Comfort Eating (and Day 11 - 21 Day Sugar Detox)

Day 10 of the detox went pretty good.  Got the munchies in the afternoon, so I ate a bunch of veggies to hold me over until dinner.  I wasn't necessarily hungry, just had that need to eat something.  So reaching for veggies was a much better option than I would have done in the past.  Had an awesome dinner, we made the Cabbage Rolls and Dipping Sauce from the 21 Day Sugar Detox Cookbook.  Couldn't believe how good they were!  The food in the cookbook is amazing and I would suggest buying it, even if you don't do the detox.

I did get a sugar craving last night.  Hit right before bedtime, so I'm sure it was more from being tired than an actual craving.  I made some herbal tea and crawled into bed instead of scrounging through the cupboards and refrigerator for some plan appropriate snack.

Today is going to be a challenge for me.  I'm not feeling well.  And I am an comfort eater (and emotional eater).  When I don't feel well, I try to eat to make myself feel better.  This never works.  But I try it each and every time I don't feel well.  You would think at age 45 I would know better.  Nope.  I keep eating, sure that some food or combination of foods will help alleviate whatever ache or pain I may have.  Getting through the day without falling into this habit is going to be difficult.  Luckily I only have my planned meals with me and two snacks, so no over eating.  (Before I started the detox I went through all my food stashes here at work and gave them to my Hubby for safe keeping until the end of the 21 days.)  I see lots of water and herbal tea in my future.  I will do what I need to get through the day.

Comfort and emotional eating is probably my biggest problem and what holds me back from maintaining a healthy weight.  Any little emotion can send me over the edge and have me scrounging for foods I really shouldn't be eating.  And once I do that, the cycle of eating-self loathing-depression-eating takes over.  And it's very hard to break that cycle once I get into it.  That was another reason I wanted to try this detox.  I was hoping that by breaking my sugar and carb cravings, I could maybe get a better grasp on the emotional eating.  When my choices are limited, it makes it harder to just give in to the emotional eating.  I am forced to find other outlets instead of food... I can go for a walk, talk to a friend, take a hot bath, or take a nap.  Whatever is needed that doesn't involve food.

Day 11 is starting out as a challenge, but with some planning, positive thoughts, and little luck, I will persevere.