How do you shake the "can't eat to self sooth" blues

beelzeboobs21 wrote: »

Another lifelong emotional eater. Second generation even. The only thing that helps me is exercise, even just a walk to clear my head. I never, ever want to exercise when I'm stressed or depressed but if I can make myself do it, I always feel better after. Remembering that is usually how I find the motivation to just get up and do it, no matter how much of a big, giant baby I'm being about it.
Hang in there. I hope you feel better soon.

Exercise helps me too. I also had to find other coping mechanisms that were engaging enough that I couldn't eat food at the same time (playing with cat, writing, etc.). Probably the biggest thing was learning how to soothe myself by talking myself through it, which I learned and practiced in therapy. It's basically recognizing the issues and attempting to determine if it's something I can change, if it's something I should change, and if it's as big of a problem as I think it is. It's kind of like taking the problem and looking at it from an outsider's perspective. I have a tendency to overreact to things (and that tendency is actually my diagnosis) so just learning to cope wasn't enough, 'cause I'd basically spend my entire life just trying to cope and not living.

Exercise helps. Otherwise, I keep a variety of low-calorie snack options on hand. And I don't eat one until I pre-log it. I find it helps me avoid the whole "I ate too much! Now I feel guilty and horrible and... eating more will make me feel better. Now I feel worse. Must eat more" vortex I used to get sucked into. Now it's, "A Fiber One bar is 90 calories. 29 grams of Krave cereal is 120. Ditto an ounce of roasted chickpeas. Ice cream sandwich 140... If I want to treat myself after feeling stressed/lousy, I have a few options and I'll still be on track."

(And sometimes, just knowing that I can have it helps me not have it. Other times, I have 'one snack, hold the guilt and self-loathing'. It varies.)

I've lost 84 lbs too! I've got another 60 to lose, and I'm also menopausal so I've got that box checked as well. I don't think I was an emotional eater, but boy have I got the bad habits. Boredom is my nemesis, not stress. I also don't feel better with exercise, but I do feel a sense of accomplishment if I do something I know I should do more.

For me, it's all about building better habits, so I can maintain them for a lifetime. Mindset is critical!! I'm having to rewire my thinking, and throw out old notions I had about food. It's not about the food. As 88olds said, 'if hunger isn't the problem, then food isn't the answer.'

I'd recommend staying conscious of your actions. Unconsciously shoving food into your face might feel like anesthesia, but it comes with a cost you already know well. We break any habit not with willpower, but by replacing them with something else. What brings you joy in the moment? Is it music? dancing? crafting? calling a good friend? playing with the dog? snuggling with someone special? Whatever it is, keep that arsenal ready, and turn to that instead of food. And if you haven't already, get rid of those temptations in your house, car, desk, etc.

I like to think of myself as a recovering addict. That snack isn't just a cookie; it's heroin, alcohol, or whatever another addict would find hard to resist. Looking at it through that lens, helps me understand that the stress, boredom, temptation, is the addiction talking, and I need to fight it harder.

Good luck, and way to go losing the weight, and getting within reach of your goal! You can do this.

Exercise always helps, but if I can’t seem to do that, getting lost in a good book helps. And I also enjoy sewing or crocheting to distract myself and keep my hands busy.

Chewing gum. Then you have something in your mouth, it tasted good and -assuming it's sugar free- the calories are negligible.

COngrats on your amazing loss! I hope you have before pics and progress pics. That's what reminds me to keep focused. I also don't keep trigger foods in the house. At all. I keep fruit, raw veggies, and other things that I can "munch" on without piling on the calories. I also have one square of 86% dark chocolate every day after dinner. It really helps the comfort food aspect. I started with individually wrapped squares because it helped me stick to just one, but now I break a square off a Ghiardelli bar each evening and it's ok.