Well.
I’ve been a bit absent (read: completely absent) the past two weeks of the Losing It (but not our sanity) weight loss challenge. When you’re a co-host, that’s not exactly an awesome thing.
(Maybe I am losing my sanity after all?)
My excuse is that I haven’t had a scale the past couple weeks, being we were back in California sending my Marine to Afghanistan, and I was without internet on my laptop. No internet means it’s a little difficult to, you know, post.
Now if only I had as legitimate an excuse for the two pounds I saw evidenced on the scale this morning.
The intense pull of In-N-Out Burger and excessive amounts of sushi may have something to do with it, but I’m not telling.
I told a friend yesterday that my emotions are ridiculously connected to my eating–and it’s always one extreme or the other.
Stuff or Starve.
That’s the Monster in a nutshell.
There has to be a balance, doesn’t there? A bit of comfort food isn’t always bad, but when it goes beyond the occasional indulgence, it obviously causes problems. The same thing goes with starving, even when one has weight to lose.
After the two weeks in California (and the accompanying ice cream consumption) I drove up I-15 and apparently left my appetite somewhere in LA County.
We’re currently in Starve Mode around here, because I just, seriously, forget to eat. I know it’s emotional, I know it’s not healthy, and I know it needs to change.
But it’s been all cereal, peanut butter and jelly, cheese sticks and apples the past few days. Thankfully, there’s a grandma around the corner who is making sure to add a bit more variety to our meal plan.
So, all I have to say is that the past few weeks of Losing It could basically be tossed down the drain.
(IF, that is, there was a drain in which to toss them, which there isn’t in this house because, lo and behold, not 72 hours after I pulled into my Colorado driveway, the sewer system backed up and filled my bathtub.
Woo-stinkin-HOO!
Or not.
How’s that for an appetite killer? You probably wouldn’t feel overly into food after that if it was your bathtub.)
ANYway. Moving right along to a very brief update on my…
Goals!
Food: Covered that one.
Water: I’m drinking it. In large quantities.
Exercise: Does walking to and from my in-law’s house count?
Losing It: Honestly? I’m two pounds up from last time I checked in, due to the aforementioned Stuff and Starve practices. This means that thus far in this challenge, I haven’t lost a thing. I had lost a small bit before the challenge begun, which I guess is good? Either way, again,
Woo-stinkin-hoo.
Sigh.
The Talking Thing: I’m happy to say this is the one area there has been significant progress. And, frankly, for me, it’s probably the most important aspect of this challenge.
So tell me: when your life seems to go kaput, are you a stuffer or a starver?
And just because it’s almost 1am and I’m clearly giddy and delirious, I want to know your favorite comfort food. The day John left, I stocked up on sushi and mint chip ice cream. Just saying.
~~~

Losing It (but not our sanity) is a 10 week weight loss competition hosted by Mary at Giving Up On Perfect, along with Jessie at Vanderbilt Wife and me. If you’d like to join in the fun–and the loss!–go to Giving Up On Perfect and link up to your own post about the challenge. (You can also follow along on Twitter using the #LosingIt10 hashtag.) If you link up six of the ten weeks and are the contestant with the highest weight percentage lost, you will win a gift card to Dick’s Sporting Good, a pedometer provided by Weight Watchers, and a six month subscription to The 6 o’Clock Scramble, a healthful menu planning service.










My favorite comfort food is chocolate pudding and decaf espresso with all the fattening works in it. Praying for you, Dear.
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I’m a stuffer…. Coke and sweet baked goods would be my choice!
I, too, just started participating in this challenge…although, I was kind of already doing it?
Have a great day! Be sure to eat!
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Definitely ice cream. The night I got the call that my grandma was really sick, I came thisclose to calling Adam and asking him to bring home ice cream. Then I had to think: I’m not hungry!!! I just want the comfort food!
I’m more of a stuff than a starve, but I do both. Girl, I think we need to talk on the phone DAILY and support one another.
Love you!
Jessie
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Favorite comfort food… chips and queso and salsa and quacamole or any warm homemade bread with real honey butter. Sigh.
I’m praying for you guys and agree with Jessie.. an accountability partners every day is keeping me focused on the goal. Health… Health because my family needs me and He needs me more.
Neither the Stuff nor Starve is going to help you balance.. so a little bit every few hours is good. Don’t let this trial steal your joy!!
Love ya girl! Prayers shooting up for you constantly..
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Aack! :P When I get stressed I eat. I don’t exactly “stuff”… I just eat all day, and lots of comfort foods like cheese and sugar. :|
I’ll be praying for you as I pray for ME…
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It sounds like we are all having rough weeks. My comfort food is French Fries with Ranch dressing. I haven’t ever had the starving mentality… I suppose its bad to wish for that, since it isn’t healthy either huh?
Next week will be a better week. I am praying for you!
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hmmm my comfort food…would have to be grill cheese and tomato soup or a little deby’s cake..
And yes when I’m upset I eat and when I’m nervous I get sick…VERY sick.
Night before my big homeschool graduation…sick
many other big things in my life: sick
If and when I ever get married I’m sure the day before the wedding I’ll be sick….
lol sad but true…
Praying and you will never know how much you encourage me.
Ginger~
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I’m a stuffer and occasionally starver. My trigger is stress…big or little all too often I find myself thinking, “I need something to eat” just to deal with it.
As for comfort food, I am a fan of anything potato. But I’m also a baker (not by trade) and it’s so easy just to make cookies or muffins when I’m having a downer day…and, of course, taste the batter along the way.
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Chocolate, Ice Cream, and Mochas. :)
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My comfort food is Chocolate Pop Tarts (although mac and cheese in large quantities is a close second.)
I will definitely be keeping you in my prayers. Losing weight is difficult in the best of circumstances and so I know this has got to be extra tough for you!
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Comfort food? Brownies … as in a plate full (not just one!!). Why did you ask me that, I blame you in advance if I crave these all weekend:)
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you’re doing great Ashleigh…
You had a great post at Sarah’s!!! I loved it… thank you!
I am praying for you and the kids and your mom…
Blessings!
Charity @ Her Price is Far Above Rubies
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Stuff or Starve – never heard it put that way, but it’s so true!
My favorite comfort food… ice cream. Lots of ice cream.
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I honestly don’t know what my comfort food is, but probably something with lots of cheese. ;)
When things get stressful (read: busy and overwhelming) I tend to forget to eat. Which isn’t good, because then my blood sugar plummets and I have to eat a bunch of carbs to catch up… I do better when I am pregnant, though, because the Bebe reminds me to eat with gentle or not-so-gentle kicks. ;)
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Definitely a Stuffer. Carbs galore. Doesn’t matter if they’re salty or sweet. Just lots of either… or BOTH! So sorry your emotions have been so bad and for all your trials recently. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
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Favorite comfort food would be pickles and chips:) Weird but good:)
Don’t feel to bad about it, I have stopped getting on my scale:)
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Comfort food? CHEESE, please! Preferably the kind you dip chips into. :)
I’m definitely a stuffer. While I know it’s not healthy, I kind of wish I could starve at least for a little while. But like I said, I know that’s not good for me, either.
I’m praying for you, and I’ll include your sewer issues and eating in that prayer!!!
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Hmm, I love cheese and crackers… chocolate and in the winter, mashed potatoes ;)
Bread is always good too… esp. sourdough
I’m more of a stuffer in the winter…. gotta keep warm you know =D
But during the summer, when it’s hot, I starve on and off. I just don’t feeel like eating, ya know?
I hope your septic system gets fixed soon; that’s no fun at all!
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My favorite comfort food used to be grilled cheese sandwiches and tomatoe soup. But two years ago I switched to soy and gave up dairy except for free-range eggs from a friend. So it’s fried eggs, bacon, and toast. (I’m not supposed to have the bacon either, but, if eaten in moderation,it doesn’t make me feel lousy
like dairy does).
But if I’m really down–I go dairy literally–straight to the Dairy Queen and order a strawberry chocolate sundae in a chocolate-coated waffe bowl.
Oh and I’m a stuffer. During my divorce I gained 15 lbs and my husband lost 15 and he was the one leaving!
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By the way, I agree with the comment about this being a bad week for a lot of us. I went to the Dairy Queen—that’s never a good sign! I pray daily for you and the boys and esp. for your husband’s and his unit’s safety. You’ve got a bunch of prayers being sent upwards just from your blog alone!
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You are awfully brave starting a weight-loss regime at the beginning of a deployment (that being said, I did exactly the same thing at the beginning of my husband’s current deployment!!). Cereal is the MAINSTAY of deployment foods for me. And ice cream (especially the expensive pint-sized stuff that you can eat out of the carton with a spoon and not feel quite as bad about eating an entire carton of ice cream) is my comfort food.
We are about to finish our sixth deployment. Some have been brutal; this one has been an incredible blessing, despite the chaos of life during it all. Praying for you during this one, that it will bless both you and your husband. My hubby has been in Afg. this time and I kid you not – prayers I’ve prayed for YEARS have been answered in his life over there. God can move even in the most desolate places. :)
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Comfort food…inarizushi, curry udon, CoCo’s curry, broiled mochi, Sapporo Ichiban ramen…the list goes on…all things I can’t readily get here. Heh.
I’m a major boredom snacker…preferably something crunchy with salt. Pita chips are my current vice (although I’m off them at the moment since they were the last thing I ate before coming down with the stomach flu this week).
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I’m definitely a stuffer, on peanut butter cookies (even dough, straight out of the freezer) and… well, ICE CREAM =)
Just popping in to tell you you’re being lifted up in prayer this morning. Jesus is carrying you, and John, and the boys. I’m so thankdul that He does. You’re brave. And even when you’re not, Jesus is holding you, not letting go FOR A SINGLE MOMENT.
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