depressed and feeling like a "day off"

So,.. does anyone ever just want to say.. F better choices today.. I want JUNK FOOD! I am totally having one of those days. My father-in-law is in the hospital very sick, and being transported to the Mayo Clinic in MN on Sunday. My hubby just left to go see him (a 5 hour drive away) I am feeling helpless, useless, and downright depressed. Its 1:00 and I haven't even ate my first meal today. Just feel like throwin in the towel and calling Pizza Hut.

How to talk myself out of it.... I have 4 kids, ages 10, 2 yr old twins, and 9 months. Makes it hard sometimes to stick to it. I keep telling myself that I don't need food to feel better, but its really hard to resist it.

What do you do to help keep your motivation and will power?

Just think about how I will feel after I eat that particular thing and make a better choice . Hope things get better for you .

I'm sorry you are going through a tough time.

My best advice as a trainer, coach, and someone who has lost 130lbs is to do it. Take a day and eat whatever you want. The next day you will find it much better to get back on track. The thoughts of food running through your head will be gone and as an added bonus you will spike your metabolism up.

One bad day has never made anyone fat.

Don't do it. The most difficult times are the best times to stick with your plan.

Food does not solve problems. It does not cure illness or loneliness or stress. Trying to fill those voids with food (or drugs or alcohol or whatever) is a futile exercise. Sad? Cry. Feel sad. The write about it. Talk to someone. Try to do something to relax like a long walk or a hot bath.

Think about how you will feel afterward. All your problems will still be there and on top of them, you will feel guilty and upset with yourself for eating a bunch of junk.

I do not think there is anything wrong with taking a "day off" now and then but don't do it because you're trying to heal your emotions. It won't work. In the end you will only feel worse.

Hope things get better for you soon!

I agree that one day of eating crap won't harm your overall progress. But the bigger issue is the emotional eating, so you want to be careful there. I am definitely sympathetic to your worries, I've had family members hospitalized for extended periods & it BLOWS. Just don't forget that you are showing your kids how to deal with tough situations like this. Up to you to decide what they will see.

Hang in there hon, good luck.

You got some good advice here. Hang in there!

I'm with k8yk--don't do it if you can help it. Life does not change overnight, and one day of feeling bad enough to eat poorly quickly turns in two, and three, and a week....

(Of course, if you already have, cut yourself some slack and take this advice for tomorrow!)

It's a lot of mental work to stay on course during these times. Try any type of self-talk that works for you at the moment. Sometimes I give myself permission to do it, and somehow taking away the forbidden-ness releases the urge. I try not to emphasize the guilt itself, but I try to remind myself that I don't actually feel better afterward....I believe I will, but experience has taught me that in fact I feel pretty awful physically. I have to remind myself of that.

Another trick is to make myself eat something healthy, telling myself that, after that, if I still need something yucky, I can have it. Usually, after eating something good, I feel better and the need is gone.

Good thoughts to your father-in-law. Your family needs you strong right now--and, last I checked, Pizza Hut doesn't sell that.

I don't think there is anything wrong with calling pizza hut. But don't eat the whole pizza!!!!
I find this site very helpful for situations like the one you described. write in the journal. Get your emotions out.. ( or if you a too private and don't want anyone seeing how you feel...write somewhere else!!!) I find that writing..and having a cup of green tea a good way to avoid eating the junk that isn't really gonna make you feel better.
Hope things get better. Your father in law is in my thoughts!!!

Take a day off. Or, take a day off and eat whatever you want, but do it in moderation. Or pick one treat, something that you really, really want, and eat it. Maybe it's a cupcake or a brownie or a big mac or... some pizza. There's nothing wrong with declaring one diet day off.

Yup! To answer your question, I do want junk food now and then. Our personal trainer tells us to eat a cheat meal every four days so that we have that to look forward to. I love those cheat days because I eat what I like (although that food now makes me feel tired). It makes the three days of being strict easier, and makes me feel I can do this for life!

Hope you're feeling better soon!

Hope your father in law gets well soon!