Guest guest Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 > I know we focus mostly on the food here, but I think for most > of us the triggers as to why we eat are just as important as > what we eat. In other words it's not what you're eating... > it's what's eating you! (I stole that phrase from Oprah). > > My dh just left for 3 days and baby is asleep. Normally at a > time like this I would order a pizza or dig thru the pantry > and fridge to see what I can eat to satisfy my loneliness. > I'm fighting those urges right now and I'm winning! Yeah! > > What do you guys do when you feel and emotional eating binge > coming on? Most of the time? I find something to get my mind off the food (like answering e-mail!). Other times, I pull out leftovers and eat -- if I'm hungry, I'm hungry and there's no sensible reason to deny myself food if it's healthy. On occasion, I go dark-side. Yes, on occasion I actually give in to my ultimate weakness -- potato chips. It's my wife's fault. If she didn't insist on keeping a bag or two here for herself.... On those less than common occurrences that involve giving in (they really aren't frequent) I remember a very important thing -- moderation. More oft than not, when I get the munchies I'll reach for a healthy snack. A slice or two of lunchmeat wrapped around a mozzarella stick (sometimes 2 or 3 of these), a fistful of nuts. On occasion I'll make a sandwich (I'm P2 -- WG bread is a-ok). Every once in a while, if I'm REALLY snacky, I pull out a bag of microwave popcorn and have a bowl with the family (generally the non-transfat variety, mind you). Right now, I've switched things up a bit. I eat 5-6 times a day and just have smaller meals. When you do that, it's kinda hard to get the munchies -- I'm already eating every 3 hours as it is, so.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 Diddy, I'm on Phase 1 too, and I still have my " triggers " ... I find myself prowling the kitchen, knowing I'm not hungry, but wanting to eat something (something fried & crunchy, oh gosh, not to even mention my Coke :-]), but knowing I better not... I haven't quite figured out how to settle my own personal demons, yet... I think I'm obsessing more about food now, than I ever did... What I can have, what I can't have, how can I change it, so that I can have it, how many can I have.... I feel your pain.... I wish you luck, share any " answers " with me, I could use all the help, I can get... Take care, Celeste __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 I'm glad someone else brought up the obsessing over food! I feel the same way. I was always super skinny and could eat whatever I wanted. After my son and husband going thru cancers, my eating went right down the tubes. Now that I have all this 'stress fat' on me, I have no idea how to get rid of it, so all I do is go back to the book, journal and obsess about food!! Now there's some stress!! Jillian in PA I haven't quite figured out how to settle my ownpersonal demons, yet... I think I'm obsessing moreabout food now, than I ever did... What I can have,what I can't have, how can I change it, so that I canhave it, how many can I have.... I feel your pain.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 I look at it as my hobby. We all have hobbys, some of them not so good for you. So why not have a hobby that makes you fit and healthy, and why can't figuring out what you can have in a healthy way be fun? I like this "hobby" and it's making my kids and I all the healthier. So you are taking time to take care of you. I think that's GREAT! You should take care of you FIRST, before the hubby, the kids, the job, the house, the in-laws, because if you don't, pretty soon, you won't be able to take care of those other things. I say keep the new hobby and enjoy it. Carol Re: Emotional Eating... Diddy,I'm on Phase 1 too, and I still have my "triggers"... I find myself prowling the kitchen, knowing I'm nothungry, but wanting to eat something (something fried & crunchy, oh gosh, not to even mention my Coke :-]),but knowing I better not...I haven't quite figured out how to settle my ownpersonal demons, yet... I think I'm obsessing moreabout food now, than I ever did... What I can have,what I can't have, how can I change it, so that I canhave it, how many can I have.... I feel your pain....I wish you luck, share any "answers" with me, I coulduse all the help, I can get...Take care, Celeste __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 It really helped me to read Dr. Phil's book on weight loss. " The Ultimate Weight Solution " , I think it's called? You can ignore the food plan part, since you're going to do SB, but the 7 Keys to Permanent Weight Loss apply to any kind of healthy way-of-life. I'm sorry your hubby is gone on a trip - I practically fall apart when DH leaves, it's so hard to care for three kids and a dog when you're all alone. I used to go along, back when we only had 1 kid and no dog, LOL. But now it's out of the question, especially with school starting this week. Jen in ND --- Pamela wrote: > I know we focus mostly on the food here, but I think > for most of us > the triggers as to why we eat are just as important > as what we eat. In > other words it's not what you're eating... it's > what's eating you! (I > stole that phrase from Oprah). __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 For me, during phase 1....I ate a LOT of SF jello. I just couldn't manage not to binge when the urge took me over, so I'd make 2 boxes at night before I went to bed, that way anytime I felt deprived or needed to eat for emotional reasons I could turn to the jello. After a few days the urges subsided. I really found that sugar triggered my desire to binge. It really helped me to read Dr. Phil's book on weightloss. " The Ultimate Weight Solution " , I think it's called? You can ignore the food plan part, sinceyou're going to do SB, but the 7 Keys to PermanentWeight Loss apply to any kind of healthy way-of-life.I'm sorry your hubby is gone on a trip - I practically fall apart when DH leaves, it's so hard to care forthree kids and a dog when you're all alone. I used togo along, back when we only had 1 kid and no dog, LOL.But now it's out of the question, especially with school starting this week.Jen in ND--- Pamela wrote: > I know we focus mostly on the food here, but I think> for most of us > the triggers as to why we eat are just as important> as what we eat. In > other words it's not what you're eating... it's > what's eating you! (I > stole that phrase from Oprah).__________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 See, it's great y'all can find something " safe " to gnosh on when that emotional eating binge hits you, but what do you do when... A) You don't have a sweet tooth and really do not like sweet foods. You love salty foods but have to eat low sodium. C) You love potato chips but can't eat them because of sodium AND fat AND the fact they're potatoes. D) You don't like chips because of the crunch, so things like carrots and such can't substitute. Etc, etc, etc.... See, that's my problem. When I need comfort food I can't eat it because I'm just not allowed!!!! (I'm sure SOMEONE'S getting a laugh at my private hell.... <Grin>) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 >See, it's great y'all can find something " safe " to gnosh on when that >emotional eating binge hits you, but what do you do when... > >A) You don't have a sweet tooth and really do not like sweet foods. > You love salty foods but have to eat low sodium. >C) You love potato chips but can't eat them because of sodium AND fat AND >the fact they're potatoes. >D) You don't like chips because of the crunch, so things like carrots and >such can't substitute. > >Etc, etc, etc.... oh james, i totally understand where you're coming from. all my sympathies!! potato chips used to be my number one vulnerability; it's one of the things i'm most grateful to SBD for. it ended my enjoyment of chips. when emotional eating hits me, there's always one thing and one thing only that will satisfy it... and that one thing changes depending on the situation. luckily, some of them can be dealt with within the SBD realm, like the nasty craving i had for Strawberry Quik a month or so ago. (Torani sugar-free strawberry syrup is a joy.) but as a ferinstance, for the past month i've been dealing with some major family illness, and i ran from only wanting toasted ' english muffins with butter - toasted WG bread with olive oil and fat-free butter flavoring didn't cut it at all - to wanting pineapple sorbet to having a nutso craving for Sausalito cookies. it felt SO random, and i went nuts trying to eat something reasonable. there was some good that came out of it, though - like discovering that Lindt 70% dark chocolate has less sugar than Dove's Promises as a note, i've heard from other folks who do low-sodium diets that Bragg Amino Acids work really well when they're craving salt. but it isn't good for a no-sodium diet, so i'm not sure that helps you at all. it's tough out there and considering everything you've been going through recently, i'm more impressed by your perseverance. good luck! ~risa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Ayayyay ! Paola --- Noctaire wrote: > See, it's great y'all can find something " safe " to gnosh on when that > emotional eating binge hits you, but what do you do when... > > A) You don't have a sweet tooth and really do not like sweet foods. > You love salty foods but have to eat low sodium. > C) You love potato chips but can't eat them because of sodium AND fat > AND > the fact they're potatoes. > D) You don't like chips because of the crunch, so things like carrots > and > such can't substitute. > > Etc, etc, etc.... > > See, that's my problem. When I need comfort food I can't eat it > because I'm > just not allowed!!!! > > (I'm sure SOMEONE'S getting a laugh at my private hell.... <Grin>) > > > > ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Try genos salami. It has some saltiness, no crunch and it has protein. Great with similar sized slices of cheese for a snack. -- Ann You spend your life fighting dirt, and when you die they bury you in it. hayakawa@... North Bend, Oregon, USA > A) You don't have a sweet tooth and really do not like sweet foods. > You love salty foods but have to eat low sodium. > C) You love potato chips but can't eat them because of sodium AND fat AND > the fact they're potatoes. > D) You don't like chips because of the crunch, so things like carrots and > such can't substitute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 I feel your pain. I am not a sugar/sweet person. With the exception of dark chocolate (yay, SBD!), I really couldn't care less about sweets in general. In fact, I often complain that most foods (spaghetti sauce, baked goods etc.) are waaayyyyy too sweet. In fact, I'm a bit of a freak about it. If Dh stirs his sweetened coffee and then stirs mine, I can't drink it. However, I adore salt and fat. I love potato chips...especially salt and vinegar potato chips. Yummy! Which leads me to my suggestion. To me, both vinegar and lemon juice is experienced as "salty". I love that cucumber/onion salad with the vinegar (Grandma always just called it Cucumber salad) only most people add a ton of sugar. I don't. I also seem to remember a lot of Greek dishes are tart that way. Oh, and I find melted cheese (oddly enough, not so much cold cheese) as salty too. And while cheese has a lot of sodium in it too, something with a little melted mozzarella on, for instance, might do the trick. Betsy RE: Emotional Eating... See, it's great y'all can find something "safe" to gnosh on when thatemotional eating binge hits you, but what do you do when...A) You don't have a sweet tooth and really do not like sweet foods. You love salty foods but have to eat low sodium.C) You love potato chips but can't eat them because of sodium AND fat ANDthe fact they're potatoes.D) You don't like chips because of the crunch, so things like carrots andsuch can't substitute.Etc, etc, etc....See, that's my problem. When I need comfort food I can't eat it because I'mjust not allowed!!!! (I'm sure SOMEONE'S getting a laugh at my private hell.... <Grin>) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Wow Carol, I really like your thinking on this. I'll have to try that frame of mind. My hubby is going to working nights soon and I just know that I'll have emotional eating if I'm not careful. Nights are the worst for me as it is! Thanks! Shirley " Carol Parsons " <cinders@v...> wrote: > I look at it as my hobby. We all have hobbys, some of them not so good for you. So why not have a hobby that makes you fit and healthy, and why can't figuring out what you can have in a healthy way be fun? I like this " hobby " and it's making my kids and I all the healthier. So you are taking time to take care of you. I think that's GREAT! You should take care of you FIRST, before the hubby, the kids, the job, the house, the in-laws, because if you don't, pretty soon, you won't be able to take care of those other things. I say keep the new hobby and enjoy it. Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 > Try genos salami. Yaagh!! It's supposed to be " Genoa salami " . Sorry about that! -- Ann You spend your life fighting dirt, and when you die they bury you in it. hayakawa@... North Bend, Oregon, USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 I can only imagine that the desire to eat from emotions will always be just under the surface for some of us...just like an ex-smoker will always wants an occassional cigarette no matter how long they have been quit. What does change is the way we deal with these things (again, different for everyone) and our way of looking at it when it does happen. If you eat, you eat...ok. You figured out why you ate, gave yourself permission to do so, observed the effects and didn't lay blame. That in itself has to be so much better than the olden days. BTW, I laughed at your comment " rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever)." That's how I feel about sitting with feelings too. I'm not really good at self inflicted pain. I tend to acknowledge the feeling, ask myself where I think that's coming from, see what lesson it may have for me and then move on. Sitting there feeling a feeling just for the sake of feeling it is just not ever going to work for me. Remember, (All those new here) this is an on-going process and you will not achieve perfection in a few weeks or months. Be patient and kind to yourself and rejoice in every step forward. Sunny Emotional eating... I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others respond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine of "eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc." mean that eventually the desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the quiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result of things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to the deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last night a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and I ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to track the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm not sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I didn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't abandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was difficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually hungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to challenge those thoughts and reframe them. So…. How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away with more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions differently over time….??? Thanks. Burp. Sandarah ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 I can only imagine that the desire to eat from emotions will always be just under the surface for some of us...just like an ex-smoker will always wants an occassional cigarette no matter how long they have been quit. What does change is the way we deal with these things (again, different for everyone) and our way of looking at it when it does happen. If you eat, you eat...ok. You figured out why you ate, gave yourself permission to do so, observed the effects and didn't lay blame. That in itself has to be so much better than the olden days. BTW, I laughed at your comment " rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever)." That's how I feel about sitting with feelings too. I'm not really good at self inflicted pain. I tend to acknowledge the feeling, ask myself where I think that's coming from, see what lesson it may have for me and then move on. Sitting there feeling a feeling just for the sake of feeling it is just not ever going to work for me. Remember, (All those new here) this is an on-going process and you will not achieve perfection in a few weeks or months. Be patient and kind to yourself and rejoice in every step forward. Sunny Emotional eating... I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others respond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine of "eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc." mean that eventually the desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the quiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result of things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to the deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last night a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and I ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to track the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm not sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I didn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't abandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was difficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually hungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to challenge those thoughts and reframe them. So…. How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away with more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions differently over time….??? Thanks. Burp. Sandarah ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 I think what you describe is pretty typical, both from my reading and from my own experience. The difference in this experience and the old emotional eating experience is that you stayed present, and that probably resulted in your eating at least somewhat less. Also, if the previously forbidden foods are no longer forbidden that robs them of a lot of the draw to eat them -- in short, it sounds like you did good! I suspect any repeat occasions might be milder, shorter, easier to handle. Like you said you did not abandon yourself, and the body will, I think, adjust to the idea that you will stick around no matter what. Think how reassuring that is! Very Well Done, Sanamu, really! Judy Subject: Emotional eating...To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Thursday, September 8, 2011, 1:58 PM I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others respond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine of "eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc." mean that eventually the desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 For my whole life I've eaten to " numb pain, " but at some point after starting IE 7 weeks ago, I truly absorbed the truth that the only problem eating fixes for me is hunger. I " sat in the feeling " a few times laboriously, choosing to wait for hunger and then eat whatever I was craving, and recognized that for me, despite all the indoctrination I'd had in Overeaters Anonymous years ago, the feelings DIDN'T FEEL ANY WORSE not eating than when I did eat, compulsively, usually sweets, in one serving after another. Once I truly " got it " that it didn't help, the urge mysteriously ended. I've had Costco packages of assorted mini chocolate bars in the house for the family " dessert " after dinner and rarely even think of it. If I'm hungry and want some, I have it, but it doesn't call to me or seem all that great when I do have it. Whereas in the past, I'd pick away at it a few pieces a day until it was gone and then wait a long time before I risked buying it again. I'm not sure I'd have as easy of a time not picking at a chocolate cake, which I have eaten sliver by sliver until a large portion is gone in the course of a day in the past, but I haven't been interested in buying one lately and my husband has said he didn't want one, so why pay $17 for one? One lesson at a time, one food at a time sometimes. I'm making progress, but wouldn't say I'm " there " yet, or ever will be, for all I know. But food is okay for today. Jane > > > I can only imagine that the desire to eat from emotions will always be just under the surface for some of us...just like an ex-smoker will always wants an occassional cigarette no > matter how long they have been quit. What does change is the way we deal with these things (again, different for everyone) and our way of looking at it when it does happen. If you eat, you eat...ok. You figured out why you ate, gave yourself permission to do so, observed the effects and didn't lay blame. That in itself has to be so much better than the olden days. > > BTW, I laughed at your comment " rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). " That's how I feel about sitting with feelings too. I'm not really good at self inflicted pain. I tend to acknowledge the feeling, ask myself where I think that's coming from, see what lesson it may have for me and then move on. Sitting there feeling a feeling just for the sake of feeling it is just not ever going to work for me. > > Remember, (All those new here) this is an on-going process and you will not achieve perfection in a few weeks or months. Be patient and kind to yourself and rejoice in every step forward. > > Sunny > > > > > > > > Emotional eating... > > > I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others > espond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine > f " eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc. " mean that eventually > he desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? > The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the > uiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result > f things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to > he deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last > ight a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and > ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my > eelings (whatever). > Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to > rack the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm > ot sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I > idn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't > bandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was > ifficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually > ungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to > hallenge those thoughts and reframe them. > So . How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away > ith more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions > ifferently over time .??? > Thanks. Burp. Sandarah > > > ----------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 For my whole life I've eaten to " numb pain, " but at some point after starting IE 7 weeks ago, I truly absorbed the truth that the only problem eating fixes for me is hunger. I " sat in the feeling " a few times laboriously, choosing to wait for hunger and then eat whatever I was craving, and recognized that for me, despite all the indoctrination I'd had in Overeaters Anonymous years ago, the feelings DIDN'T FEEL ANY WORSE not eating than when I did eat, compulsively, usually sweets, in one serving after another. Once I truly " got it " that it didn't help, the urge mysteriously ended. I've had Costco packages of assorted mini chocolate bars in the house for the family " dessert " after dinner and rarely even think of it. If I'm hungry and want some, I have it, but it doesn't call to me or seem all that great when I do have it. Whereas in the past, I'd pick away at it a few pieces a day until it was gone and then wait a long time before I risked buying it again. I'm not sure I'd have as easy of a time not picking at a chocolate cake, which I have eaten sliver by sliver until a large portion is gone in the course of a day in the past, but I haven't been interested in buying one lately and my husband has said he didn't want one, so why pay $17 for one? One lesson at a time, one food at a time sometimes. I'm making progress, but wouldn't say I'm " there " yet, or ever will be, for all I know. But food is okay for today. Jane > > > I can only imagine that the desire to eat from emotions will always be just under the surface for some of us...just like an ex-smoker will always wants an occassional cigarette no > matter how long they have been quit. What does change is the way we deal with these things (again, different for everyone) and our way of looking at it when it does happen. If you eat, you eat...ok. You figured out why you ate, gave yourself permission to do so, observed the effects and didn't lay blame. That in itself has to be so much better than the olden days. > > BTW, I laughed at your comment " rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). " That's how I feel about sitting with feelings too. I'm not really good at self inflicted pain. I tend to acknowledge the feeling, ask myself where I think that's coming from, see what lesson it may have for me and then move on. Sitting there feeling a feeling just for the sake of feeling it is just not ever going to work for me. > > Remember, (All those new here) this is an on-going process and you will not achieve perfection in a few weeks or months. Be patient and kind to yourself and rejoice in every step forward. > > Sunny > > > > > > > > Emotional eating... > > > I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others > espond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine > f " eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc. " mean that eventually > he desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? > The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the > uiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result > f things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to > he deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last > ight a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and > ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my > eelings (whatever). > Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to > rack the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm > ot sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I > idn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't > bandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was > ifficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually > ungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to > hallenge those thoughts and reframe them. > So . How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away > ith more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions > ifferently over time .??? > Thanks. Burp. Sandarah > > > ----------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 For my whole life I've eaten to " numb pain, " but at some point after starting IE 7 weeks ago, I truly absorbed the truth that the only problem eating fixes for me is hunger. I " sat in the feeling " a few times laboriously, choosing to wait for hunger and then eat whatever I was craving, and recognized that for me, despite all the indoctrination I'd had in Overeaters Anonymous years ago, the feelings DIDN'T FEEL ANY WORSE not eating than when I did eat, compulsively, usually sweets, in one serving after another. Once I truly " got it " that it didn't help, the urge mysteriously ended. I've had Costco packages of assorted mini chocolate bars in the house for the family " dessert " after dinner and rarely even think of it. If I'm hungry and want some, I have it, but it doesn't call to me or seem all that great when I do have it. Whereas in the past, I'd pick away at it a few pieces a day until it was gone and then wait a long time before I risked buying it again. I'm not sure I'd have as easy of a time not picking at a chocolate cake, which I have eaten sliver by sliver until a large portion is gone in the course of a day in the past, but I haven't been interested in buying one lately and my husband has said he didn't want one, so why pay $17 for one? One lesson at a time, one food at a time sometimes. I'm making progress, but wouldn't say I'm " there " yet, or ever will be, for all I know. But food is okay for today. Jane > > > I can only imagine that the desire to eat from emotions will always be just under the surface for some of us...just like an ex-smoker will always wants an occassional cigarette no > matter how long they have been quit. What does change is the way we deal with these things (again, different for everyone) and our way of looking at it when it does happen. If you eat, you eat...ok. You figured out why you ate, gave yourself permission to do so, observed the effects and didn't lay blame. That in itself has to be so much better than the olden days. > > BTW, I laughed at your comment " rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). " That's how I feel about sitting with feelings too. I'm not really good at self inflicted pain. I tend to acknowledge the feeling, ask myself where I think that's coming from, see what lesson it may have for me and then move on. Sitting there feeling a feeling just for the sake of feeling it is just not ever going to work for me. > > Remember, (All those new here) this is an on-going process and you will not achieve perfection in a few weeks or months. Be patient and kind to yourself and rejoice in every step forward. > > Sunny > > > > > > > > Emotional eating... > > > I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others > espond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine > f " eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc. " mean that eventually > he desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? > The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the > uiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result > f things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to > he deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last > ight a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and > ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my > eelings (whatever). > Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to > rack the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm > ot sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I > idn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't > bandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was > ifficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually > ungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to > hallenge those thoughts and reframe them. > So . How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away > ith more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions > ifferently over time .??? > Thanks. Burp. Sandarah > > > ----------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 Sandarah,I have found for me, YES, definitely, the urge to eat for emotional reasons has lessened with time... but it still rears its head from time to time. but much less often. i wanted to post about this last week, actually, but didn't have time... my newborn just REFUSED to go to sleep for two hours in the middle of the night, and i got so frustrated, and yes, resentful, because i was just so tired. after she finally passed out in the swing, i very rebelliously stayed up and ate oreos and read my book until 2 am. because i just felt so desperate for a little self care.but of course, eating Oreos wasn't really self-care. more like self-injury. because i was eating them out of rebelliousness. i haven't had the energy to really process that... but i'm aware of it. and wondering how to deal with it. at least the next day i worked hard to not feel bad about it... but i still felt a LITTLE bad about it. anyway, i haven't done it since, but maybe that's just because she's sleeping better!hope this helps and doesnt' just sound like crazy overtired (again) rambling! abbyIE since 11/08  I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others respond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine of " eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc. " mean that eventually the desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the quiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result of things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to the deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last night a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and I ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to track the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm not sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I didn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't abandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was difficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually hungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to challenge those thoughts and reframe them. So…. How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away with more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions differently over time….??? Thanks. Burp. Sandarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 Sandarah,I have found for me, YES, definitely, the urge to eat for emotional reasons has lessened with time... but it still rears its head from time to time. but much less often. i wanted to post about this last week, actually, but didn't have time... my newborn just REFUSED to go to sleep for two hours in the middle of the night, and i got so frustrated, and yes, resentful, because i was just so tired. after she finally passed out in the swing, i very rebelliously stayed up and ate oreos and read my book until 2 am. because i just felt so desperate for a little self care.but of course, eating Oreos wasn't really self-care. more like self-injury. because i was eating them out of rebelliousness. i haven't had the energy to really process that... but i'm aware of it. and wondering how to deal with it. at least the next day i worked hard to not feel bad about it... but i still felt a LITTLE bad about it. anyway, i haven't done it since, but maybe that's just because she's sleeping better!hope this helps and doesnt' just sound like crazy overtired (again) rambling! abbyIE since 11/08  I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others respond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine of " eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc. " mean that eventually the desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the quiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result of things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to the deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last night a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and I ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to track the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm not sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I didn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't abandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was difficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually hungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to challenge those thoughts and reframe them. So…. How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away with more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions differently over time….??? Thanks. Burp. Sandarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 Sandarah,I have found for me, YES, definitely, the urge to eat for emotional reasons has lessened with time... but it still rears its head from time to time. but much less often. i wanted to post about this last week, actually, but didn't have time... my newborn just REFUSED to go to sleep for two hours in the middle of the night, and i got so frustrated, and yes, resentful, because i was just so tired. after she finally passed out in the swing, i very rebelliously stayed up and ate oreos and read my book until 2 am. because i just felt so desperate for a little self care.but of course, eating Oreos wasn't really self-care. more like self-injury. because i was eating them out of rebelliousness. i haven't had the energy to really process that... but i'm aware of it. and wondering how to deal with it. at least the next day i worked hard to not feel bad about it... but i still felt a LITTLE bad about it. anyway, i haven't done it since, but maybe that's just because she's sleeping better!hope this helps and doesnt' just sound like crazy overtired (again) rambling! abbyIE since 11/08  I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others respond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine of " eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc. " mean that eventually the desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the quiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result of things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to the deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last night a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and I ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to track the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm not sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I didn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't abandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was difficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually hungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to challenge those thoughts and reframe them. So…. How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away with more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions differently over time….??? Thanks. Burp. Sandarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 Oh, my dear, I remember those days. I am so sorry. Do whatever you need to do to just get through! Sandarah,I have found for me, YES, definitely, the urge to eat for emotional reasons has lessened with time... but it still rears its head from time to time. but much less often. i wanted to post about this last week, actually, but didn't have time... my newborn just REFUSED to go to sleep for two hours in the middle of the night, and i got so frustrated, and yes, resentful, because i was just so tired. after she finally passed out in the swing, i very rebelliously stayed up and ate oreos and read my book until 2 am. because i just felt so desperate for a little self care.but of course, eating Oreos wasn't really self-care. more like self-injury. because i was eating them out of rebelliousness. i haven't had the energy to really process that... but i'm aware of it. and wondering how to deal with it. at least the next day i worked hard to not feel bad about it... but i still felt a LITTLE bad about it. anyway, i haven't done it since, but maybe that's just because she's sleeping better!hope this helps and doesnt' just sound like crazy overtired (again) rambling! abbyIE since 11/08 I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others respond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine of "eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc." mean that eventually the desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the quiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result of things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to the deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last night a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and I ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to track the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm not sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I didn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't abandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was difficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually hungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to challenge those thoughts and reframe them. So…. How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away with more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions differently over time….??? Thanks. Burp. Sandarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 Thanks, I totally get it about the rebeliousness; that's me in spades. For now. Just for now. Sandarah > > Sandarah, > > I have found for me, YES, definitely, the urge to eat for emotional reasons > has lessened with time... but it still rears its head from time to time. but > much less often. > > i wanted to post about this last week, actually, but didn't have time... my > newborn just REFUSED to go to sleep for two hours in the middle of the > night, and i got so frustrated, and yes, resentful, because i was just so > tired. > > after she finally passed out in the swing, i very rebelliously stayed up and > ate oreos and read my book until 2 am. because i just felt so desperate for > a little self care. > > but of course, eating Oreos wasn't really self-care. more like self-injury. > because i was eating them out of rebelliousness. > > i haven't had the energy to really process that... but i'm aware of it. and > wondering how to deal with it. at least the next day i worked hard to not > feel bad about it... but i still felt a LITTLE bad about it. > > anyway, i haven't done it since, but maybe that's just because she's > sleeping better! > > hope this helps and doesnt' just sound like crazy overtired (again) > rambling! > > abby > IE since 11/08 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 Good words, thanks. Yes emotional processing... the price for having lived through the 80's. I'm doing better than I would have thought today - these emotional/food binges used to last for days on end. In between restricting periods of course. This was just a speed bump; or maybe one of those tests of the system that come on tv in the middle of a good part in a movie. Disconcerting but not the end of the world. Sandarah (IE since 8/11) > > > I can only imagine that the desire to eat from emotions will always be just under the surface for some of us...just like an ex-smoker will always wants an occassional cigarette no > matter how long they have been quit. What does change is the way we deal with these things (again, different for everyone) and our way of looking at it when it does happen. If you eat, you eat...ok. You figured out why you ate, gave yourself permission to do so, observed the effects and didn't lay blame. That in itself has to be so much better than the olden days. > > BTW, I laughed at your comment " rather than sit and feel my feelings (whatever). " That's how I feel about sitting with feelings too. I'm not really good at self inflicted pain. I tend to acknowledge the feeling, ask myself where I think that's coming from, see what lesson it may have for me and then move on. Sitting there feeling a feeling just for the sake of feeling it is just not ever going to work for me. > > Remember, (All those new here) this is an on-going process and you will not achieve perfection in a few weeks or months. Be patient and kind to yourself and rejoice in every step forward. > > Sunny > > > > > > > > Emotional eating... > > > I'm recovering from a bout of emotional eating yesterday and wonder how others > espond when/if they get into emotional eating? Does settling into a routine > f " eat when you're hungry, stop when your satisfied, etc. " mean that eventually > he desire to eat when upset/sad/overwhelmed/in pain, etc. goes away? > The past few weeks I've felt this upsurge of sadness that comes in swells in the > uiet times but then subsides as quickly as it arises. I know it's the result > f things not being as covered by food and food rules and that I am awakening to > he deadening effects of food/diet obsession I've lived for so very long. Last > ight a whole wash of feelings came to a head for me and I guess I panicked and > ate formerly forbidden foods (candy and lots of it)rather than sit and feel my > eelings (whatever). > Even though I was eating with no thought of hunger, I was eventually able to > rack the emotions churning inside of me and I didn't eat until I exploded. I'm > ot sure if I ate any less than I would have in the past; but this morning I > idn't wake up with feelings of utter failure and defeat because I didn't > bandon myself and I didn't beat myself up. So, that's good. Even so, it was > ifficult to allow myself to continue to gobble down food I wasn't actually > ungry for and my diet police did kick in a bit though I was working to > hallenge those thoughts and reframe them. > So…. How do others work with emotional eating while on IE – and does it go away > ith more and more practice and/or does one come to deal with emotions > ifferently over time….??? > Thanks. Burp. Sandarah > > > ----------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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