' Daily Message - Emotional Eating

[Guest guest]

's Daily Message

Tuesday

July 19, 2005

STILL

I asked my class two very tough questions the other day. The first was, " How

did you become a compulsive eater? " The second was, " Why are you still a

compulsive eater? " I could see everyone was doing some soul searching and

thinking before putting pen to paper. Here are some of their answers.

" I began to be compulsive to fill the void of feeling unloved and unworthy.

I did not have to do anything to get the food to like me. It just did, and

it made me feel good! "

" It happened when I encountered a high degree of stress I was not accustomed

to and turned to food for comfort. "

" In my house, food was a pleasure/reward kind of thing. You eat, it feels

good, and you do it again. The immediate pleasure outweighs the long-term

problem of gaining weight. "

" As a child, I watched my parents overeat, and I needed an escape from their

rage. Food was my refuge. "

Here are some of the answers to the second question, " Why are you still a

compulsive eater? "

" Food is still my escape because I have not yet learned to satiate my needs.

I have changed many things, but I am so strongly rooted in eating to feel

better, and I always return to that behavior. "

" I am still one because eating is an immediate, happy rush to me. "

" It`s a lifelong habit, very hard to break. My food compulsion still calls

my name, and I always give in to it. "

" I simply lack discipline. I`m just not strong enough to combat my

addiction. "

" I could list a million ridiculous reasons why I have such a strong

relationship with food, but the truth is, I don`t love myself enough to

stop. "

" I`m still out of control because I`ve been hurt many times in my life, and

I overeat to gain weight and not look attractive to protect myself from

being hurt again. "

I have such a good relationship with all of the wonderful people who come to

Slimmons because they are so honest about their emotions. Are you honest

about yours? I know you can relate with what my students have to say. Figure

out how you became an emotional eater and why you still may be one. One of

my biggest hopes for you is to finally find some peace with your

relationship with food.

Love,