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Emotional eater

abandonself
abandonself Posts: 1 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have trouble with emotional eating but it might be a form of bienge eating too. I don't eat breakfast bc I'm lazy and always pick sleeping in over food. Then for lunch sometimes I'll skip it and other times I'll eat almost a whole can of Pringles, mac n cheese and a 16-20oz dr.pepper. Other times I'll have a hot tea with a bag of chips. Then for dinner, bc I'm starving and to tired/lazy to cook, I'll pick up fast food. Most of the time I eat a meal that's too big and after 8pm. Then the sweets begin. I normally snack on chocolate & candy mindlessly.
My bad eating habits have definitely increased in the last year. I really dislike my job and have looked for a new position for over a year with no success, despite going on several interviews. I've gotten really discouraged about it and see little hope there. I want to quit but I've got bills like everyone. I also think the eating has increased bc I'm lonely. I've gotten down on myself bc I haven't dated in a very long time and want to get out there but feel I can't compete with other girls. That I'm not thin enough or pretty enough for anyone to want me. So then I start beating myself up with negative self talk and go home and snack on chips& nacho cheese & candy. To be honest, food is what I look forward to and get excited about. It's not the only thing I get excited about but at the end of the day, it is the main thing I look forward to.
I do see a therapist and have started looking into this issue more but it's such an bad habit with no self care and no self love that I don't know how to fix it. However, I have set up camp on MFP and another outside support group. I'm hoping that by having a support system in place, which I've never done in the past, I'll finally do better and feel better about myself. Thanks for listening to me go on.

Replies

  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Welcome to MFP!
  • LessCookiess
    LessCookiess Posts: 538 Member
    edited March 2017
    That's great you're getting support! It seems from what you're eating it doesn't seem as nutritious. Try to have more variety in what you're eating. I know whenever I just eat sugary snacks, or foods like chips I still feel hungry. So I do incorporate more foods from the pyramid fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc into my routine. I would also recommend entering your goals on MFP and aim to lose 0.5 pounds at first, so you're not overly restricting yourself. Track your calories (if you want accurate results, invest in a food scale, and make a routine where you are also working out (cardio+ strength training). Consider meeting with your doctor about your goals as well.

    What's your weight? Height? Goal weight?
  • Whitezombiegirl
    Whitezombiegirl Posts: 1,042 Member
    I went through a very similar thing due to bereavement and a rubbish job. I was depressed and unmotivated to cook and prepare food.

    Id get low blood sugar and reach for sugary and bready food- easy stuff. Then it became a habit, then it became a way of life- something to look forward to. It didnt matter if i gained weight.

    What i did was start to meal prep the night before. Id make my breakfast and lunch and dinner for the next day. It was super hard to avoid junk and sweets but after a while they just didnt register with me. I also swear by glucose tablets to stop the low blood sugar triggering me to mske poor food choices.

    Once i saw progress on the scale, it started to motivate me.

    Take some time to look afteryourself too- do your nails, have a nice bath. Do things to make you feel pretty.

    Hugs.

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