Eating for Energy??

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone!

This is my first post. I'm a 37 year old mom of a toddler and I

recently had my thyroid removed. Between the time I had her and now, I

have been studying for the CPA Exam, and stressing tremendously. I had

about 10 lbs left of " baby weight " . Nursing did not take it off like I

had hoped it would. Now, I carve carbs like crazy, especially when I'm

tired or anxious. Like now. I'm studying for the CPA Exam (last part)

and thinking that french fries would be good. I just had dinner, and I

would love to get in the fridge, but I don't want my daughter to see

me do that.

I am not usually a fan of the word " diet " because I battled anorexia

all througout high school, but I am up 30 lbs, and I want to take it

off for a number of reasons. (1) My class reunion is coming up (2) I

have clothes I cannot wear and refuse to get rid of (3) I'm sure my

husband wants his thin wife back (4) I want to feel better and be

healthy and live a long time for my daughter.

Should I wait until my last test is over--Feb 26, and give in until

then? I am so tired, I think I eat just to stay awake. What is bad is

the weight gain has made me depressed, which in turn makes me eat

more, so I gain weight, get more depressed, etc.

Blessings!

Retro

[Guest guest]

Welcome. Diet is die with a T on the end. Lifestyle and it's never easy.

You're under stress. The important thing is you left the fries alone!!!!!!!!

Congratulations.

It's all sassy fabulous: <http://blog.liedel.org/> Blog.liedel.org

From: insideoutweightloss

[mailto:insideoutweightloss ] On Behalf Of Retro

Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 7:57 PM

To: insideoutweightloss

Subject: Eating for Energy??

Hello Everyone!

This is my first post. I'm a 37 year old mom of a toddler and I

recently had my thyroid removed. Between the time I had her and now, I

have been studying for the CPA Exam, and stressing tremendously. I had

about 10 lbs left of " baby weight " . Nursing did not take it off like I

had hoped it would. Now, I carve carbs like crazy, especially when I'm

tired or anxious. Like now. I'm studying for the CPA Exam (last part)

and thinking that french fries would be good. I just had dinner, and I

would love to get in the fridge, but I don't want my daughter to see

me do that.

[Guest guest]

Hi Retro,

Wow! It sounds like you have a lot going. Are you still nursing your toddler?

That in and of itself will take a lot out of you. So many places will tell you

that nursing will help you to lose weight, I have 5 children all of whom nursed,

and I never lost weight nursing. I may be an odd bird, but it didn't happen for

me.

I know what you mean about eating when you are tired. I do that quite a bit,

and I especially crave carbs when I am tired. Is there a time that you could

take a nap in the afternoon or go to bed a little earlier a couple nights a

week? That will help with the tired. Something else that might help with the

energy and depression is to make sure you are getting 15 minutes of sunshine.

Sitting out on the porch or even better taking a 15 minute walk with your

toddler is a great depression buster. Another reason you might be craving carbs

is being low on B vitamins. I know that stress depletes them for me and breads

are a good source of them. I supplement, it helps me.

Retro, you just sound like you are burning the candle at both ends. Do you have

any time to take care of Retro? For me that makes the most difference of

anything. The extra food is sometimes my best attempt at self care. I have to

work at taking breaks and doing other things to take care of myself, but I find

that when I do I don't over eat as much.

If I were you I would not go on a diet. Just because I know very few people who

actually keep the weight off after dieting. Anytime I have dieted, any pounds

that came off usually come back later and bring a few of their closest friends.

Of course, just the thought of a diet will send me on a binge, so I steer clear.

If I were you I would work on taking care of yourself in other ways besides

food. (Especially work on taking naps or going to bed earlier on those nights

that you are tired.) Get out and get 5-15 minutes of sunshine daily, and if I

were you I would make sure I was getting at least a good B vitamin supplement

and preferably a good multi vitamin as well.

Just my 2cents,

Annie

[Guest guest]

I can relate to most of what you have to say. I'm between 20 and 25lbs up

from where I was at several years ago and I'd love to get it off. I can't

fit into my clothes, I have tons of jeans and can't wear any of them.

Overeating makes me depressed and then I want to eat more. Vicious cycle!

's podcasts help and I keep going back to the self correcting one. I'm

working on level 3 self correcting which involves getting professional help.

Keep posting in this group and I'm sure you will find the support you need,

CHristine

> Hello Everyone!

>

> This is my first post. I'm a 37 year old mom of a toddler and I

> recently had my thyroid removed. Between the time I had her and now, I

> have been studying for the CPA Exam, and stressing tremendously. I had

> about 10 lbs left of " baby weight " . Nursing did not take it off like I

> had hoped it would. Now, I carve carbs like crazy, especially when I'm

> tired or anxious. Like now. I'm studying for the CPA Exam (last part)

> and thinking that french fries would be good. I just had dinner, and I

> would love to get in the fridge, but I don't want my daughter to see

> me do that.

>

> I am not usually a fan of the word " diet " because I battled anorexia

> all througout high school, but I am up 30 lbs, and I want to take it

> off for a number of reasons. (1) My class reunion is coming up (2) I

> have clothes I cannot wear and refuse to get rid of (3) I'm sure my

> husband wants his thin wife back (4) I want to feel better and be

> healthy and live a long time for my daughter.

>

> Should I wait until my last test is over--Feb 26, and give in until

> then? I am so tired, I think I eat just to stay awake. What is bad is

> the weight gain has made me depressed, which in turn makes me eat

> more, so I gain weight, get more depressed, etc.

>

> Blessings!

> Retro

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Retro,

>

> Wow! It sounds like you have a lot going. Are you still nursing

your toddler? That in and of itself will take a lot out of you. So

many places will tell you that nursing will help you to lose weight, I

have 5 children all of whom nursed, and I never lost weight nursing.

I may be an odd bird, but it didn't happen for me.

>

> I know what you mean about eating when you are tired. I do that

quite a bit, and I especially crave carbs when I am tired. Is there a

time that you could take a nap in the afternoon or go to bed a little

earlier a couple nights a week? That will help with the tired.

Something else that might help with the energy and depression is to

make sure you are getting 15 minutes of sunshine. Sitting out on the

porch or even better taking a 15 minute walk with your toddler is a

great depression buster. Another reason you might be craving carbs is

being low on B vitamins. I know that stress depletes them for me and

breads are a good source of them. I supplement, it helps me.

>

> Retro, you just sound like you are burning the candle at both ends.

Do you have any time to take care of Retro? For me that makes the

most difference of anything. The extra food is sometimes my best

attempt at self care. I have to work at taking breaks and doing other

things to take care of myself, but I find that when I do I don't over

eat as much.

>

> If I were you I would not go on a diet. Just because I know very

few people who actually keep the weight off after dieting. Anytime I

have dieted, any pounds that came off usually come back later and

bring a few of their closest friends. Of course, just the thought of

a diet will send me on a binge, so I steer clear. If I were you I

would work on taking care of yourself in other ways besides food.

(Especially work on taking naps or going to bed earlier on those

nights that you are tired.) Get out and get 5-15 minutes of sunshine

daily, and if I were you I would make sure I was getting at least a

good B vitamin supplement and preferably a good multi vitamin as well.

>

>

> Just my 2cents,

> Annie

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Retro,

You've got TONS going on... you hang in there, okay? I find that I

think better when I'm eating nice clean food. nice portions to keep me

alert, rather than to divert blood from my brain and muscles.

Did you know that your brain uses up to 40% of the body's glucose? In

order to keep it running smoothly and consistently, complex carbs with

lots of fiber will help keep blood sugar levels even.

I too find that I have a hand-mouth-kitchen compulsion going when I am

studying. I try to trick myself into drinking tea- herbal tea- mint

tea and lemon tea are stimulating without caffeine. White tea has a

small bit of caffeine, and is blended into some really yummy blends

these days. I can run back and forth to the kitchen on a " study

break " . Hydrating too.

The most important thing that you can do is to take care of YOU. When

YOU are healthy, all of these things - kids, health, hunger, cravings,

studying, marriage - fall into place. Your well-being is the glue that

binds your life together. Be selfish here, and the others in your life

will benefit tremendously.

Best to you, and good luck in your endeavors!

COV

[Guest guest]

Retro,

It looks like you have picked some positive steps for yourself.

This is the thing that I have been having to learn this year, we as moms want to

take care of everyone around us 24/7. We love our husbands; we love our kids;

we even love our jobs (at least sometimes), but we forget to take the time out

to take care of ourselves. I know that you want to spend every spare minute

with that cute little toddler of yours, they grow up so fast and each stage

passes so quickly. But your family needs you to take the time out to take care

of you. . .to make sure you are getting enough rest, eating well, getting in

some fun movement, etc. When you take a little time for yourself each day, yes

you have a little less time with your family, but when they do have mom you are

the refreshed all there mommy instead of the stressed out tired mommy.

When you pass that exam, things will calm down and go a lot smoother. I hope

the multi vitamin and extra sunshine will give you the boost that you need until

then.

Annie

I have received a lot of great responses, and I like yours a lot.

Actually, before I started studying for the exam, I used to lie down

and nap when she did. I went to bed when she did. I was losing,

slowly, and I was happy because at least I wasn't gaining. Then I went

back to work, and started studying and everything went downhill. I am

doing well at work. I'm doing well studying, but now I am using that

nap time to study so I don't miss too much of my daughter's childhood.

I am not nursing now, but I'm putting her first and trying not to

sacrifice time with her to study. I am drinking far too much caffeine.

I'm going to take your advice and at the very least take a

mulivitamin. I'm also going to take my laptop outside to study when

she naps on the weekends.

The weird thing is: I like fruits and vegetables and healthy things

like whole wheat bread and oatmeal and non sugary cereal and I'm

teaching this to my daughter as well. It seems I only crave bad carbs

when I'm really stressed or lack energy. I'm laughing at craving

french fries last night because I hate them if they are fried because

I think the process creates carcinogens, and my dad died from colon

cancer in his 40s, so I have always steered away from that and red

meat and anything fried until it was burned like barbecue. (Someone is

going to come along and take my Texas-native card away from me! =)

I used to drink only water. I used to kickbox three times a week. I

just don't have time anymore because I always feel guilty when I trade

off one thing for something else, no matter what it is.

I think the truth is I need to pass this exam, and go back to what I

was doing before. I greatly appreciate everyone's input, and I am glad

that no one is judging me. You all are great!

[Guest guest]

Retro,

This is not going to be the " oh you really have a lot going on, poor thing "

reply. Sister, I'm in the trenches with you. I am taking the California Bar

exam the same time you are doing your CPA exam. I also had a total abdominal

hysterectomy on January 6. I have gone from running/cycling/lifting 9 hours a

week to NADA. And I'm studying for the hardest bar in the country. I live

alone. My fiance is in California which is why I have to relearn this stuff

which I promptly forgot 14 years ago.

These are my pointers, because let's get real, you have to take the test and you

have to pass it.

1. Keep healthy SATISFYING food in the house.

2. Eat on a schedule, and eat what you want.

3. This is no time for a diet. It's true that decreased carbs sap your ability

to concentrate. Balance carbs and protein.

4. Do not over eat. Eat what you want until you are satisfied. You can't

afford to waste your precious brain power on an overeating guilt trip. Or

undereat a little to leave room for snacks without a guilt trip.

5. Get some exercise every day. I have been walking and listening to review

materials. I can only walk right now. You could put the kiddo in a stroller and

put a few post it notes on the handle to study a few points you have trouble

remembering while you walk. If time affords, totally enjoy your exercise without

studying.

6. Don't throw your clothes away. After Feb. 26, you will probably find that

you have all kinds of motivation for anything physically and visually

stimulating, and that will help motivate you to Spring Clean your body.

This plan is working for me. I have lost a few pounds over the five weeks since

surgery. I eat less, because I eat when I am hungry. Considering that I went

from heavy, super jock activities to sitting on my duff all day except for my

walk - imagine the first few of those - I'm pleased as punch. At this rate I

will emerge from the bar about five pounds lighter -and not having been able to

exercise. I still have intermittent pain, and if I do the slightest bit too

much, I set my healing back a few days. It's amazing.

Hang in there, and let me know if you need some test support.

Nelse

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this. I'm not one to stick my head in the sand and feel

sorry for myself, which is why this bothers me so much. I'm going to

put my lectures on my laptop and watch them on the elliptical.

Glad to see someone else in this with me.

The last time someone told me to " get over it " , (after my divorce), I

lost 15 lbs, went back to school and found the love of my life. Tough

love works sometimes!

The best of luck to YOU TOO! It will all be over soon, and we will

have better choices in this horrible economy.

Retro

>

> Retro,

>

> This is not going to be the " oh you really have a lot going on, poor

thing " reply. Sister, I'm in the trenches with you. I am taking the

California Bar exam the same time you are doing your CPA exam. I also

had a total abdominal hysterectomy on January 6. I have gone from

running/cycling/lifting 9 hours a week to NADA. And I'm studying for

the hardest bar in the country. I live alone. My fiance is in

California which is why I have to relearn this stuff which I promptly

forgot 14 years ago.

>

> These are my pointers, because let's get real, you have to take the

test and you have to pass it.

>

> 1. Keep healthy SATISFYING food in the house.

> 2. Eat on a schedule, and eat what you want.

> 3. This is no time for a diet. It's true that decreased carbs sap

your ability to concentrate. Balance carbs and protein.

> 4. Do not over eat. Eat what you want until you are satisfied.

You can't afford to waste your precious brain power on an overeating

guilt trip. Or undereat a little to leave room for snacks without a

guilt trip.

> 5. Get some exercise every day. I have been walking and listening

to review materials. I can only walk right now. You could put the

kiddo in a stroller and put a few post it notes on the handle to study

a few points you have trouble remembering while you walk. If time

affords, totally enjoy your exercise without studying.

> 6. Don't throw your clothes away. After Feb. 26, you will probably

find that you have all kinds of motivation for anything physically and

visually stimulating, and that will help motivate you to Spring Clean

your body.

>

>

> This plan is working for me. I have lost a few pounds over the five

weeks since surgery. I eat less, because I eat when I am hungry.

Considering that I went from heavy, super jock activities to sitting

on my duff all day except for my walk - imagine the first few of those

- I'm pleased as punch. At this rate I will emerge from the bar about

five pounds lighter -and not having been able to exercise. I still

have intermittent pain, and if I do the slightest bit too much, I set

my healing back a few days. It's amazing.

>

> Hang in there, and let me know if you need some test support.

>

> Nelse

>