Mental battles are very real

Hello 

I'm hoping that this will not only help me, but help others too. 

I've had a lot of feedback and lovely comments from people who have been following my progress.  They have helped me celebrate the success, but also have found solace and strength in my slip ups and the open and honest way that I deal with it.  So rather than just Facebook posts, I thought I'd start a blog. 

I am a Slimming World member.  I believe in the plan completely, and I know if I follow it, I lose weight.  One thing my Slimming World consultant says to me each weigh-in is "Is there anything to stop you this week?" and my reply is always the same...."Only my head" 

You see, I have a lot of issues to deal with each and every day.  When my mind is calm, everything is straight forward.  No amount of temptation makes me want to eat, I have no problem walking past the biscuits at work or popping into the shop for milk and not buying chocolate when I'm there.   

If you're interested, I go into great detail about "Battling The Demons" in a previous blog -

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=123550312962645255#editor/target=post;postID=2393252797462241529;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=3;src=postname

This is not a self-pity, woe is me post. It's me living my life on the outside for all to see. I've had a really bad month health wise. Physically I've had a bad chest infection and still have the annoying cough that pisses everyone off. 

That led to me relaxing on the food plan, and those food demons got loose again. I've had my worst spell of binge eating for many years and as a result, I've put on.......

17 pounds in 4 weeks !!!!!

My blood sugars have been way too high, my internal body workings have been awful, IBS attacks, extreme fatigue, no desire to do anything......and the vast majority of this is related to all that crap food that we call treats.  Not only is it food that isn't very good for anyone, as a diabetic it pushes my BG up, and that in itself makes me feel unwell.

They are treats when you are sensible and have a little bit every now and then, it's fine.

But to a binge eater, that first biscuit can lead to the whole packet, that first chunk of chocolate will lead to the whole bar, when we have one Pringle we really can't stop.

It's so similar to addiction it's easier to treat it the same way. An alcoholic can't usually just have the one drink, so why do those of us who suffer from binge eating disorder feel like we've let ourselves down when we go over the top because we had "just the one" sweet / biscuit / cake?

I'm not going to be all Bah Humbug, though. However I'm going to be a lot more aware of what I eat over the next few days. Try and limit those "off plan" episodes and eat healthy in between the Christmas dinner and my birthday buffet on Tuesday.

If you see someone who is struggling, help them, don't criticise them for withdrawing or wonder what it is you've done or said.

I love and dread this time of year in equal measure.   

Enjoy your Christmas, I will

Enjoy your family and friends, I will

Try to look at any weight gain as though you've just spent some of the lbs you've been saving up all year.

I was 24st1 at my heaviest.  Even after gaining so much in the last month, I'm 21st9 now.  That's still a large step in the right direction!

If you want to join me, hit the follow button, or catch me on Instagram -

https://www.instagram.com/slimmingworld_graham/ 

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, and a happy and healthy 2016