Another habit

[Carree]

Well I finally feel as if I am doing good with my picking. I only have one scab on my leg and my face is looking really good. But now I am eating like crazy, I have gained 20 pounds in the last few months and it is making me really depressed. I can't fit into any of my clothes from last fall/winter. My sister in law is getting married on Saturday and I can't find anything to wear that I think looks nice on me. I know there could be worse things but I am really having a hard time with this!! I don't exercise, but I never have. I know that there are things that I could be doing to help out the situation but it is almost as if I have replaced picking with eating!! Well I just needed to vent a little, after trying on dresses all weekend and hating myself in all of them, I am just a little frustrated with myself!

[ready2heal]

why not try exercising then?

[Heather]

I second Ready2Heal!

I just started exercising this past summer. It has made a world of difference in my life. I swear, I haven't been this happy since elementary school. I'm not depressed anymore. Exercise puts me in a good mood the whole day! Who would've thought that something so simple could make such a dramatic difference?

It doesn't matter if you've never done it before. I had never done it before this past summer, and now I'm on the cross country team. On Saturday I ran 15 miles!

Sometimes there are very, simple, practical solutions to what seems like a very grave, unmanageable problem.

[angelkiss]

Carree,

don't worry, this same thing has happened to me. I have finally kicked the picking completely and now i eat everything in sight, where i used to be a very healthy eater. i think it's also partly that i am much, much busier lately and i don't have time to cook anymore, but it's also more of a feel good thing. i feel better when i'm eating comfort food. i worry b/c this is how my mother is about food. i'm afraid i'm turning into her.

i have virtually no time to exercise unless i want to wake up at four in the morning to hit the gym or go for a run, so i'm a little stuck on what to do to get back into shape. i'm trying to diet, but on the weekends i always blow it.

exercise just isn't a priority for me, i think that's the problem. i would much rather be at the library working on my csp study than busting ass at the gym.

anyway, just letting you know you're not alone!! maybe kicking one habit leads other habits to take over.

[Heather]

Hey Angelkiss,
I'm super busy too, but honestly, exercise makes me more productive. Even though I spend 2+ hours a day at practice, I end up getting more done because when I come home I'm totally pumped and clear-headed, and ready to do my work. This makes me a lot more efficient. Also, when I exercise, I am less likely to pick. And I'd sure as hell rather spend an hour exercising than an hour obsessing over damage I've done to my face!
Perhaps you (and anyone else who is worried about the time commitment) could try exercising for 15 minutes a day in your room. Does your dorm have some gym equipment? You could jog on the treadmill for just 10-15 minutes. Even small changes can make a noticable difference.
-H

[Carree]

Thanks Angel!!

I know that I really should exercise but like you I do not have a ton of extra time. I work full time and then go home and cook dinner and just spend time with my family. I feel guilty doing something for myself when my son wants my attention after spending the whole day away from me. I was doing really well eating healthy but at night instead of picking I find myself eating and eating! I do really well while I am at work. I pack my lunch almost every day and I do not snack, it is always at night. And weekends are really hard, we always have places to go and things to do. Maybe winter will be easier when it gets dark earlier and weekend plans die down. I have done really well eating this week but it's only been two days, now I just have to stick with it. Food is definitely one of my weaknesses, pizza especially.

I just hate the thought of having to buy new clothes when I have a closet full of ones that don't fit!! I am going to have to break down and buy something for this wedding this weekend, I have a really nice dress but of course when I tried it on last night it was skin tight! I want to look nice since both my husband and son are going to be in tuxedos!

Heather and Ready2Heal, I know that exercising is something that I should really do so here's my plan - I'm going to hook up a VCR downstairs and try to do work out tapes once my son goes to bed. It is really hard for me to get up in the morning any earlier than I already do. I am on Effexor and I really like the way that it makes me feel, it has really helped with my depression, but it makes me so tired. I take it at night so that I am not so tired during the day but I have such a hard time getting up in the morning.

Does anyone know of any good exercise tapes?

Thanks,
Carree

[Canuck]

Carree,
Check out www.videofitness.com for suggestions for good workout videos. All I do is the NYC Ballet Workout, which probably isn't what you're looking for (not much cardio/strength work). I really like Karen Voight as an instructor, though, so keep her in mind.
More suggestions when I'm not in such a rush!

[markers]

i like the winsor pilates videos. the ab workout is really hard..but the upper body workout and buns and thighs videos are my favs.

[touchingpeace]

I can totally relate. If it's not picking then it is something else I'm dealing with. The thing is that it takes time, which is hard to hear. If we can be patient and gentle with ourselves then everything will fall into place. It is not natural to be unhealthy. We are constantly healing and regenerating. The body knows what to do if we let it, it is amazing how quickly we heal (if you honestly think about it). So, I think that no matter where your focus lies, that if you can heal in one area of your life then other things will naturally fall into place. Do your best not to put energy into what you want to evaporate, and it will evaporate.

[sanctuary]

Hey everyone,

When it comes to diet and excercise I think everbody can relate to this subject. I truly believe that if we cut back on our portion sizes, excercise at least 3 times a week, drink a bunch of water,and don't snack on bad stuff after dinner, it could happen. ;D Believe me I know that it is the hardest thing. For the last 5 years I was working out every day. I always wore workout pants though.I would cover my arms with alot of concealer and hope that nobody noticed.In the last 4 or 5 months my picking got so bad that I looked like I had been attacked by a lion and was just too scared to walk in the gym and have people think I was on Survivor. To make a long story short, I really looked good when I followed those guidlines.I was even studying to get my certification in fitness training! Then I sabatoged myself! So I have not been to the gym since and will not walk back in until I am healed up.I don't know if you ever listen to Howard Stern, but there is this new product out and I just started taking it. It is called Trimspa. Anna Nicole Smith, that beautiful Guess Model, who put on all that weight just lost like 70 pounds and everybody is making a big deal about this TRIMSPA stuff! It is Ephedra Free and has a 110% money-back Guarentee.I could be a good spokes person for them, Huh! No, but really, I just started taking it and is seems to help the cravings alot.You can't take it if you are diabetic or have high blood pressure or are allergic to shellfish.I hope it works for me, since I have to lay low from the Gym until I clear up my body.If anyone wants to know or hear about my results in a couple of weeks or just more information, let me know! God Bless! *Sanctuary*

[Stef (Incubabe)]

Instead of grabbing a snack at night...drink a tall glass of water. It'll fill you up and you wont feel hungry.Or stock pile your fridge full of fruits and veggies or something like yogurt. Something with substance but not a lot of extra fat and sugar. That'll tame your craving and fill you up so you arent tempted to grab for some cookies.

[Carree]

Thanks everyone for your input, as always! I have been eating better this week but I have not been exercising. My goal is to start next week once I have all of this wedding stuff behind me. I really am going to work hard on trying to lose some weight. I know that I have been eating bad lately but I sometimes wonder if my medicine isn't part of the problem. It makes me feel so much better that I hate to change it. This is the 3rd one that I have tried. So we will see and I will keep all of you posted on my success with weight loss also!!!

By the way, I am so excited, my son is going to be a ringbearer this weekend. He is going to be so cute in his tux. (He's 3)

Talk to you all on Monday, will be really busy until then. Everyone have a happy pick-free weekend!

Carree

[angelkiss]

Carree, your son sounds adorable! :-) Have a wonderful weekend, I'm sure it will be a beautiful wedding.

My biggest problem with dieting/exercising is that 1) I am a perfectionist, so any slip-up feels like I shot my diet to hell, and 2) My schedule is so erratic that I can't keep down a solid, consistent work-out schedule or eating schedule. My lunch at work usually comes out of the vending machine and my boyfriend and I celebrate everything from a good day at work to a new pair of shoes with a pint of Ben and Jerry's.

I like the idea of fitting in exercise in small doses--fifteen minutes here and there. We have a tiny apartment, and I don't think tapes are going to work. Any other on-the-go ideas?