Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Triggers

I had a binge of sorts yesterday and a minor run in with some thin mint girl scout cookies on Saturday. The good news is that I am aware of why both happened.

On Saturday, we went to visit my family because my little sister was going to her Senior Prom. What a happy time in a girls life, well except the spazmatic episode of applying prom worthy make up. This episode had me pacing and wanting to claw out my own eyes. I searched the fridge and the freezer for something to sooth me. And to my delight, there was a brand new box of girl scout cookies in the freezer. The best way to eat them, of course. And eat them I did. Between my dad and I, we polished off a sleeve of them, I think. My the time I was done, the make up was applied and all was right in prom land again.

Yesterday, I woke up with horrible, incurable heartburn. My symptoms have been worse when my stomach is empty, I have come to learn. So, I ate my breakfast and but that didn't do the trick as it normally does. So, after about an hour or so passed, I thought maybe I did not eat enough. So, I decided to have a snack even though I wasn't really hungry. I ate some brown bread with hummus and a graham cracker with nutella. I was stuffed when I was done. My symptoms were milder, but still there. So, I drank so ginger ale. They went away for a bit but came back. So what did I do? I ate more brown bread and hummus and a yogurt.

On both occasions, I was aware that I was ignoring my hunger signals and eating for sheer comfort. Saturday, it was stress and yesterday it was being sick. And so what, really. I was at least aware that I was eating for other reasons, I recognized the feelings and now I am moving on. I think that this part of the process is just as important as anything else.

Recognizing Triggers is a very good thing.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Recognizing triggers is big. Girl, last night, I did the same thing. I realzed I was binging because I was tired, exasperated with my job, and starving. But I ate, and I didn't beat myself up about it or starve myself today.

I think that recognition is a big step. Stopping will come later, I think. Heck, I'm new to IE, so I am just hoping that this is true!

Jen C. said...

This is such a wonderful recognition! It's funny, I feel less like I've failed somehow when there is a lesson to be had. I'm glad you were able to learn from your experiences this weekend, as well, and hope you're feeling better!

wife2abadge said...

Yes, it is a good thing -- but only if you're prepared to do something different the next time the trigger happens. That's where I often "fall down on the job".