[IowaFarmGal]

Nothing real bad wrong today. Just don't feel like I belong anywhere. Just a blah irritated resentful day. Busy stressed day at work. Not connecting today.The cooks sent me home with a bunch of leftover desserts and I ate a bunch of that stuff. Typical way of dealing with stress. Not smart long range. I fat fat fat! Sorry just using this for a blahsink. Can't seem to stop saying stupid stuff to people. Don't mean any harm. I tried my best to answer a few posts. Hope I said something helpful.

I haven't seen you say anything stupid. I'm glad you're here Those cooks aren't doing you any favors though.

[Perna]

Hope you feel better today. No work, just weekend Too hot here to work off those desserts outside.

[IowaFarmGal]

I slept in today and I am feeling better. A mouse got in at the brownies so they went into the trash. I got some dishes done but then the drain got completely plugged and I've been fighting with it most of the day. I broke one plunger and had to go get another. Still no luck. I got a great upperbody workout though!

[Perna]

Ugh on the mouse. We had one in our wall and the cats were going crazy staring at the spot and listening for several weeks. Finally it jumped out and I had my husband chase it and see if he could get it outside but by the time he'd been battering at it with the broom toward the porch door, he'd seriously wounded it (it threw it over the neighbor's fence :-)

I thought that was it but the cats started listening again a few weeks later and I was worried there was a mate or babies, something like that and then suddenly one morning there were a million unexplained flies on the inside windows for that side of the house only, upstairs and down. . . I suspect something had died in the walls but that's all gone now and things seem normal.

Good luck with the drain! I had to throw out most of my hamburger buns this morning because of mold. Fortunately I had two packages and the newer one has just enough for burgers tonight and potato salad. I love the ease of summer eating!

Originally Posted by IowaFarmGal

I slept in today and I am feeling better. A mouse got in at the brownies so they went into the trash. I got some dishes done but then the drain got completely plugged and I've been fighting with it most of the day. I broke one plunger and had to go get another. Still no luck. I got a great upperbody workout though!

Plunger is probably not going to do it Does the drain have a P-trap or cleanout plug?
Something like this
You may not have the tools needed for this if it's an older house but it's worth a shot. And the tools required would be cheaper than a plumber. Its a PITA though... or more likely a pain in the back

[IowaFarmGal]

I did get it to the point it slowly drained out. I just dumped my dishwater into a bucket when it was time to change it. Thanks for the how to on the drain trap. Water was leaking out of all the joints. It's a double sink and the plunger takes two hands. Thanks so much for replying George and Perna. I get to feeling like an outsider sometimes and it helps.

The wellness instructor had me do a concern/benefit analysis of the comfort eating. One of the concerns about losing the weight was that I would lose my excuse to be part of the group. Belonging is a recurring theme I think and the fact that if I'm fat no one can pick me up and take me where I don't want to go. Here's what I came up with:

benefits of changing the comfort eating behavior:
1.stop gaining weight, begin to lose weight
2.feel better about myself
3.get back into my size 12's
4.save money by not buying fast food and junk food
5.better health

concerns about changing comfort eating behavior:
1.losing the main thing I enjoy in life, stess reliever
2.loss of protective layer
3.loss of my reason to belong to the group
4.need to figure out new coping strategies

benefits of keeping the comfort eating
1. I enjoy eating sweets
2. It relieves stress
3. It's easier, what I am used to
4. easier to leverage objects when I weigh more

Concerns about keeping comfort eating
1. continuing weight gain
2. repulsive appearance
3. joint and foot problems
4. health problems in the future
5. supports unhealthy thinking

Strategies for change:
1. find healthier versions of comfort foods
2. Allow small treats on a controlled basis when I become able to do that.
3. connect the stress cues to other behaviors such as: focused breathing gratitude exercise, self care like a warm bath or a cup of tea, work on a hobby instead, go for a walk or work out.
4. develop other interests you enjoy
5. Therapy for emotional issues of safety and belonging

[IowaFarmGal]

I'm eating candy today. I feel really bad about things and very isolated today. I made a good start this morning and cleaned up the area I use for my gym. I got a bunch of mouse traps and we are trying to get control of the mouse situation. They are destroying the place but I hate to kill things. Live traps don't work though. I'm writing selfish unhelpful stuff again. Sometimes I think I should stop trying to answer posts. I wish I could run away. I hate being a person.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by IowaFarmGal

I'm eating candy today. I feel really bad about things and very isolated today. I made a good start this morning and cleaned up the area I use for my gym. I got a bunch of mouse traps and we are trying to get control of the mouse situation. They are destroying the place but I hate to kill things. Live traps don't work though. I'm writing selfish unhelpful stuff again. Sometimes I think I should stop trying to answer posts. I wish I could run away. I hate being a person.

I saw your other post about not wanting to kill the mice. Have you ever tried a MiceCube? It's a plastic box the mouse crawls in, but can't get out. Then you take the cube outside - WAY away from the house! - and let the mouse go unharmed. They are usually for sale the same place in the store as mouse poison.

[IowaFarmGal]

The live traps stopped working. They just got wise to them and won't go in. I think they were finding their way back in and then teaching their babies to stay out or maybe letting them out.

[makesmewonder]

Originally Posted by IowaFarmGal

The live traps stopped working. They just got wise to them and won't go in. I think they were finding their way back in and then teaching their babies to stay out or maybe letting them out.

There you are doing what needs to be done. That itself impresses me. Today I had to do some things and I think they will be better tomorrow. I tell myself somedays that's enough but inside I believe its not. I look for meaning and in some ways I find some. I'm glad to not be alone. We may not know how but you inspire me .