Am I Nuts?

Well, this is beyond my area of expertise. I hope you find the answers you're looking for.

I think I sort of understand what you mean. As I lose more and more weight there are some things that come up that I am not sure how to deal with emotionally because I used to with food. More so for me the more weight I lose the more body image issues I have. I think it's because when I was extremely fat I didn't care what I looked like, now I am starting to care and disliking what I see in the mirror.

balance will come my child

Try incorporating a yoga class into your routine. The breathing and calming really helped me when I was dealing with a bunch of adjustment issues.

Two words...video games. This is how I release stress. But for a girl it may be a bit different:P

I feel that with every pound I lose, I am dealing with more and more emotional crap. More unresolved stuff...things that are starting to really stir up sadness and anger. Is it because now I'm not pushing it all down with food? Am I supposed to find a healthy way of dealing with it all? It seems rather ovewhelming to deal with all of this at once while trying to keep a positive attitude about my new healthy eating/exercising lifestyle. Like- I should be ecstatic about my success thus far, but all I feel is raaaaage! What is going on?

Some people can eat at a big calorie deficit and some people can't. Everyone is different. Even a small calorie deficit puts your body in a state of flux with hormones as such, add a new workout routine, and those will make more spikes. This is a huge waiting game and requires much patience. Add in emotional eating issues and then you have more complications.

Your body can only handle so much stress. Stress of any kind turns on the hunger hormones. Lack of sleep, fatigue, family issue, work stress, calorie deficits, all of it is stress. Sometimes it's better to eat at maintenance when you are stressed. Eating at maintenance is not going backwards, but eating to low and binging is going backwards. All you need is more forward days then backward days, or maintenance days, to lose weight.

We are all merely humans. Do the best you can. There is always something to be thankful for, ALWAYS, no matter how bad things are.

I hear you, sister. Same deal here. I thought i would be happy about the weight loss, and i am, but my depression and my self esteem issues seem to be coming back as well, which i find a little strange. I agree with Jesse1379 - video games are great for stress, and so is a good, long workout. Therapy never did a lick for me, so find what works for you and go for it.

Two words...video games. This is how I release stress. But for a girl it may be a bit different:P

Not necessarily. Some girls game too. Blowing the heads off things can be quite cathartic. :drinker:

That's right! I love to play first person shooter games. It's a stress reliever!

No, you aren't nuts. You just need a new way to cope. Try a boxing/kickboxing class (also lots of good videos online for free), and I like the suggestions to lift and do yoga. When I'm pissed, lifting helps me get it out. When I'm anxious, yoga helps me calm down and find my center. After a good workout I always feel better and more ready to take on the day. And yes, many of us sometimes have relied on food now or in the past to get through the day. It's a matter of breaking that habit and finding a new way to deal with your emotions. Maybe also look into a new non-fitness hobby or try volunteering. Dog shelters always need volunteer dog walkers, and spending time with animals is a great way to relieve stress.

Yes, and it started right away. I sometimes feel that I was happier doing nothing about certain problems, then I get a mental image of myself in the kitchen eating-eating-eating, and nothing getting better or worse except my health. I'm not happy about one of the decisions I made, but I feel better about having made a decision instead of stuffing it down with food.

Life is hard. Then we die.