Guest guest Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 The CRAZY thing is that I managed to get the same numbness/high on some sliced pepperoni this am. When katcha said she didn't think Gillian would believe sugar in particular is a tranquilizer or addictive, I decided to see if I use other foods that way... And I'm starting to see that I do! I'm not singling out sugar anymore.... I'm listening Harry about the feelings, and and . I have a lot to process now.. I just need to put it into effect! Thank you ALL so much! KnoblochSent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. CellularFrom: "bbspaller" Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:40:30 -0000To: <IntuitiveEating_Support >Subject: Re: My story I guess my problem is I can't figure out what feelings I'm hiding! I read about others family issues and bad " memories " they had growing up. I had a normal childhood. No real bad memories that effect me today. A lot of books I've read about emotional eating they suggest you're trying to numb old/current feelings. But what if you really don't have any? Food seems to just be addictive for me and especially sugar! If I had to choose between a carrot or candy..it would be a no brainer for me! I love this board! It's really opening my eyes to things! Barb > > > > I hope my story helps some of you understand the concept of emotional eating as it relates to sugar being used as an over the counter tranquilizer. Any suggestions for avoiding the urge top medicate with sugar would be greatly appreciated also! > > > > I have gone many years without restricting forbidden foods. From age 33 to the present, (I am 44) I ate whatever I wanted in whatever quantities I desired. I simply did not care how much I weighed or what size I was! > > > > UNTIL my older sister lost 90 pounds and my mother informed me that I was now the largest female in the family. I was happy for my sister, but I knew her weight was 20 pounds more than me, and her height was 3 inches shorter than me. I also saw the tags in Mom's and Sister's pants! > > > > I WAS NOT bigger than them, and I decided that the next time they'd see me it would be a no-brainer. I lost 25 pounds and went from an 18W to a 14 in four months. Guess what Mom said when she saw me? " I can tell you have lost weight in your face and arms, but you still have your gut. " . Nice, hiuh? Well, I LoVe my body just the way it is! > > > > Anyway my point in writing this is that I have had a sugar addiction for 20+ years... from my skinny college days, to my anorexic first years of marriage, to my. highest weight of 225 and still today at 189! > > > > I am NOT addicted to the taste of sugar, for if I was, I would be able to make a candy bar last all day like my skinny 12 year old daughter does (and leave part of it on the hot car seat to make a melted mess).. I too, used to savor each tiny bite, sliding it around my mouth so that each part of my tongue had an opportunity to share the joy of it. I am aware of this, and if I'm mindful I can do that. > > > > BUT I don't eat sugary foods for the way they taste, I eat them in large quantities for the way they make me feel AFTER I have eaten them. I binge on them, cramming them down as quickly as I can... And I have sadly come to the realization that this is the classic profile of an emotional eater. > > > > With the book Shrink Yourself, I have made great progress, and I'm only half-way finished with it. > > > > Here are some truths about me... I was a binge drinker in college and quit when I started my teaching career. Shortly after that I married and had a daughter. I learned the power sugar held as a tranquilizer when a long chain of miscarriages preceded the ultimate birth of my perfectly healthy son. With a 5 year old to care for and a teaching career to honor, bingeing on alcohol just wasn't a feasible option. > > > > Until reading Shrink Yourself (the first half so far) I was totally unaware that I was using sugar as a tranquilizer. Like I said before, I have NEVER forbidden sugar, but once I experienced its numbing effects while losing baby after baby, I held strong to it and unconsciously applied its power to other uncomfortable feelings like anxiety, fear, worry, hurt, anger... NOW the only thing I have left to work on is recognizing my feelings in the split second before I head for whatever sugar is available! And trust me, it is and has always been plentiful in my pantry! > > > > > > Knobloch > > Sent from my BlackBerry� wireless device from U.S. Cellular > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Hmmm more 'food' for thought. I think my mind wants to numb itself so I take it out on my body. When my body gets uncomfortable the discomfort in my heart/mind shifts to the distraction of discomfort that I have created in my body. KnoblochSent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. CellularFrom: "denny y" Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:03:06 CDTTo: <IntuitiveEating_Support >Subject: RE: Re: My story Would you say that your body or your mind has the sugar addicion Re: My story I hope that you would email Gillian and ask her for her thoughts (directly). I don't think she agrees with the thought that sugar is 'addictive'. And really one can use many foods to 'tranquilize' so its not a one-to-one connection to sugar only? Katcha IEing since March 2007 > > Does Gillian believe people use sugar to tranquilize? > Knobloch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 This is just a comment, however I have the belief that I do have a bit of a sugar insensitivity. I know that many will say that this is a distorted/irrational belief. However, I found that when I'd eat a lot of foods, I would suffer the same effects as when I consumed food that was obviously made from sugar. What I found is that nearly all foods--including meats, frozen vegatables, nut butters, milks, yogurts, canned beans, and the like are all pumped full of sugar to maintain flavor/freshness. I am trying to get off this mentality that I cannot eat sugar (and I do have it on occassion), but I know how sugar makes me feel after eating it (the high followed by the need to take a long nap), and I am able to recognize this same feeling when I eat foods that I do not prepare myself (e.g. at a restaurant, a friend's house, etc). I guess the healing and intuitive eating mentality comes into play when I realize that I have the option of eating sugar, I just choose not to as a result of the consequential feelings I have following. Does this make sense? Thank you for reading. I sincerely appreciate all of the support and I enjoy reading everyone's posts each day. It keeps my mind going and challenges me to look at the world differently.Subject: Re: Re: My storyTo: "Eating Intuitive" <IntuitiveEating_Support >Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 11:09 AM The CRAZY thing is that I managed to get the same numbness/high on some sliced pepperoni this am. When katcha said she didn't think Gillian would believe sugar in particular is a tranquilizer or addictive, I decided to see if I use other foods that way... And I'm starting to see that I do! I'm not singling out sugar anymore.... I'm listening Harry about the feelings, and and . I have a lot to process now.. I just need to put it into effect! Thank you ALL so much! KnoblochSent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. CellularFrom: "bbspaller" Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:40:30 -0000To: <IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.com>Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] Re: My story I guess my problem is I can't figure out what feelings I'm hiding! I read about others family issues and bad "memories" they had growing up. I had a normal childhood. No real bad memories that effect me today. A lot of books I've read about emotional eating they suggest you're trying to numb old/current feelings. But what if you really don't have any? Food seems to just be addictive for me and especially sugar! If I had to choose between a carrot or candy..it would be a no brainer for me! I love this board! It's really opening my eyes to things! Barb > > > > I hope my story helps some of you understand the concept of emotional eating as it relates to sugar being used as an over the counter tranquilizer. Any suggestions for avoiding the urge top medicate with sugar would be greatly appreciated also! > > > > I have gone many years without restricting forbidden foods. From age 33 to the present, (I am 44) I ate whatever I wanted in whatever quantities I desired. I simply did not care how much I weighed or what size I was! > > > > UNTIL my older sister lost 90 pounds and my mother informed me that I was now the largest female in the family. I was happy for my sister, but I knew her weight was 20 pounds more than me, and her height was 3 inches shorter than me. I also saw the tags in Mom's and Sister's pants! > > > > I WAS NOT bigger than them, and I decided that the next time they'd see me it would be a no-brainer. I lost 25 pounds and went from an 18W to a 14 in four months. Guess what Mom said when she saw me? "I can tell you have lost weight in your face and arms, but you still have your gut.". Nice, hiuh? Well, I LoVe my body just the way it is! > > > > Anyway my point in writing this is that I have had a sugar addiction for 20+ years... from my skinny college days, to my anorexic first years of marriage, to my. highest weight of 225 and still today at 189! > > > > I am NOT addicted to the taste of sugar, for if I was, I would be able to make a candy bar last all day like my skinny 12 year old daughter does (and leave part of it on the hot car seat to make a melted mess).. I too, used to savor each tiny bite, sliding it around my mouth so that each part of my tongue had an opportunity to share the joy of it. I am aware of this, and if I'm mindful I can do that. > > > > BUT I don't eat sugary foods for the way they taste, I eat them in large quantities for the way they make me feel AFTER I have eaten them. I binge on them, cramming them down as quickly as I can... And I have sadly come to the realization that this is the classic profile of an emotional eater. > > > > With the book Shrink Yourself, I have made great progress, and I'm only half-way finished with it. > > > > Here are some truths about me... I was a binge drinker in college and quit when I started my teaching career. Shortly after that I married and had a daughter. I learned the power sugar held as a tranquilizer when a long chain of miscarriages preceded the ultimate birth of my perfectly healthy son. With a 5 year old to care for and a teaching career to honor, bingeing on alcohol just wasn't a feasible option. > > > > Until reading Shrink Yourself (the first half so far) I was totally unaware that I was using sugar as a tranquilizer. Like I said before, I have NEVER forbidden sugar, but once I experienced its numbing effects while losing baby after baby, I held strong to it and unconsciously applied its power to other uncomfortable feelings like anxiety, fear, worry, hurt, anger... NOW the only thing I have left to work on is recognizing my feelings in the split second before I head for whatever sugar is available! And trust me, it is and has always been plentiful in my pantry! > > > > > > Knobloch > > Sent from my BlackBerry� wireless device from U.S. Cellular > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Oh my gosh. I was just analyzing the pepperoni situation vs the sugar.... Although I use many different foods to tranquilize (pepperoni and mc donald's fries for sure) I think I have been turning to sugar because it isn't fatty. Oh my! I have a lot of foods to rethink. Are you following this Sharon. Watch yourself - I bet you have other tranquilizing foods too!!!!! Hmmm at least the pepperoni has protein. I like to eat oatmeal for breakfast, but with being home this summer and having to drag my kids out of bed at 7 am to get to swim team, t ball, horse workouts, most days I don't have time to make myself look nice. To cook it quickly I have to put my ingredients in an ice cream bucket and microwave it 3 minutes. The gallon bucket is because it crawls up the side and makes a mess of the microwave! I have searched all of Iowa for the "steel oats" and cannot find them. How are they different than regular Quaker oats. I don't like the individual pre-flavored instant packets, but they are quicker to make. Hmmm.... I think I get the 'high' with my oatmeal, a nice happy full tummy, but I just feel sick with the instant preflavored packets. Would it work to precook and freeze it in individual servings?Thanks for hanging in there with me Katcha... I'm learning so much. KnoblochSent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. CellularFrom: "" Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:09:42 +0000To: Eating Intuitive<IntuitiveEating_Support >Subject: Re: Re: My story The CRAZY thing is that I managed to get the same numbness/high on some sliced pepperoni this am. When katcha said she didn't think Gillian would believe sugar in particular is a tranquilizer or addictive, I decided to see if I use other foods that way... And I'm starting to see that I do! I'm not singling out sugar anymore.... I'm listening Harry about the feelings, and and . I have a lot to process now.. I just need to put it into effect! Thank you ALL so much! KnoblochSent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. CellularFrom: "bbspaller" Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:40:30 -0000To: <IntuitiveEating_Support >Subject: Re: My story I guess my problem is I can't figure out what feelings I'm hiding! I read about others family issues and bad " memories " they had growing up. I had a normal childhood. No real bad memories that effect me today. A lot of books I've read about emotional eating they suggest you're trying to numb old/current feelings. But what if you really don't have any? Food seems to just be addictive for me and especially sugar! If I had to choose between a carrot or candy..it would be a no brainer for me! I love this board! It's really opening my eyes to things! Barb > > > > I hope my story helps some of you understand the concept of emotional eating as it relates to sugar being used as an over the counter tranquilizer. Any suggestions for avoiding the urge top medicate with sugar would be greatly appreciated also! > > > > I have gone many years without restricting forbidden foods. From age 33 to the present, (I am 44) I ate whatever I wanted in whatever quantities I desired. I simply did not care how much I weighed or what size I was! > > > > UNTIL my older sister lost 90 pounds and my mother informed me that I was now the largest female in the family. I was happy for my sister, but I knew her weight was 20 pounds more than me, and her height was 3 inches shorter than me. I also saw the tags in Mom's and Sister's pants! > > > > I WAS NOT bigger than them, and I decided that the next time they'd see me it would be a no-brainer. I lost 25 pounds and went from an 18W to a 14 in four months. Guess what Mom said when she saw me? " I can tell you have lost weight in your face and arms, but you still have your gut. " . Nice, hiuh? Well, I LoVe my body just the way it is! > > > > Anyway my point in writing this is that I have had a sugar addiction for 20+ years... from my skinny college days, to my anorexic first years of marriage, to my. highest weight of 225 and still today at 189! > > > > I am NOT addicted to the taste of sugar, for if I was, I would be able to make a candy bar last all day like my skinny 12 year old daughter does (and leave part of it on the hot car seat to make a melted mess).. I too, used to savor each tiny bite, sliding it around my mouth so that each part of my tongue had an opportunity to share the joy of it. I am aware of this, and if I'm mindful I can do that. > > > > BUT I don't eat sugary foods for the way they taste, I eat them in large quantities for the way they make me feel AFTER I have eaten them. I binge on them, cramming them down as quickly as I can... And I have sadly come to the realization that this is the classic profile of an emotional eater. > > > > With the book Shrink Yourself, I have made great progress, and I'm only half-way finished with it. > > > > Here are some truths about me... I was a binge drinker in college and quit when I started my teaching career. Shortly after that I married and had a daughter. I learned the power sugar held as a tranquilizer when a long chain of miscarriages preceded the ultimate birth of my perfectly healthy son. With a 5 year old to care for and a teaching career to honor, bingeing on alcohol just wasn't a feasible option. > > > > Until reading Shrink Yourself (the first half so far) I was totally unaware that I was using sugar as a tranquilizer. Like I said before, I have NEVER forbidden sugar, but once I experienced its numbing effects while losing baby after baby, I held strong to it and unconsciously applied its power to other uncomfortable feelings like anxiety, fear, worry, hurt, anger... NOW the only thing I have left to work on is recognizing my feelings in the split second before I head for whatever sugar is available! And trust me, it is and has always been plentiful in my pantry! > > > > > > Knobloch > > Sent from my BlackBerry� wireless device from U.S. Cellular > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Barb I don't think emotional eating is all about childhood trauma, nor do I think that (as put forth by some of the self-help books I've read lately) that we are inevitably locked in some sort of " fear/rage/need " relationships with our mothers that leaves indelible scars LOL. Neither is emotional eating necessarily a result of repressing strong, destructive, or frightening feelings! It can be, but I think that fleeting (and entirely normal) feelings of loneliness or sadness, PMS, anger at a friend for being thoughtless, frustration at the economic or political situation ... ANY feeling that is in that moment uncomfortable or just not convenient could generate an urge to self-soothe by eating. Say it was a long day at work and the kids have friends over and I'm trying to get dinner on the table and my husband forgot to pick up a key ingredient, blah blah blah, I don't have time to " sit with my emotions " LOL, I need to cope for the moment and get everyone fed and the mess cleaned up and the baby to bed ..... and eating helps me cope. you can imagine a hundred situations where food can be a quick and easy alternative to self-analysis in the moment. I think for some people this because such an easy habit that we stop thinking about it. I know when my twins were in their terrible two's, I kept my mouth busy with food so I wouldn't holler at them for whatever crazy mess they'd made THIS time... So I wouldn't worry too much about digging up some hidden childhood trauma If you do recognize the signs of emotional eating it could easily be a response to normal adult pressures.... Lord knows we seem to all lead busy high-stress lives these days .... Mikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 LOL - I have to be careful not to turn to food when my checkbook needs balancing! This was well said, Mikki. Barb I don't think emotional eating is all about childhood trauma, nor do I think that (as put forth by some of the self-help books I've read lately) that we are inevitably locked in some sort of " fear/rage/need " relationships with our mothers that leaves indelible scars LOL. Neither is emotional eating necessarily a result of repressing strong, destructive, or frightening feelings! It can be, but I think that fleeting (and entirely normal) feelings of loneliness or sadness, PMS, anger at a friend for being thoughtless, frustration at the economic or political situation ... ANY feeling that is in that moment uncomfortable or just not convenient could generate an urge to self-soothe by eating. Say it was a long day at work and the kids have friends over and I'm trying to get dinner on the table and my husband forgot to pick up a key ingredient, blah blah blah, I don't have time to " sit with my emotions " LOL, I need to cope for the moment and get everyone fed and the mess cleaned up and the baby to bed ..... and eating helps me cope. you can imagine a hundred situations where food can be a quick and easy alternative to self-analysis in the moment. I think for some people this because such an easy habit that we stop thinking about it. I know when my twins were in their terrible two's, I kept my mouth busy with food so I wouldn't holler at them for whatever crazy mess they'd made THIS time... So I wouldn't worry too much about digging up some hidden childhood trauma If you do recognize the signs of emotional eating it could easily be a response to normal adult pressures.... Lord knows we seem to all lead busy high-stress lives these days .... Mikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Thanks Kaylin for your post. I've really been paying close attention to how I feel when I just grab something to eat..just to eat. It does all seem to be related to stress, anxiety, or whatever feeling is going on at that time. I reread through some of the IE book again last night and realized that I have't given up the whole diet mentality thinking yet. I still judge everything I put in my mouth. I'm really going to work on breaking free from that thinking and I"m also going to work on eating consciously. Those are two areas I'm struggling with. Barb Subject: Re: My storyTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Monday, June 22, 2009, 6:58 PM Barb: I can definitely relate to your post about not being able to figure out what feelings you are hiding. For a long time I felt ashamed and guilty for being a disordered eater. I did not feel like it was justified by my childhood. I had a really great and normal childhood. I have been fortunate in many ways, no abuse of any kind, supportive parents etc... Ultimately I feel like my disordered eating is attributed to a combination of societal influences, perfectionist and controlling tendencies along with anxiety. For me, this was a huge breakthrough. I started to look at what I have been getting out of my daily habits. I now feel like my eating habits are an attempt to calm myself down. I am now working on trying to sit with my anxiety, which is so much harder than I thought it would be. It is far easier to distract myself by munching on candy all night and dwell over "my eating issues" than actually sit with my anxiety. Anyway I hope this helps. Maybe you aren't suppressing difficult past memories but current feelings and even events in your life? - Kaylin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Hi Barb. I'm also working on waiting until I'm hungry to eat. Now that I got started doing that, it really doesn't seem so bad. For weeks I did not do that, I kept having a problem figuring out between head hunger and body hunger, but now I'm waiting for body hunger to hit and then I'll eat. It's not so bad, and I expect I'll get used to it in a good way. Cindi From: normaaaaaaaa <kaylinmorrissey@ gmail.com>Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] Re: My storyTo: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.comDate: Monday, June 22, 2009, 6:58 PM Barb: I can definitely relate to your post about not being able to figure out what feelings you are hiding. For a long time I felt ashamed and guilty for being a disordered eater. I did not feel like it was justified by my childhood. I had a really great and normal childhood. I have been fortunate in many ways, no abuse of any kind, supportive parents etc... Ultimately I feel like my disordered eating is attributed to a combination of societal influences, perfectionist and controlling tendencies along with anxiety. For me, this was a huge breakthrough. I started to look at what I have been getting out of my daily habits. I now feel like my eating habits are an attempt to calm myself down. I am now working on trying to sit with my anxiety, which is so much harder than I thought it would be. It is far easier to distract myself by munching on candy all night and dwell over "my eating issues" than actually sit with my anxiety. Anyway I hope this helps. Maybe you aren't suppressing difficult past memories but current feelings and even events in your life? - Kaylin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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