Finally making the connection with emotional eating

PJS323
PJS323 Posts: 115
edited September 27 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello everyone! Yesterday was a terrible day. My husband & I are involved in a lengthy, and horribly stressful court battle over my mentally ill son. Needless to say for the last 10 years I have been turning to food when life became too much. Since October I have made huge changes in my life. I've dropped 75lbs, and I stopped turning to food for comfort. Yesterday was another court date, and when I came home, my mind was telling me to "EAT". Well I acknowledged the negative feelings inside, gave myself an hour, and instead had a protein shake. Just that few seconds of stopping, and thinking made such a difference. It made me wonder if anyone else out there has had the same awakening. I've heard talk show hosts, doctors, even the Biggest Loser talk about it, but to finally feel it & understand it was incredible.

I hope everyone else out there makes this connection, whether it's with food, drinking, cigarettes, etc. The power we have over our weakness, is what eventually propels us to our goals. Thanks for listening!

Replies

  • traceybett
    traceybett Posts: 206 Member
    Thank you for sharing this! I am in the "beginning" stages of realizing this..... I feel it... just don't understand it..... sometimes, I don't even know what is taking the toll on me. (probably don't even want to try to figure out what is making me emotional, mentally drained, overwhelmed, etc)... I eat instead of think about it.

    THANK you so much, because your post has made me stop to consider.... maybe when that old yucky feeling comes along when I am uncomfortable and want an escape for whatever reason..... Maybe I need to just stop and try to learn and aknowledge what it is I am trying to cover up with food (and cigs).

    Congrats on an emotional and mental breakthrough... I truly believe it's all part of the process of becoming healthier.

    HUGZ!
  • bacarter18
    bacarter18 Posts: 48 Member
    GOOD FOR YOU!! I'm sorry to hear about the court battle.. but it sounds like you're winning a battle within yourself too ;) I am definitely an emotional eater... bad day at work... time for a Culvers cheeseburger and cheesecurds! While in my mind, it seems like a good idea and IS delicious, afterwards I would actually just feel worse. At work, when we're slow and I get bored, it's so easy to turn to food (especially when there is a gas station full of snacks just across the parking lot). For me... it was just one day and it all clicked in my head... this needs to stop. I need to do this for myself. I owe it to myself to treat my body better. I journal my emotions instead of eat them, and this REALLY helps me. If I'm feeling down, I go for a nice walk with my dog and that helps clear my head... good exercise for him AND for me! win-win! Now, it's when I'm feeling good that I feel better about "treating" myself to something unhealthy or a snack. Now it's more of a treat instead of something to turn to (I thank MFP for all this ;)).
  • Marazene
    Marazene Posts: 97
    I have been only been doing mfp for alittle while, but I made the same conection when earlier this month my wife left me and moved in with her boyfriend. My mind kept telling me to eat, and drink, drink alot but so far I have been able to tell when my emotions want me to do those things and avoid them........I think its going to be a long long road for me though.

    Good job and good luck!!!!!!!!
  • cathys01
    cathys01 Posts: 221
    I agree with you. I lost over 75 lbs myself over 5 years ago and then a few months ago, started gaining again. I didn't realize it at the time but my son was serving in Afghanistan for 7 months and I was for more worried about him than I realized I was. This was his 2nd tour but this one hit me harder for some reason. Once he came home the end of March, I was able to simmer down again. I realized I had gained over 20 lbs hence I am here but I finally realized that I truly am an emotional eater. So, yess I completely agree with you. I have to watch much more carefully now. Thanks for your insight.
  • tiarra77
    tiarra77 Posts: 39
    this is so inspiring and i appreciate u sharing this. emotionally eating is so hard to overcome, but as u show, it can def be done. kudos to u and God bless u and ur family.
  • PJS323
    PJS323 Posts: 115
    Thank you! All of the support I have found on this site is invaluable. I think it's great that you are getting there. It's a lot better than where we have been. Congrats on all of your success!
  • PJS323
    PJS323 Posts: 115
    Thank you so much! I really appreciate it :)
  • Sunny_Lexie
    Sunny_Lexie Posts: 114
    I do that with cigarettes - there is a pack left there from my roommate (who is also my ex fiance, long story) but I just put it on the side and resist. As for food, it's more complicated... Probably quitting smoking is easier than quitting emotionally-eating because it looks more harmful to my health. I just can't give myself an hour :(
    I need to get that power over my weakness! Thaks for posting this!
  • PJS323
    PJS323 Posts: 115
    Hang in there. If you ever need to talk, or just vent, feel free to friend me!
  • bebe3232
    bebe3232 Posts: 43
    I've been making this connection lately as well. My mind tells me to eat when I am experiencing a wide range of emotions: When I am stressed, bored, tired, happy...the list goes on. I really have to learn to control my emotions with out turning to food.
  • forgiven4life
    forgiven4life Posts: 451
    Yes, this is something I need to work on. I've considered going to OA meetings, but I can't make that commitment right now. I think I will start journaling again as well. I used to do it all the time and it really seemed to help. Thanks for posting this! I will be glad when I can come to that same place in your life that you have found.
  • MandaLee8908
    MandaLee8908 Posts: 1,353 Member
    I have always been an emotional eater...and a boredom eater. Up until high school, it didn't matter because of my metabolism. And I always FELT hungry! I was doubling grocery bills when I hit middle school!

    After high school, I went to college at 137lbs. My metabolism had slowed some, and I was eating the same amount, but on weekends my girlfriends and I would go out dancing so I was burning up the majority of what I ate. it wasn't until my junior year that I had realized what I was doing to myself...in three years I had gained 25-30lbs without noticing too much.

    After college, the weight gain went even further. I graduated (celebrated with dinner), passed my boards (another dinner), wedding 75 days after graduation (stress eating), and various other reasons I felt were acceptable to eat. December 2010 was my breaking point. After losing and gaining...and losing and gaining...I hit rock bottom per se...actually, I hit my highest weight of 185lbs. I lost it. I sat in the bathroom on the scale and cried. And even after knowing how I got there, I comforted myself with none other than more food.

    I have been reforming myself over these past few months. Back injury and knee problems have kept me from running...throwing me into a depression. I have struggled with gaining and losing the same 5lbs over and over for 3 or 4 months. But slowly, I'm learning, seeking, and striving for the goal. At least now I can recognize when I'm going to overeat due to emotional distress...or celebration mode...and I can compensate for it. I still have yet to conquer the monster of emotional eating, but little by little I am doing just that. :-)
  • penny39
    penny39 Posts: 266 Member
    Thank you so much for sharing your stories!
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