Tools

Tools.  What are tools? Tools are things that can help you accomplish what you are aiming to accomplish. A well equipped tool box can help you get the job done quicker.

Ok so what's my point here? 

I'm an emotional eater. I know that. I can't seem to figure out how to stop the madness in my head or control what I eat so I wanted to brainstorm and think up some possible tools I can use to help me on my journey. 

I figure the tools can probably be divided into 2 categories  -- tools I physically use, and tools I can mentally use.  Let's start with physical because, honestly it's easier to think about and I think I can make some clear resolutions in this realm. 

Physical Tools

Tool #1 - My Fitness Pal 

I love My Fitness Pal for food tracking. When I'm ON (aka following my healthy lifestyle, losing weight, feeling good), I always use a food tracker. I find it super motivating to see my total calories (and be under them) or to see the counter move and show my weight loss. Even the little motivational thing that says how many consecutive days I've logged in for helps me.   So to me this is 100% recommended.   

My profile is private but if you have a My Fitness Pal account and would like to friend me and share your food diaries, here is a link to my profile. 

When 'falling off the wagon', the food tracker is one of the first things I neglect. SO, in trying to identify why I fail, that's one of the key things I observe. I still don't know what the exact trigger(s) are for failure, but I know that when I stop logging my food, I'm already on the downslope. Yet, I still don't seem to be able to recover.

Resolution: I resolve to always track my food in MFP, even when I eat bad. 

Tool #2 - Facebook Groups

I think Facebook groups can be a very useful tool.  Basically they've gone and replaced the 'forums' of old. Sure, you can still find message boards and forums but now, a lot of people are in facebook groups. I'm in SO many groups about all sorts of things, and I really find them beneficial. You can join facebook groups about literally everything; and there are a lot of weight loss and dieting groups to join.   Again, when I'm ON, I find myself active in the groups; participating and posting all the time. I still post when I'm in failure mode, but it's much less. 

Lots of people make real friends on these groups. I can't say that I have though. I mean I see the same people post, I am friendly, outgoing (hopefully) but I haven't been able to cross the bridge to "real" 

friendship. But, that's OK (I think). The groups can still be helpful even if you don't make best friends.

Resolution: I resolve to be active in supportive healthy eating / emotional eating / weight loss groups. I resolve to leave any groups with drama and negativity towards members.

Tool #3 - Hide The Scale 

I seriously have a love/hate relationship with my scale. I literally could not live without it, yet it is probably one of the single most de-motivating things I do for myself.  Maybe I should call it a dysfunctional/abusive relationship because the scale continues to hurt me, yet I continue to go back to it. 

I clearly understand water weight and that weight can fluctuate. I know that I won't show a loss every day, but yet I'm on that scale first thing in the morning (after I pee of course) with such anticipation.  And then I see the numbers and I feel awful about myself. I hate myself for the choices I've made in the last 24 hours.  

If I know this, why do I continue to climb on that scale like an insane person expecting a different outcome? Again, this is one of the things I cannot stop, almost a compulsion. I can't get rid of the scale, and I can't keep the scale.  

The best scale strategy is to get weighed once a week. Yes, once a week. I think that I need to resolve to do this along with my healthy eating plans. I may have to ask my husband to take the scale away and hide it from me during the week. 

Resolution: Weigh myself once per week. Have husband hide the scale if I get too tempted. 

Ok next post I'll delve into mental tools.