Over Eaters? Emotional Eaters? AL-ANON? And weight loss..

MsLexii

So I would consider myself an emotional eater. Things go to *kitten*, and I shove food down my throat to shove my feelings down along with it. I've come to this conclusion over the last few years and have taken steps to correct this. I still slip some days, and I overeat due to an emotional tornado spinning inside of me. While I've gotten much better, today was rough. Hard. Straining. We lost power for 17 hours this weekend. Power came back on for maybe 20 hours and was back off again for another 11 hours. My partner (who has some issues that he is not willing to own up to, to say the least), fought the entire weekend. I attend AL-ANON for myself (my partner is my qualifier). Those of you that don't know AL-ANON is a support group for people who have a family member or friend that is an alcoholic.

Tonight, all I wanted to do was come home and shove my face full of food. But first, I attended AL-ANON and I shared. I cried my eyes out. BUT, I shared. I got it off my chest. I got what life has been like living with an alcoholic that doesn't really think he's an alcoholic. I sat next to people that know what it feels like to live with an alcoholic that doesn't think they have a problem. I came home and the urge to shove my face full of food was gone. TOTALLY gone. I was looking forward to tasting that food, yet I had no desire to eat it once I got here.

I am fairly new to AL-ANON. But, I'd say tonight was progress and it made my heart happy. I was happy! I saved myself from overeating, and I gave myself my own motivation. I don't have to feel guilty about overeating. I didn't have to be mad at myself. I was able to control myself, my eating, what went into my body. That is a non-scale victory!! Today sucked, the weekend was miserable, but tonight was seriously awesome! I never thought that just sharing what was eating away at me would afford me the ability to control my food intake. That ROCKED!

Here is to a new tomorrow, a better day, exercising and staying in control of what goes in my mouth! Here is to weight loss, becoming healthy inside and out!

dangerouscurvs

That's wonderful! Yaaay for small victories!!! Hell maybe that's a big one for you! But I totally get what you mean by wanting to eat my feelings away....I eat until I am numb!!! Then I HATE myself...and feel guilty... then the cycle starts over again! I saw a thread a while ago that I am gonna try to stick with...called "just for today" and I think the concept is awesome! Because the idea that I need to lose 170 is very daunting!! But when I look at it from a day to day view, its a lot more manageable! Also trying to see about seeking help in my community, I think the only addiction groups here are drugs and alcohol... but I'm gonna try to see if they can send a specialist for over eaters...bingeing, whatever it would be called. Add me if you'd like, it'd sure be nice to have someone that actually understands how I feel!

MsLexii

That was a BIG victory for me haha!! I do the same cycle. I get upset, I eat, I get pissed off at myself and the cycle continues. I've recognized this and gotten much better. However, I still struggle more than others on some days. I have lost 23 pounds.. of my 180+ to lose. So I am right there with you girlfriend!! Taking things one day at a time is definitely the way to go... AND telling myself "PROGRESS, not perfection" really seems to help me

I added you, so lets get on this weight loss wagon and rock it

dangerouscurvs

Awesome sauce!!! We can kick butt and rock this thing!! I have a goal to fit into a pair of jeans by 10-31, my 31st birthday. I figure I'll get discouraged with a scale number...cause I want to tone my lower body, and muscle weighs mor than fat!! Its like if you look at a bag of marshmallows and a bag of rocks, one may weigh more, but it takes up less space! Lol if that makes any sense! So that's my thinking on my goal, and it's short term enough to not be too overwhelming!

MsLexii

Uhm!!! I absolutely LOVE your bag of rocks vs a bag of marshmallows philosophy haha!! so awesome!! I just turned 31 in April, so we are fairly close in age too. Very cool!!

My short term goal is be under 300lbs by Christmas. We'll see. I think I might be pushing it a little close. BUT, I like a good challenge! One of my friends on my account said this today: " an hour of workout is only 4% of the day--- no excuses" ... and I LOVE it!!

aspersions

I am definitely an emotional overeater, too. I don't know what it's like to not want to binge when I'm upset. Honestly, yesterday, I had a very literal meltdown and I didn't know how to calm myself without shoving food in my face hole -- I ended up crying for four and a half hours. I know that exercise and eating appropriately are integral for weight loss and/or feeling healthy, but I think learning how to cope with emotional stress - for me, at least - is crucial in helping me make the right decisions in taking care of myself. IT'S SO F-ING HARD, though. I'm really proud of you for going to Al-Anon -- you are doing the right things to help you cope with the stressors in your life. Such an empowering NSV! Keep up the great work!

dangerouscurvs

MsLexii wrote: »

Uhm!!! I absolutely LOVE your bag of rocks vs a bag of marshmallows philosophy haha!! so awesome!! I just turned 31 in April, so we are fairly close in age too. Very cool!!

My short term goal is be under 300lbs by Christmas. We'll see. I think I might be pushing it a little close. BUT, I like a good challenge! One of my friends on my account said this today: " an hour of workout is only 4% of the day--- no excuses" ... and I LOVE it!!

I would also like to be under 300 by Christmas!!! We really do have a lot in common!! Lol that's awesome!

AshleyCMoody

I completely understand. I'm a recovering bulimic and it has been a rollercoaster of restricting and binging throughout my journey to recovery. My eating habits are very tied into my emotions. Sometimes I do feel a complete loss of control around certain foods. I posted a blog about it awhile back.

xX_PhoenixRising_Xx

Well done on your victory and loss so far! It took me a lot of hard work and willpower to (mostly) conquer the emotional eating. In November 2011 I was 329 lbs. I've lost 155 and been maintaining for a year, just now working on losing the last 20 or so. If I can support anyone starting out where I once was then send me a Friend Request, but please include a message

dangerouscurvs

xX_PhoenixRising_Xx wrote: »

Well done on your victory and loss so far! It took me a lot of hard work and willpower to (mostly) conquer the emotional eating. In November 2011 I was 329 lbs. I've lost 155 and been maintaining for a year, just now working on losing the last 20 or so. If I can support anyone starting out where I once was then send me a Friend Request, but please include a message

. I sent a request...along with a message. :-D I could sure use you on my team!!

jaga13

MsLexii wrote: »

So I would consider myself an emotional eater. Things go to *kitten*, and I shove food down my throat to shove my feelings down along with it. I've come to this conclusion over the last few years and have taken steps to correct this. I still slip some days, and I overeat due to an emotional tornado spinning inside of me. While I've gotten much better, today was rough. Hard. Straining. We lost power for 17 hours this weekend. Power came back on for maybe 20 hours and was back off again for another 11 hours. My partner (who has some issues that he is not willing to own up to, to say the least), fought the entire weekend. I attend AL-ANON for myself (my partner is my qualifier). Those of you that don't know AL-ANON is a support group for people who have a family member or friend that is an alcoholic.

Tonight, all I wanted to do was come home and shove my face full of food. But first, I attended AL-ANON and I shared. I cried my eyes out. BUT, I shared. I got it off my chest. I got what life has been like living with an alcoholic that doesn't really think he's an alcoholic. I sat next to people that know what it feels like to live with an alcoholic that doesn't think they have a problem. I came home and the urge to shove my face full of food was gone. TOTALLY gone. I was looking forward to tasting that food, yet I had no desire to eat it once I got here.

I am fairly new to AL-ANON. But, I'd say tonight was progress and it made my heart happy. I was happy! I saved myself from overeating, and I gave myself my own motivation. I don't have to feel guilty about overeating. I didn't have to be mad at myself. I was able to control myself, my eating, what went into my body. That is a non-scale victory!! Today sucked, the weekend was miserable, but tonight was seriously awesome! I never thought that just sharing what was eating away at me would afford me the ability to control my food intake. That ROCKED!

Here is to a new tomorrow, a better day, exercising and staying in control of what goes in my mouth! Here is to weight loss, becoming healthy inside and out!

I realize this is a post from 2 years ago and maybe a long shot, but if you are still around and want to talk I would like to. I am considering going to my first al anon meeting tomorrow.

nooie19

I just went to my first Al Anon meeting on June 4th. It has helped tremendously. I go to meetings at least once a week. If you all are still looking at this thread then I’d love to talk about how Al Anon relates to recovering from emotional eating.

TubbyTattle

Good for you!
I am also an emotional eater. I eat when I'm bored, stressed, tired, procrastinating. It's a hard habit to kick but it sounds like you have a great outlet through Alanon.

LyndaBSS

I am so happy for you. You had a real epiphany today and it ended with a true sense of accomplishment. That's awesome. ❤

Whoops, just saw the original post is years old.