Trigger food.

[Nina Kay]

Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to come here and commit to myself and you all here on this forum that I will abstain from Chips & Dips, one day at a time & just for today. I've learned for the second time, that chips & dips are trigger foods for me. I do believe that I remember admitting this to you all not very long ago, but at that time, I thought that I would be okay if I just gave up the dip. I definitely don't feel that way anymore. I have been bingeing on chips & dips alot lately and a few times when I didn't have any dip here, I just went to town on the chips, whichever kind that I had on hand. I used to could take or leave the chips, but now it seems that I am reaching for them anytime I need a snack. I have been doing so good with alot of my other eating habits, but this has spiraled out of control for me. I need to check in here and be held accountable for this now. Thanks for all of your support.

[Pony]

You got it girl....we are here for support.

[elizabeth1979]

I have a box of Rye Crisp crackers and a container of hummus I keep at the office for just this purpose.

[Nina Kay]

Thank you Pony, for your support. I know that I can count on you.

Thank you both, Earthmaiden & Elizabeth, for your suggestion of healthy snack replacements. Sounds good & I'll try them. I do love bean dip and I always need the protein at the very time that I usually end up snacking on the chips.

I did make it so far, today, without eating the chips, but I did have a really hard time with it this afternoon, just at the time that I've been eating so much of them. That habit was sure formed fast. My body already knows at what time to start craving the chips & dips.

Oh well, just for today..........

[Nina Kay]

I've made it through 2 days now without chips & dips. It's a start anyway. One day at a time.

[Pony]

Yayyyyy!!!!

You are on your way !!

[Nina Kay]

Well Everyone,
I'm just about to make it through Day 5 without chips & dips. I've had a really really hard time with it today. The rationalizing thoughts have been so hard to fight. I am under so much extreme stress & sadness right now and I know that this is the reason for my struggle. I don't binge on sweets and now I've given up chips & dips. I just don't know how much longer I will be able to do this. I do want to thank you all for being here to support me and to help me hold myself accountable. I am doing this for my own good. It's important to my health and my energy that I need to do my job everyday and of course to just live my life for me in a suitable way.

[Neagrm]

Nina Kay, you're doing great coming here and writing about it. Have you asked yourself how or what you are feeling when you have the craving?

You mentioned sadness/grief earlier I think. Can you allow yourself to sit with the feelings for a few minutes, let yourself have them? When you need to return to whatever you were doing, comfort your self with words and a reassurance to yourself; you can also make an appointment to allow yourself to process your feelings at a later time if you need to. ... For just a minute or a few, let yourself be with your thoughts/feelings and don't worry about what you should/shouldn't do or what your plans are about food. Just observe what happens, like watching a movie and let go of any criticism.

I need to practice what I've just said. I don't know, just brainstorming a little about what one can do to try something differently from before. I've been trying to stop and ask myself when I am craving something to eat, what are you feeling right now? Am I physically hungry? What am I feeling? Sometimes I can figure out what's going on; often I can't name the feelings though. I'm hoping if I keep at it, they will come up.

Sometimes I get a drink of water first. I'm also trying to stop the berating self-talk, trying to give myself more compassion rather than ranting at myself subconsciously. I've discovered something -- it's very tough to silence that critical, judgmental voice. Right now it's almost impossible to let it go in one ear and out the other like an observer rather than the victim. Instead, I'm working on reminding myself I deserve the compassion I give to others.

Sorry to go on so long. I am processing as I write. Thanks for listening. I am having a very tough time right now with eating too many sweets and despite my best intentions, going ahead and purchasing donuts and candy today while grocery shopping.

Tomorrow is another day, another opportunity. As the saying goes, no matter what, never, never, never give up.

By the way, you are such an inspiration to me. Hang in there and know we're in there rooting for you. Best wishes!

[Nina Kay]

Hi Neagrm,
Thank you for your very encouraging & supportive post. I also want to thank you for sharing your brainstorming & your ESH with me. I'm sorry to hear that you are going through a hard time also, only with sweets. I've been there and done that too, of course. It is so hard, but I've found that it's not impossible. I like what you said and here on this board, we've all agreed and we remind each other often "No matter what, never, never, never give up". I really believe that this is the key to success. That and "Progress, Not Perfection."

As for what I'm feeling when I'm craving; I am feeling very stressed and nervous (tense) and sad. That makes me fidgety and down, and since I am an emotional eater, I start wanting to eat something, anything and continually, which means munching continually on something. I also am feeling somewhat hungry and I'm wanting to do something to wind down, because the kids that I babysit have all just left for the day. It makes me want to grab some chips and come here to the computer and just unwind and soothe my tension and upset with something that I find pleasurable.

Thank you for helping me with this Neagrm. As I've just written this, I've realized that I need to make sure that I go back to my original eating plan that I had when I got to go to my OA meetings. I ate three heathy, moderate meals and one snack with protein, around 3 o'clock, between lunch & supper, each day, called the 3-1-1 plan. Three meals, one snack, one day at a time. Then I wouldn't be so hungry right when the kids leave. I need to decide to go lay down for just a little bit right when they leave, so that I can wind down and relax better and stay with what I'm really dealing with. I could then go and take a warm bath or come to the computer, if I have time before supper. And of course, pray about my stress and grief (sadness).

You are right about the negative self-talk too. I've also been working on trying to treat myself with more compassion, just as I would anyone else. I am so verbally and emotionally abusive to myself. I wouldn't treat anyone else even nearly as badly as I treat myself everyday. I've been getting better at this though, so there's hope there. But here I am 51 yrs old and I've only been doing better at this during this last year. I've been berating myself for as far back as I can remember.

Again, thank you so much for your help. Please share with us here as often as possible.
(((((((((((((Appreciation Hugs)))))))))))))))

[Nina Kay]

Well everyone,
I have really crashed with the chips the last several days and today was the worst. I'm not sure, but I think that I'm replacing my bingeing with sweets to bingeing with chips. I haven't done the dip again though and that keeps me from eating quite as many chips. I've got to put a stop to this but I'm not sure exactly how. I wish that I had the time and opportunity to go to meetings again and read the literature and journal and walk outside. I know that all of these things help me, but I just can't seem to fit it in my schedule now.

[Pony]

Well, switch over to healthier chips...until you can get a handle on it. They have these veggie chips out that are pretty good. Also there are pita chips and some that are baked instead of fried. Or even pretzles.....try those...they have fat free ones.

We're with ya here. don't give up

[Ann]

Hi Nina, I still peek in here and am holding my own, weight wise, just trying to shake the Chrismas few pounds that I always seem to accumulate.

Chips and dip are my weakness too, and I follow low-carb which works for me and is wonderful and healthy for my husband's diabetes...so I switched to having about 4 Melba toast rounds topped with Philadephia Cream Cheese with Chives and that satisiies my urge for crunch and dip like you wouldn't believe, and is healthy as well and a low carb snack.

I couldn't resist posting this here because I know all too well how hard it is to give up something that we feel we "need", whether it is healthy or not.

Big hello and hugs to everyone.

[elizabeth1979]

You can also buy Veggie chips which are basically dried vegetables and they are crispy and flat like chips. I dip them in hummus and get the chip and dip effect

[mina86]

Nina Kay,

& everyone else who is a chip lover!

I am an under eater... and I LOVE chips. You aren't the only ones out there who have issues with eating too many chips. It affects everyone, not just over eaters. I need to drop the chips too and find a healthier substitute but sometimes my thought process just goes "as long as I'm eating something..."

I wish I liked to eat more. (and healthier)

Hang in there. Where are you currently at with eating chips & dip? (Or is there a different post I haven't found yet?)

[Neagrm]

Hi, Nina. Earthmaiden says it so well. Let's go read her last post again!

You are human and it's okay. Oh dear, I'm really being profound, huh. I'm not very eloquent at the moment, LOL, and guess that's why I want to echo what EM said. The ESH is very appreciated. But for sure we are only human and I'm sending you a big cyber hug. I'm right in there with you.

By the way, Nina, thank you for your kind response to my earlier post. I lost track of this thread and am so glad someone brought it back to my attention so I could read the further replies. I'm glad something I said was helpful and your feedback is an important validation for me during a tough time.

I find what you, and others say, so helpful. Isn't it wonderful how it works as we share, how it helps everyone.

There is good reason why you ate the chips. We are all learning how to care for ourselves and it takes patience and time. There are bound to be setbacks along the way to the goals we set for ourselves, two steps forward, one back; to be expected and normal. We'll get there. You are way ahead of me and I want to be like you when I grow up...

[mina86]

Just a(nother) quick note...

One of my favorite things to snack on at night when I get a little tummy grumbling is dipping Cheddar Ruffles in Chocolate Haagen Dazs Ice Cream...

after I eat it, I always feel guilty, knowing that I shouldn't have. And then I imagine my arteries clogging up and it taking its toll on my heart and other organs. but I still do it and I usually end up regretting it.

But again... sometimes I think to myself... "as long as I'm getting something in me"...

You guys aren't alone. Everyone, not just OEs have to deal with these things. Just keep it in mind.

[Pony]

Yep, I definately agree, we all are here because we all have issues with food. Whether it is over eating or not eating... it's all not healthy behaviors for our bodies or our lives. Making healthy choices has to be a conscious effort daily.


Nina, you are not alone..... I have been bingeing on chips for the last couple of weeks. I did ok at first. I don't usually go hog wild with them. I buy a bag adn they usually go stale before they are gone. I like to have some with a sandwhich for lunch or something, but lately I just can't seem to stop at the few.... I am eating the whole bag before I know it and of course I feel guilty.
Time for me not to buy them or have them around where I can get to them.

[Nina Kay]

I want to thank each of you that responded, for your sharing ESH, for your ideas, for your encouragement, understanding & support. I need all the help that I can get. I wrote down everyone's suggestions for replacements finally, and I'm going to take this list to the store and purchase them to have on hand.

As you can see, I've fallen completely back into a major binge with chips & dips. So, this will be my third time to try to remain abstinent from chips & dips, starting today. I'm just blown away by how much trouble I'm having with this, since I used to never be much of a chip person. I could take em or leave em. I always had trouble when I had dip with them, though, so I just hardly ever brought dips into the house. Now, I will eat a whole bag of chips at a time, no matter what kind they are, with or without the dip. It's not fair to not buy the chips, since my hubby & grandkids & the kids I babysit, really like them and don't have a problem with them. I went and reread this whole thread, which helped me to decide to start again with my efforts toward abstinence from chips & dips. So today, 2-18-07, will be my first day of abstinence that I'm going to concentrate on making it through, without any chips & dips. Again, thanks everyone. I'll check back in with how I'm doing. I hope that you all will too.
(((((((((((((((Supportive Hugs for Each of You))))))))))))))))))))))

[mina86]

I don't know if anyone else recommended this yet - I haven't seen it, that I recall... but someone at my work (I work for a fitness company - go figure), suggested that I replace chips with sourdough pretzels. Make sure they are the sourdough ones though cause they are the healthiest type of pretzel... I was eating the garlic bread ones for the flavoring but I compared the nutritional values and the sourdough ones are sooo much better!

Follow the serving size on the back of the nibblers (I believe it is 12 or 16 nibblers...) and if you chew them thoroughly and enjoy the crunch, you'll get your salty, crunchy, chip satisfaction fulfilled.

Good luck. Stay strong. Keep us posted on your day-to-day progress!

[Pony]

{{{{Nina}}}

[Nina Kay]

I just wanted to let everyone know that today makes 3 days of abstinence from chips & dips. Lately for me, that's alot. I've been able to do it so far, because of the support and encouragement from all of you here. Thanks.

[Nina Kay]

Thank you Earthmaiden. I've now made it through Day 4. I would love to know how you've been doing. Thanks for caring about me.

[mina86]

I don't know if this will trigger anyone, but sometimes complete abstinence can be worse than simple moderation. I know, I know, its not THAT simple...

but I know for me that I can't just give something up. Instead, I try to go a while without it and then I treat myself to it, but in a small portion. Like I haven't had cookies in weeks. But next time I get an intense craving (not just regular craving) for a cookie, I'll have one or two. Granted, I'm not the best example but I try to do that with a lot of unhealthy things I eat to try to control those unhealthy foods I put in my body. I figure, even if I'm at least eating half of what I would if I wasn't practicing moderation, then that's half better for my body! Right? Or am I just being lame?

Maybe you shouldn't listen to me. Lol.

And... and... Good work, Nina!!!!!

[Pony]

Good thread...


Nina, you are doing great. I, on the other hand, have done nothing but pig out on chips. It's like I can't get enough. Well, I am not buying anymore.....none!!! I just can't seem to have only a few right now. Usually I can and the bag usually gets stale before I eat them all, but not lately.... I am finishing the whole bag in a day. Very bad.

Earthmaiden, I haven't been able to do the "free from OS" myself.... I just don't want to give up my pepsi and I do use sugar in my coffee. I can't stand artifical sweeteners in hot drinks.

Mina, all input is always welcome. We never know what will work for some. I go in cycles where moderation works for a while and then I can't seem to control it. Life of an addict I guess.