Emotional Eating
suzqtme
Posts: 322 Member
After nearly 3 months eating Keto, gradually lowering fbs and losing almost 40 pounds, I've had a week of carb eating culminating in a full blown carb binge of old.
Last Monday, my 4 pawed child had surgery after 3 weeks of doctoring and nursing her. Pathology report should be in Monday or Tuesday. Not looking good. Follow this with follow-up with my ophthalmologist showing visual defects in my sighted eye (see my profile for story on losing vision last year). Followed next day with blind eye seeming to be leaking fluid. This is the eye the specialists keep telling me they think I will ultimately lose. So this will be a medically intense week for my sweet puppy (8 years old and 120 pounds) and myself seeing 2 different sets of specialists and perhaps the ultimate decision on my eye (already had multiple surgeries on it).
How do I get past the emotional aspects of carbs as comfort food? Not a single Keto food screamed, or even whispered, "eat me"! And I'm still fighting eating some more. The only thing stopping me is picturing middle of the night reflux.
What helped you and is there a permanent change in cravings and what satisfies for an emotional binge
Edit: I realized this is on the TMI side. I guess I'm venting here, too. Really, sometimes I just want to yell at the universe that enough is enough. One more gripe...we were leaving for New Orleans tomorrow but cancelled due to my puppy's care needs. Gripe done.
Last Monday, my 4 pawed child had surgery after 3 weeks of doctoring and nursing her. Pathology report should be in Monday or Tuesday. Not looking good. Follow this with follow-up with my ophthalmologist showing visual defects in my sighted eye (see my profile for story on losing vision last year). Followed next day with blind eye seeming to be leaking fluid. This is the eye the specialists keep telling me they think I will ultimately lose. So this will be a medically intense week for my sweet puppy (8 years old and 120 pounds) and myself seeing 2 different sets of specialists and perhaps the ultimate decision on my eye (already had multiple surgeries on it).
How do I get past the emotional aspects of carbs as comfort food? Not a single Keto food screamed, or even whispered, "eat me"! And I'm still fighting eating some more. The only thing stopping me is picturing middle of the night reflux.
What helped you and is there a permanent change in cravings and what satisfies for an emotional binge
Edit: I realized this is on the TMI side. I guess I'm venting here, too. Really, sometimes I just want to yell at the universe that enough is enough. One more gripe...we were leaving for New Orleans tomorrow but cancelled due to my puppy's care needs. Gripe done.
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Replies
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(((Hugs))) that is a lot!! I would be easy on myself for the next bit. Attempt to stay under my carb limit, but not worry about logging/calories/macros. I would find some soothing tea, calming music, nap and walk/yoga. Basically be kind to myself and find alternates to comfort foods.
I say all this hypothetically, of course, and hope I don't come across as minimizing what you're going through.2 -
I wish I had some advice for you, but all I can offer is virtual ((((hugs)))). You're going through an awful lot, facing the possibility of extreme losses, so you have every right to be emotional. Do you have a local support system, someone you can talk to? Maybe remind yourself of the healing this WOE has brought to you so far, and that you want to be kind to yourself and let the healing continue.
Sending positive thoughts your way. . .2 -
I've been tackling the comfort food vs keto situation for quite awhile. no easy answer, except that I think it is inevitable that as human beings that slips and then lapses occur.
Two strategies for getting back on track.
1. I'm currently raising my carb limits for certain nights that cause my anxiety to escalate. That gives me some room for planned "treats." But still can remain in keto range.
2. Also after a really big lapse, I find I trip over my feet to get back on track. I remember starting keto and how it took a couple weeks of eating more fats and cals while my body readjusted to keto. So I'm hoping that by slowing down and doing it right I may really be able to get rid of the cravings and start over on the right foot.
Panic moves and draconian measures just keep me stuck in a failure mode. So... slow down, back up, really start over if you fall over.5 -
So sorry to hear that your very stressful challenges continue to mount. Don't worry about TMI - the beauty of an online community is that you can get things off your chest 24/7 and people don't have to read or respond if they don't want to.
You've demonstrated weight loss success, while you've faced so many issues so you know you can do this. But, be easy on yourself now. Perhaps you might consider eating at maintenance level while you cope emotionally and physically with everything you are dealing with this week. I still struggle with emotional eating at times. I've found that eating at maintenance helps me to avoid significant overeating. Also, sticking with LCHF foods for the extra calories as opposed to adding high carb foods helps, too. Increasing exercise amount and/or intensity can also help to relieve the stress that fuels the overeating.
Sending best wishes your way. Don't hesitate to vent your frustrations and challenges again.
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I'm so sorry for everything you're going through. I completely understand how food can provide comfort when faced with such an emotional weight.
I'd love to say those drives just go away eventually, but they haven't for me, they've just become more manageable. Most of the time I cope by increasing my overall food intake. In general I try to avoid processed foods and I eat lots of veggies. But when I'm feeling emotional, I often just skip the healthier stuff and snack on things like salami, cheese and devilled eggs, those things have become my new comfort food. I've also traded my 90 and 99% chocolate for the 85% and I've eaten a bit too much.
I wish you all the best as you navigate the challenges you're facing right now. I hope you have a support system around you with friends and family as this is definitely a time to lean on others for support. And don't ever worry about TMI around here! A relatively anonymous forum is a great place to get stuff off your chest and this has always been a warm and supportive group.0 -
I'm so sorry you are going through this. I'm to new to this way of eating to be helpful but I did want to extend positive energies to you through this really tough time.0
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First off, I want to tell you that you are a beautiful and amazing woman! I read your profile and can not believe how strong you are. Back in February I had surgery on my tongue to remove a cyst. The surgery overstimulated my brain stem which caused my cornea's to swell. My vision dropped to below the legal to drive limit and I had a constant occular migraine for two weeks straight. I then had a bunch of issues with my back and ended up gaining 30 pounds in 3 months due to stress, steroids, and pain killers. The emotional eating was terrible. Previously I had used exercise to reduce stress, but was unable to exercise for a few months and reverted back to binge eating.
Thankfully my vision returned to normal....but man do I sympathize for you. Truly a strong woman to keep going through the things you have.
So my only suggestion would be to try finding an outlet for stress. Someone to talk to. A hobby. Exercise. Etc. Also, don't be so hard on yourself. While weight gain sucks....it is our body's natural way of protecting us against stressors. Work to reduce the stressors that you can. The ones you can't - hang on tight and do the best you can. Stay strong! Well wishes being sent your way
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I can't add anything that hasn't been said above, I can offer my support and well wishes however.
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Hoping today is a better day. 1
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Under those circumstances anyone would binge. Heck, it sometimes takes a whole lot less to set me off. Be kind to yourself and know that we are sending good thoughts your way. 1
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Thanks everyone for positive energy, good thoughts, hugs and prayers. I'm absorbing them all.
Okay, so after reading everyone's suggestions, I've decided first off not to beat myself up over this. "Kitten" happens. I've dealt with "kitten" before. Also, have upped my fat and protein %'s and total calories at 300 more but leaving carbs alone (5%). But I will continue to log my food as that keeps what I am doing right in front of me; otherwise, I can stray pretty far pretty fast. For tomorrow, I set up a 90 minute massage therapy with infrared sauna session. It's not cheap but I have a coupon!! Then I'm meeting with my therapist who has been with me through this journey (she made room for an emergency session which I have never asked her to do before). Then I and DH meet with the vet for her to check Miss Daisy's wound and hopefully get the path report. And yes, our 120 pound four pawed baby came with the name "Daisy" (I call her Miss pushy, pushy, bossy...I think she calls herself "Bruce"). And finally, I am going to sit with a friend whose husband was put in ICU today. A good reminder that there are always people with awful things happening in their lives, too, and helping someone else is a good way to put aside one's own worries for a time.
@esjones12, I am so glad you got your vision back. That had to have been a terribly frightening time.
@elize7, I was going to jump in today with my usual day of IF but decided you are right. Since I am totally out of ketosis, I would end up with keto flu doing that so I am giving myself at least a week to just eat keto and then transition into IF depending on how I feel and what my surgeon tells me on Wednesday.
@supergal3, thanks for the reminder that life can get overwhelming for anyone at times. And binging is what I have always done under times of stress so why would it be any different now? Maybe someday food won't be my first go-to to feel better, but for now it is. Maybe next time, instead of a high carb item, I'll run to the store a buy a lobster or two (yum with lots of melted butter). In the end, it would probably be cheaper.
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Dodged a bullet today by avoiding a full on binge.
After obsessing about going out to get some of my trigger foods and/or ordering in some other non food plan items....I decided to try extending my weekend of higher carbs plan...(it is a holiday)...and it worked!
I'm not really sure why I continue to be in this blues funk type mood, but I am. So happy to have found this alternative to all out binging and that for some reason it seems to be helping me stablize.
Basically it involves adding in 20-40 extra carbs (instead of hundreds of them) and it seems to do the trick. I feel satiated with having some extra food, it's not loaded with mega sugar, and I move on from the food obsession. Simple.
prolly won't lose any weight, and even if I gain some...it won't be the type of damage my binges usually incur.
I figure I'll go with it as long as I need to and just hope that I can find my way back to a food plan that works better for my health needs and maintenence, as well as being able to drop these last 15 lbs.
Relief from binging this weekend is priceless though, and I am beyond grateful for finding this workable strategy after so many months of wild food swings/binges.
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I have lost around 30 lbs on low carb in around 4.5 months - but during that weight loss journey I have binged on several occasions - I am not proud of it, but it is what it is. I also know that I will always love cakes, bread ( bread is amazing where I live in the UK) and chocolate (I am Belgian) and occasionally I have slipped. What I have learned is to take one day at a time - this has helped me to stress a lot less and lessen the guilt feelings. Of course I would love to be a "purist" and totally adhere to the low carb regime but I just do the best I can.4
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First, @suzqtme - WOW, you have been through A LOT. You are definitely a survivor. I am sending you all the good thoughts, energies, and prayers I can!!
Secondly, I think our hard wiring to crave carbs in times of stress is something that requires extensive (meaning decades long) positive reinforcement. I honestly don't know that the knee-jerk response ever goes away.
Third, please look into some kind of adrenal/stress support. When a person has that much stress in their life, the amino acids and neurotransmitters we depend on to see us through it all, as well as whatever it is aside from sleep that manages our cortisol response - well, all of that goes into overdrive and/or stalls out when we need it most. There are stress formulas (B-Complex is one of many), and if you can call the therapist who has worked with you before and made an emergency appointment for you, I would request information about amino-acid therapy. It is definitely helping me, including managing the crazy day to day stuff and improving sleep quality.
Fourth - you've already started this - but look at any comfort activities you can that don't involve food. Perhaps you and hubby can trade massages, or get a silly coloring book, or go out to have coffee with a friend and just laugh until your sides hurt... There are many things you can do, but they can be costly, whether in time or funds or both.
Again, I wish you nothing but luck, and I hope you've gotten some good luck and news in the intervening days...0
