Emotions...How i Eat Thee

I completely agree with you. My love/hate with food and emotions started when I was 9 after my dad died...I went to food to fill the hole, my mom kept a ton of little debbie's in the house, and it wasn't until I was 11 or 12 and was incredibly overweight for that age, that I talked to my older sister to help lose the weight.

It happens to the best of us, it's one more thing to make us stronger. We're all here for you...The important thing is to not beat yourself up if you have a moment of "weakness". I've had whole days of weakness...We just have to dust ourselves off...Each meal is a fresh start.

I hear you there. My Grandma pretty much raised me and like most Grandma's always baked and cooked etc. She would reward me with food and she would let me eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted too. And then try to put us on a "diet" because she noticed me gaining weight around age 9. Of course I love her, but like you I sometimes think, maybe I wouldnt have these struggles if she just fed me healthier foods and didnt make such a big deal about my weight.

Its one of the hardest habits to break, because finding a different way to cope is so difficult. But you are on the right path and you are making so many positive changes. We will slip up, but the fact that you get back to it, is what is important I love your quote btw. Ver blunt, but true lol. Keep up the great work! :flowerforyou:

Don't worry your not a lone, I think most of us turn to food even as children. I used to use cigarrettes for the ups and the downs, but now that I've quit, I've turned back to food. Hopeing to take the weight off that stress eating has put on, but it didn't go on over night so I guess it wont come off that way either.

I completely agree with you. My love/hate with food and emotions started when I was 9 after my dad died...I went to food to fill the hole, my mom kept a ton of little debbie's in the house, and it wasn't until I was 11 or 12 and was incredibly overweight for that age, that I talked to my older sister to help lose the weight.

It happens to the best of us, it's one more thing to make us stronger. We're all here for you...The important thing is to not beat yourself up if you have a moment of "weakness". I've had whole days of weakness...We just have to dust ourselves off...Each meal is a fresh start.

Agreed Grace!!!!!
i definitely ate enough cookies to
kill a therapist yesterday

I too have tried to fill the emotions with food.

I think a lot of people can relate to you, you're not alone. Many people came to this site to lose weight, and probably struggle with emotional eating... (not saying everyone does)

My parents also used food as a reward, they did their best...didn't know. All we can do is learn from their mistakes now and find other ways. Raise our future kids different, change our relationship with food, etc.

“...the reward centers of the brain--where the pleasure of those high-calorie foods registers--also respond to other substances that bring about pleasure....But those reward centers also respond to other gratifying things, like watching a sunset or experiencing a loving touch...So while you may not be able to change the wiring in your brain, you can "feed" those reward centers other pleasures...Biology isn't destiny when you have effective strategies...” ― Bob Greene, The Life You Want: Get Motivated, Lose Weight, and Be Happy

^ Found the quote and it reminded me of how I can form new habits any day.

If anyone feels like overeating to feel good today, know that there are many alternatives that can make you feel good - and they're guilt free!
- long walk
- bath
- hugs , sex
- video games. (research shows that the pleasure center is stimulated and dopamine levels in the brain increase during video games)
- music ( increases levels of dopamine, as well as increases activity in the pleasure centers when listening to music)
- drawing/writing
- going out with a friend/family member
- watching a movie
- working out - (become an endorphinaholic )
Etc....

I know food sounds good and you might want it the most at the time, but just make a list of activities that make you happy.... turn to that list.... aim to try one of those before binge eating. Usually, it helps...because after 30 minutes the cravings will be gone...

REMEMBER: When YOU build new habits, you literally build new grooves and neural pathways in your brain. The more you perform a habit, the stronger the pathway. This works for both bad habits and good, so you need to practice and encourage only the habits that you want to strengthen.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/IceyRain/view/how-to-have-a-healthy-relationship-with-food-448220

I used food to "fill" a void. OFTEN!!! Still find myself doing/wanting to do it. Bad marriage...eat. Can't pay that bill....eat. Special needs kid w/ a meltdown or emergency....eat. Tired...eat. Bored....eat. Such a hard cycle to break (and i don't think it really every does.) We just get more conscious of it. You are not alone!!!!