fat and eating more fiber.

I really think the emotional factor is so strong in overeating. My journey is still a "work in progress". Don't let my current and goal weight fool you. I gained 9 pounds in two days from binging this week on Thursday and Friday. Now I am back on track and trying to eat sensible. I wrote to you to let you know you are not alone with the binge eating. Good luck to you!

tracidee, Hello there.:wave: First of all I would like to say glad to see you here in journals I think you will find it helps a lot to have one. Here you will meet so many upbeat people that can relate to what you are going through that will be a big help to you in the coming year.
Secondly, my dad also was diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and trust me it isn't a death sentence now the way it used to be. He had radioactive seeds implanted inside and now he's almost fully recovered so the future looks bright. There are several things they can do nowadays. So I hope your father finds the right help he needs and I will pray for him too. But take heart, he does have options!
Congratulations on planning a wedding and planning a family how exciting for you!!!!!! :balloons: Good luck on your journey and I hope you have a great day!

Hello and welcome,

first may i say im sorry about the news on your dad and i will say a prayer too.

secondly you did really well fighting the temptation to eat when under stress.

when are you getting married? and congrats!!!!

I too am a binge eater. i am doing well on ww but i sometimes break down and binge then work on losing what i gained. its a never ending cycle for me and a hard battle. i am trying so hard to get this right. i exercise alot and am trying to stay on plan but some days i lose the will.

but i never quit.

you are not alone here with how you feel. alot of us are compulsive over eaters. i am trying to retrain myself to not over eat and break old bad habits into good ones.

take care and enjoy your weekend and if you need anything just yell.

Thanks you guys for the warm welcome. It's always good to know I'm not alone. :) Also, thank you for the kind words and prayers for my dad. My sister called last night and he does indeed have cancer..which is weird 'cause they removed his prostate years ago. Tuesday my parents meet with the doctor to discuss my dad's options. So, intellectually I'm doin fine with everything emotionally :( .

That was reflected in my eating last night. I ate some of the lasagne from my family's dinner and didn't quite stick to my food plan. So far to day I've had two Krispy Kreme donut holes and about 2.5 ounces of cheese. I'm just trying to make sure that it's not going to be the thin edge of the wedge.

I did get out and get some exercise yesterday which was great and I plan to do some more today.

I know I should be grateful that my boyfriend is trying to be supportive...but dang it, he's being smothering and it's getting on my nerves.X-( I love him dearly but I wish he'd just back off. I told him that I won't feel better until I know that my dad isn't so depressed that he's crying every night. I also said that the best way for me to deal with things is just to be given space. So far it's not working too well. Oh well.....

Sorry that post was such a downer. I guess I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening. I really appreciate it.

Your journal is yours to write what you want or need to and venting is really good to do too.
i do it all the time in mine. its better than botteling it all up inside and everyone here is supportive of it.

this is the one place i can come and complain and vent and no one will get mad.

I will pray things go well for your dad and i know how you must feel. cancer runs in my family and my grandpa had prostrate cancer too.

if you need an ear to listen just let me know. take care.

Tuesday, a new day, THE day....

Ok, feeling better this morning :), much more like my old self. Binged a bit last night. Not kicking myself too much.

I lost two pounds for the week...so that's a plus.

I go to my folks tonight to see what's up, but in the twisted secretive way of my family I have to pretend I don't know til they tell me. Although, I'm sure my just "showing up" when I live over 100 miles away will be some kind of tip-off8-|. I love my family :D

Ok, goals for today and tomorrow since I won't be able to post from my folks' house are as follows:

1. STICK TO FOOD PLAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Do a tape on Tuesday.
3. Brush the dust off my mom's treadmill and give it a go on Wednesday.
4. Listen to my relaxation tapes.

Again thanks for all your support.

great job on the 2 pound loss.

enjoy seeing your family too.

forget about the binge, its in the past now.

now and then i do it myself. some bad habits are hard to change.

just keep moving forward.

have a good night and take care.

Heehehe your family sounds all too familiar to mine!:D So you walk in and say .. well I was in the neighborhood so I thought I'd stop in. LOL That's cute. Well here's to hoping things go well during your visit with them and congratulations on losing 2 pounds this week!:dn

Hey Minnie and Betty!

Thanks as usual for your support. :D

My dad is going to start radiation therapy in a few weeks. They just need to do a bone scan to make sure the cancer hasn't spread...they don't think it has.The doctor was very optimistic. So, that's good news.

I only stuck with my food plan Friday, Saturday and I will today...I'm on a roll!

Looking forward to a good week.

Hello Tracie,

your doing great. keep on keeping on,.

i need to focus now. i do well and then i slip a bit at a time. its like a cycle for me that im trying to break.

one day i may get it right.

hope you have a good day and prayers to your dad.

take care and thanks for visiting my journal. i love the company.