When things aren't going your way...

Since we just tackled the topic of emotional eating with Dr. Reyes, (Emotional Eating) I thought we might talk about some of the things that make us so emotional in the first place.  Now we all know that having a hard day, a hard month, or even a hard life, is not exclusive to bariatric patients.

However since most of you are bariatric patients, we should then talk about the things that trigger us to feel down.  Thing that make us so down in fact, that we turn to back to our unhealthy habits. 

1. You feel as though nothing is going right: You lost your keys and/or purse, your dog pooped on your shoes, you cannot get your Pandora to play music not matter how many times you have turned your phone off and on(that could possibly be happening right now)...etc.

2. After working out all week, eating right, and getting plenty of sleep, and you still gained weight.

3. You feel like no one can understand what is going on with you, you also cannot explain it because as soon as the words start coming out of your mouth you realize how crazy you must sound.

4. You don't physically feed good and you just cannot stomach making a fake smile today, and tomorrow is not looking good either.

5. You feel like if one more person says "Don't you feel so much better now that you lost all of that weight?" you may punch them in the face.

The first thing you need to realize is that you are not alone.  Do you hear me?  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  (Sorry to yell but this is important.)  As much as a bad mood and/or depression can make us feel isolated and unloved, we have to remember that " We are not alone" .  Identify a support system way before you feel bad, then when you do feel bad, reach out to them.  Let your friends and family love on you.  One hug, a few kind words, and knowing that people are thinking about you can help tremendously.  

The next thing you should do is set yourself up for success.  Instead of tossing your house like a CSI investigator looking for your keys, you should get your things together the night before. That means your clothes, your keys, your sensible lunch, everything.  You know you feel better when you get up knowing that everything is together in the morning.  

Get sometime alone.  Take a bath, do some yoga, take a walk, dance in your bedroom to the big butt song, make some time for you.  Even just 15 minutes a day can help you get centered again and back on the right track. 

Stop weighing yourself everyday!  STOP IT!  If you are not going to be kind to yourself, then who is?  Do the right things and stop obsessing about the scale.  If you aren't sure what the right things are, then see your Doctor, talk to the R.D., read up on great exercises that target your problem areas. 

 STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

No one feels happy and/or sociable all the time.  It's OK to feel down and a little grouchy sometimes. Do what you can to head it off at the pass, be honest with yourself about why you feel down, and allow people to help when they can.  If you find that your "Bad Mood" is lasting way too long and that it has moved into depression territory, call your doctor.  Do not suffer in silence, it's 2014, having depression is nothing, I said NOTHING to be ashamed of.  Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.  Take care of both, your future self will thank you for it.  Just like your future self will thank you for wearing sunscreen.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, there is help available: 

http://www.aplaceofhope.com/depression-hotline.html

Please visit our website: www.westernbariatric.com
or
Call one of our offices in Riverside or San Bernardino
951-352-5643 or 909-475-8611