Emotional Eating?

supernova_1984

Hi all. I'm kind of at the end of my rope at the moment, and hoping I might find some tips or advice on here.

Been using MFP for about 3 years with some success, went from 16st at my heaviest to 14st (lightest of my adult life) in July 2014 but now back up to 16st.

I developed plantar fasciitis in March 2015 and my weight crept up to 15st 8 by Feb 2016. I resolved I wasn't going to hit 16st again so spent proper money on supportive running shoes and got myself back down to 14st 10 by April 2016.

My main exercise was football and running, but I had to stop running in June after the plantar fasciitis became worse.

I then had to give up Sunday football in July as I wasn't able to maintain fitness or lose weight enough to play competitively, but still played with friends twice a week.

Now I've had to give that up too as I can now barely walk due to my foot problem.

I bought a mountain bike 2 weeks ago to see if I can exercise without impact but 15 years of not riding a bike means I'm having to take things slow at the moment. I'm awaiting a course of acupuncture on the NHS that starts next week but I'm not holding out any real hope that it'll work.


This is all more or less background information to my real problem (sorry for the long boring bit).

I've started to realise I am probably an 'emotional eater'. I've had a low mood for around a year now due to my foot problem, irritable and easily frustrated and it's times when I lose my temper I've found myself stuffing my face, thinking to myself I don't care anymore. Sometimes it's been quite an aggressive act, which when I think about it does worry me.

Constantly feeling down about my foot and not being able to exercise means I'm just sitting around eating more and more, and not putting any effort into being mindful of what I'm eating because there's no exercise or work to be undone.

I still want to lose weight but I just don't see any reason to at the moment because even if I do I still wont be able to play sport, which has always been the major thing in my life and also quite important for me socially.

Just wondering really if anyone else has been in any kind of similar situation regarding total demotivation, injury and/or emotional eating, and how they turned it around?


Thanks.

Kathrynha77

I'm an emotional eater too.
I've been big all my adult life, but have in the past successfully lost weight, then 7 years ago my brother died. Since then I have put on 6 stone. I go through phases of wanting to lose weight, and I succeed for a while, but then I feel down, and don't see what the point is.
I eat, whilst knowing what I am eating is bad, and I eat to feel better, but it doesn't make me feel better.

Currently I am just back from holiday, and feeling motivated to lose weight, so I'm back on here to start again.
I also want to incorporate exercise, as I know it will make the weight loss easier as well as making me feel better.
Just 2 problems. Firstly I am just getting over a sprained ankle, so it needs to not put pressure on it. Plan for this is to go swimming. I actually enjoy swimming, just look bad in my costume, but fine once in the water.

Secondly I want to do a different sport. Problem is I am too fat and unfit. I was really inspired by the hockey in the Olympics, and I used to quite enjoy it at school (I was rubbish but I still enjoyed it). I have found a local club that do drop-in and play sessions. Just feel I need to lose weight before I go to one.

So totally get you on the demotivation and emotional eating, and understand the being prevented from doing a sport you enjoy, although for different reasons.

There are lots of non-weight bearing sports for you to try, and maybe you'll love one of them more than football.
Swimming, kayaking, rowing, cycling, horse riding, sailing, etc. And if it's a team sport you want, what about water polo?

Feel free to send me a friend request if you want.

Need2Exerc1se

It sounds like you need to focus on managing your emotions instead of focusing on food.