emotion/depressed eating

shadowgem13 · April 2016

So I am working on getting back into shape after gaining quite a bit of weight. My biggest issue at this point is eating when I am upset/stressed/tired etc.
I have a stressful day and I want to eat junk food and read a book, not go for a run and lift weights.
I worked a long shift and got a ton of things accomplished, but the thought of going through a workout program that is going to leave me sweaty, tired, sore and miserable has no appeal.
I know I need to lose weight and take better care of myself, but I feel like using my limited time on myself means that I am spending less time taking care of my wife and my kids and my responsibilities to them, which should be my highest priority.
To be blunt, while I always hear about how working out and being in shape makes your more confident, gives you more energy, makes you more productive, my experience has always been that it makes me tired, depressed and significantly less productive(given that I am taking time away from other tasks to work out).
Ok, so emotion eating and lack of motivation. Thoughts? What do you do when you stop seeing a point to it all and just want to eat junk, get fat and be miserable in peace?

rosebarnalice · April 2016

The hardest part for me was/is recognizing that "fat is not a feeling" and that "eating my feelings" doesn't make them go away. The refrigerator can't deal with stress or unhappiness; that's *kitten* I need to work through in other ways.

This is something that I still struggle with, but logging is something that REALLY helps me. Once I reach my calorie goal for the day, if I feel that urge to head to the fridge or the pantry for more, knowing I will have to log it—and even pulling up the app on my phone while I’m standing there in front of the fridge--makes it easier for me to say, “OK, Alice—What’s going on in your head that has you standing here—because it sure ain’t hunger."

More often than not the answer is that I’m angry, tired, stressed, lonely, or bored. Once I’ve identified what I’m really FEELING, then I’m in a better place to take appropriate action and address that feeling rather than trying to stuff it down with food.

And sometimes I just need to be willing to feel my feelings--even the bad ones--rather than trying to run away from them.

cmriverside · April 2016

I saw a lady at the gym with this written on her duffle bag, "Move and your heart will follow."

The best thing for depression/anxiety is a brisk walk outside for 30 minutes. Just start, you'll never be sorry after the walk. Take the wife and kids, they'll feel better too.

goldengirl111 · April 2017

Been eating for comfort...And tired ness.will do better.

emotion/depressed eating

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