Is there an Emotional Eating tribe? - Page 2

[tanyam926]

CURSE YOU HALLOWEEN CANDY! CURSE YOU!!!!!!!!!!


Having a hard time leaving the candy alone bc I feel so blah.....just unmotivated and overwhelmed.

I think I have identified the major feeling that makes me want to eat-feeling overwhelmed and like I can't handle everything and that I am not doing a good job.

So my choices are to a) become a totally awesome super woman and get it together; cooking, cleaning, child rearing, and do it from a zen place w/a smile on my face, or b)figure out how to deal w/the emotions in a way that doesn't involve eating crap.

Since I don't see a happening anytime soon I guess I better check out that book that a pp mentioned.

[Runningmommy]

just picked up the book this weekend, and haven't had a chance to start yet. Looks good and I'm up for it! Been waking up with headaches this week, and thought about all the sugar I've been eating linking that with the headaches I think. Off to feel better!

[Runningmommy]

Okay, page 14 of the " Breaking Free from Emotional Eating" book, and I've already made a connection. "When I'm not hungry and good food is around, I feel that I'm missing something very special if I don't eat"

Anywhere I go where there is food, I feel I "have" to eat it because this is my "chance"

I don't eat my kids halloween candy because I feel that they worked hard for it and it's theirs so there is no draw for me to bother it. Yesterday, my 9yo was very lovey, and in that mood he gave me two of my favorite candies. I took them because it was the offer of love in a gift from him, I promptly put them out of site and not touched them or thought of them since (with the exception of writing this). My 7yo, seeing this, did the same, and again, I put it up after showing my enthusiasm for such a loving gesture (to give something to someone else that you want for yourself).

Ahh, it's the small moments. I'm now really being thoughtful about the book connection and can't wait to read more of it to dig deeper.


Hope you are all doing well today!

[JayGee]

I totally think the same way, RM. My mantra this Halloween has been "I can get a Snickers bar ANY day of the year, I don't NEED to eat one now because it's there".

Geneen Roth is wonderful .

[Lacrymosa]

Is this still going? I'd love to join.

[JayGee]

Originally Posted by Lacrymosa

Is this still going? I'd love to join.

Of course . How is everyone doing? I feel like I'm on a really good course right now. I haven't eaten for reasons other than "being hungry" in 26 days now . It feels very good, although actually feeling the emotions that tend to drive me to food can be very uncomfortable.

[GinaRae]

I hope this thread takes off. I am just realizing that this is getting really serious and I need help. Overeating is an eating disorder with the same beginnings and anorexia or bulimia. I have been this way since I was young, but it's caught up to me now that I cannot exercise and don't work outside the home (you know, where I wouldn't eat as much, etc). Ugh... I need major help.

[agoldenlife]

vanishing box of chocolates...

Wow, what timing for me to have found this topic. TODAY: I bought a gourmet box of chocolates to give to a friend as a thank you for her recent kindness. I just asked my husband to hide it somewhere in the attic as it's 3/4 gone!!! I am not making this up. I can not have sweets (or any snacks for that matter) in the house or I eat them all in record time. Sometimes I have so little self control. I even tried brushing my teeth to help me stop, as this has helped in the past. It didn't work tonight.
Let's keep on sharing tips as I oviously need them. Thanks...

[GinaRae]

Ugh!! I tend to do that with things I buy or bake for the kids

[angelcollector1]

Originally Posted by agoldenlife

Wow, what timing for me to have found this topic. TODAY: I bought a gourmet box of chocolates to give to a friend as a thank you for her recent kindness. I just asked my husband to hide it somewhere in the attic as it's 3/4 gone!!! I am not making this up. I can not have sweets (or any snacks for that matter) in the house or I eat them all in record time. Sometimes I have so little self control. I even tried brushing my teeth to help me stop, as this has helped in the past. It didn't work tonight.
Let's keep on sharing tips as I oviously need them. Thanks...

OMG! This is sooo me! If I buy it, I eat it... all of it at one sitting unless I eat so much that I make myself ill. I don't even know how to enjoy and savor anything. I need help.

[babygrant]

*sigh* I'm here. I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO need this thread.

I do really good with my binge eating when my hubby is off work (4 days on 4 days off) because he kind of keeps track of my eating. But when DH is at work.....all hell breaks loose. I was married to DH when I used to purge, so he keeps a close eye on me. DH is able to eat everything and anything and not gain a pound. The junk food just keps making its way into the house..and it's not from me!

I don't know what my plan of action is. I have tried over and over and over again.....and I can't stay on track.

[JayGee]

How did we all fare over Thanksgiving? I was doing really well up to Thanksgiving day, and then I baked homemade dinner rolls. One sniff of fresh baking bread and it was over. I'd eaten 3 before they were even cooled from the oven . And then I just said, "Oh F it!" and ate way too much for the next two days. I've been back to eating well for the last two days though, and feel much better.

Do we ever really "recover" from emotional eating? Or will it be a struggle for the rest of our lives? All I want is a normal relationship with food, but I've been eating for reasons other than hunger for so long (at least 20+ years), that I'm not sure that's even a reasonable goal anymore.

[agoldenlife]

Originally Posted by JayGee

How did we all fare over Thanksgiving? I was doing really well up to Thanksgiving day, and then I baked homemade dinner rolls. One sniff of fresh baking bread and it was over. I'd eaten 3 before they were even cooled from the oven . And then I just said, "Oh F it!" and ate way too much for the next two days. I've been back to eating well for the last two days though, and feel much better.

Do we ever really "recover" from emotional eating? Or will it be a struggle for the rest of our lives? All I want is a normal relationship with food, but I've been eating for reasons other than hunger for so long (at least 20+ years), that I'm not sure that's even a reasonable goal anymore.

Survived Thanksgiving, despite having to really try hard to control myself while feasting at our friends house. I usually tend to run into these problems when I am at home.
So I bought another box of chocolates. It's still sealed and waiting to be delivered to my friend tomorrow. I did 'treat' myself to a small box of three chocolates as to leave the other one alone.
As for this being a struggle for the rest of our lives: not sure. I just know that I have good days and some very bad days. More often than not I can only take it one day at a time.

[GinaRae]

Thanksgiving was so-so, but then this past Saturday I binged so hardcore, omg. I've been eating too much for months and of course I'm sugar addicted, but this was different. Something triggered and it was awful. I actually think that's the worst I've ever been. I ate until I thought I would pop and went to bed thinking I still wanted to consume something.. anything. Since then I've only eaten the bare minimum, and not on purpose, I just stopped eating. It's been a weird rollercoaster.

[Runningmommy]

So far it has been life long for me, so I don't ever see a time without it in the future. Just trying to learn to live with it and not let it control me.

Just keep trying everyone, over and over and over, every meal/snack/day. I am.



what really bothered me is when I realized I was teaching it to my kids so obviously. My 5yo got his feelings hurt from a friend and started crying, so I handed him a cookie to make him feel better. !!! I hated myself for that!! ugh. still beating myself up for doing that to him. wish there was an easy fix. sigh.

[mommajb]

I meant to comment on this earlier. I struggle everyday. I have long periods of time during which I can't imagine eating in way that harms my body as in food for life and not the other way around. Then, something happens and I spiral out of control. It is hard to realize how much it affects me physically and emotionally to be stuffing my emotions rather than dealing with them when I am in a bad spot.

What helps me stay in control of the situation is having a mantra or question that I ask myself before I eat. I was so present when I was pregnant with dd2 asking myself each time I ate "Will this help my baby to grow healthy and strong?" Other times I simply stop and think, "Am I really hungry?" or "Have I not had enough to eat?" "The first bites tastes best, after that I fail to fully appreciate the beauty of the food," is my current thought.

The lifelong issue is that I seem to have to stop and think all the time. I cannot eat intuitively without over eating.

[agoldenlife]

Originally Posted by mommajb

What helps me stay in control of the situation is having a mantra or question that I ask myself before I eat. I was so present when I was pregnant with dd2 asking myself each time I ate "Will this help my baby to grow healthy and strong?" Other times I simply stop and think, "Am I really hungry?" or "Have I not had enough to eat?" "The first bites tastes best, after that I fail to fully appreciate the beauty of the food," is my current thought.

The lifelong issue is that I seem to have to stop and think all the time. I cannot eat intuitively without over eating.

I don't think it's an issue that you "have to stop and think all the time". I know for me this really helps. It's a way that I check in with myself and connect with my moods, emotions, etc. I have been trying to pause before I eat a meal and remind myself to s-l-o-w down my eating, to actually taste what I am eating, chew mindfully and on occassion, I try to put my utensils down during the meal to help me slow down even more. I can't believe how quickly I can eat sometimes!
I really need to do this or so often my plate is empty and I realize that yet again I rushed through the meal and never fully tasted my food.
I really have to do this on the days that I am not doing very well, whether it be due to stress, anger, sadness, loneliness, etc.

[agoldenlife]

Originally Posted by Runningmommy

what really bothered me is when I realized I was teaching it to my kids so obviously. My 5yo got his feelings hurt from a friend and started crying, so I handed him a cookie to make him feel better. !!! I hated myself for that!! ugh. still beating myself up for doing that to him. wish there was an easy fix. sigh.

Please don't be so hard on yourself. At least you're aware of your actions. This is so important. It was one cookie. You're still a good mama.

[GinaRae]

Originally Posted by mommajb

I have long periods of time during which I can't imagine eating in way that harms my body as in food for life and not the other way around. Then, something happens and I spiral out of control. It is hard to realize how much it affects me physically and emotionally to be stuffing my emotions rather than dealing with them when I am in a bad spot.

I do this too... the rollercoaster. What scares me is that I've been out of control for 3 years now, unchecked. Last Feb I quit sugar and in May went on Weight Watchers. I did well for a month or so and then I maintained my weight all summer. I'd lost 20-25 pounds. But then suddenly I didn't do well and I was plunged back into sugar and making boxed brownies and overeating meals and snacking. I gained back the weight I'd lost and then some in under 2 months! Then I went nuts as I posted about here:

Originally Posted by GinaRae

Thanksgiving was so-so, but then this past Saturday I binged so hardcore, omg. I've been eating too much for months and of course I'm sugar addicted, but this was different. Something triggered and it was awful. I actually think that's the worst I've ever been. I ate until I thought I would pop and went to bed thinking I still wanted to consume something.. anything. Since then I've only eaten the bare minimum, and not on purpose, I just stopped eating. It's been a weird rollercoaster.

I gained about 5 pounds in a couple of days but then suddenly I stopped eating. At 3pm I realized today I hadn't eaten all day. I've been this way since that binge. I've lost 8 pounds in a week. What the heck is going on? I just want to lose, and continue losing steadily and healthily until I am a healthy weight again.

Originally Posted by agoldenlife

I don't think it's an issue that you "have to stop and think all the time". I know for me this really helps. It's a way that I check in with myself and connect with my moods, emotions, etc. I have been trying to pause before I eat a meal and remind myself to s-l-o-w down my eating, to actually taste what I am eating, chew mindfully and on occassion, I try to put my utensils down during the meal to help me slow down even more. I can't believe how quickly I can eat sometimes!
I really need to do this or so often my plate is empty and I realize that yet again I rushed through the meal and never fully tasted my food.
I really have to do this on the days that I am not doing very well, whether it be due to stress, anger, sadness, loneliness, etc.

I have a disconnect most of the time. I cannot seem to get myself to THINK about these things. If I do, I tend to override it.

[academama]

I have just started seeing a therapist because of this. I am writing a dissertation and it's like every time I need to work I go into panic mode--it's so scary and overwhelming to write, so instead I binge. I'm working on it.

The main thing I'm trying to do right now is reduce the intensity of the binges--so that I'm eating less, and healthier things--even though I still feel like I don't know how to stop overeating.