Dealing with problems without food

lolakinks
lolakinks Posts: 431 Member
in Motivation and Support
I don't know how to deal with problems without food. I'm an emotional eater. Actually I've been better at it about 2 years, but still anxious about it. I ended my 4-year-old relationship 3 days ago and started to feel sad/upset/anxious about it. I binged a little after the break up. And I'm worried now to continue to binge. I was doing well actually, last 3 week I nearly lost 3 kgs (6.6 lbs). I want to continue to lose weight, I need to lose 15 kgs (33 lbs) more. I know that I'll have emotional breakdowns, what should I do and how to motivate myself? Need some support, thank you.

Replies

  • Pastaprincess1978
    Pastaprincess1978 Posts: 371 Member
    hugs to you - try to have some low cal snacks on hand. Distract yourself by hook or by crook - phone a friend, go for a walk - whatever works!! Above all log all you eat - religiously :)
  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,534 Member
    If hunger isn’t the problem, food isn’t the solution. Emotional eating isn’t a way to deal with problems, it’s a way to avoid them. Try counseling. Short term look on the internet for guided meditations. YouTube has a lot of them.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    i found going for a walk or run or off to work out made me feel better.
  • jonagolddreams
    jonagolddreams Posts: 39 Member
    88olds wrote: »
    If hunger isn’t the problem, food isn’t the solution.
    I love this. OP, I second the advice to see a counselor, or to explore some introspective ways to identify the root of the pain that is making you seek comfort from food.

    I am guilty of letting my emotion dictate my diet, too, although it usually leads me to the other extreme. When I'm feel anxious or down about myself I tend to feel like I'm not worth the effort of taking care of myself. I'm trying to learn to love myself enough to put forth the same effort in feeding myself healthy meals that I do for everyone else.

    You're worthy of love and care, especially your own.

    If you need someone to vent to, or to encourage you from time to time, you're welcome to friend me. I know I'm just some random lady on the internet, but I understand the pain of losing someone you love, and I'm a good listener. <3

  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
    I to am an emotional eater. I have been trying to sub in running on my elliptical instead. Sometime it works and sometimes it doesn't but at least it evens out some of the ice cream calories!
  • lolakinks
    lolakinks Posts: 431 Member
    Thank you everybody, it was really important to me feel somebody even not knowing each other. Because I know all of us have been through these situations I am not alone. All these are normal. But still I'm at a bar and drinking. Maybe I should let myself a little. However these days I have many things to do I should focus on them. Maybe tomorrow?
  • ladyhusker39
    ladyhusker39 Posts: 1,406 Member
    88olds wrote: »
    If hunger isn’t the problem, food isn’t the solution. Emotional eating isn’t a way to deal with problems, it’s a way to avoid them. Try counseling. Short term look on the internet for guided meditations. YouTube has a lot of them.

    This would be a great thing to put on a sticky note on the front of the fridge.
  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,267 Member
    You probably need to speak to a professional regarding your binge problems. The problem stems from emotion and not dealing with things properly. Filling whatever hole you have in your life with food or alcohol is not going to solve anything. Remind yourself you are worth it and get to a counselor.
  • lolakinks
    lolakinks Posts: 431 Member
    I'm seeing a therapist by the way and taking antidepressants. Thank you anyway.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Different coping mechanisms are needed. Do you journal? Adult coloring books can be helpful, too. Or learning to knit. Things that keep your hands busy.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,611 Member
    I exercise or clean when I'm stressed.
  • blebriki
    blebriki Posts: 15 Member
    I am also an emotional eater. My experience is that if you are really low, it is a bit too much to try to deal with the problem of emotional eating. But then the problem becomes worse and that creates more need for emotional eating so it is a vicious circle. What worked for me is that I stopped being harsh and demanding on myself for a bit and focused on feeling better first. I then tried to use exercise or healthy eating as motivation for myself to get out of my hole.Exercise worked wonders, particularly yoga. I am not sure this will work for you but good luck! You are definetely not alone!
  • LadyElectron
    LadyElectron Posts: 43 Member
    I think it is really normal and natural to use food to mother ourselves when we’re feeling sad or depressed, so don’t be ashamed. Give yourself some grace if you find yourself over eating and don’t beat yourself up or deprive yourself the next day to punish yourself for over eating. Just make your next meal a tasty, reasonable meal that will actually help you feel good (because a balanced tasty meal will make you feel better in the long run than overeating or binging ever will). Most likely the urges to over eat will pass and become more rare as you continue to process the loss and rebuild your life.

    That may mean that the rate you are losing weight will slow down a bit for a while, but that may be the price you pay to keep your mental health and relationship to food intact.

    And of course, keep doing whatever helps you get through this time, I highly recommend journaling and talking/spending time with people you trust.

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