How did you finally repair your relationship with food?

Jackie_Aka_GetFit
Jackie_Aka_GetFit Posts: 9 Member
edited August 2019 in Motivation and Support
How do you fight the urge to x (insert struggle/ultimate weakness here whether it's eating too many sweets, bingeing, late-night eating, emotional eating, etc.)?

For those of you that have had an emotional attachment to food, what habits did you form that helped you overcome it and make the better choice in that moment?

Replies

  • fitpal4242
    fitpal4242 Posts: 109 Member
    What I have found works for me is to really focus on how a particular food will make me feel- like, I could have a healthy lunch full of unprocessed natural ingredients (maybe I bring the right thing from home) or I could go out and get greasy takeout. I’ll feel just fine with the healthy lunch, but the takeout will make me tired and feel bloated/gassy in the afternoon.

    I used to have a terrible problem binging on ice cream- I exercised a lot and otherwise ate healthy, so I wasn’t really overweight until it all kind of hit me when I moved to a sedentary town from the city. I had to stop that at the source (it was hard)- not allow myself to buy it at all- again, at the grocery store really focusing on how I would feel if I brought that home and inevitably binged on it.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    It’s not fixed, it’s a work in progress.
    Probably always going to take a conscious effort to make better choices and not over consume calories.
  • kimothyschma
    kimothyschma Posts: 209 Member
    Mines not fixed either but with calorie counting I am aware of it and can usually make up for it even if I can’t control it. If I’m at home and I get bad news, I still walk to the pantry automatically. Sometimes I can check myself there and say “no, I’m just sad, not hungry.” Other times I say “I’m here because I’m upset so I’m going to acknowledge that and have 1 piece of chocolate and move on.” It’s a work in progress but being aware of it in the moment helps.
  • nighthawk584
    nighthawk584 Posts: 2,023 Member
    edited August 2019
    This is why it is called a journey. Sometimes the road is rough, REAL ROUGH. Personally, I just made a conscious effort to stop everything that I considered junk and went with fresh, lean and green food and haven't looked back. I also quit drinking alcohol. I remember when I was always so miserable after eating greasy fast foods or snacking on whole bags of chips , or downing a box of donuts, drinking more than I should....Since switching to healthier options and portion control, I no longer have a sick feeling after eating. I focus on that. I focus on enjoying good food and the results of my weight loss because of smarter choices.
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    edited August 2019
    All I had to do was start filling in the food diary. BLAM! I starting seeing the nutritional values of my usual foods. 😨

    I immediately started tweaking what I was eating. I started feeling better. The weight started dropping off. Voila! ☺

  • gallicinvasion
    gallicinvasion Posts: 1,015 Member
    Keliz1173 wrote: »
    To put my comments in context - I have a lifelong problematic relationship with food including compulsive and emotional eating.

    I've done a combination of things. First was some therapy which I still continue. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is very helpful for changing thought patterns and the feelings and behaviors they lead to. It can be very effective.

    Secondly, a low carb WOE has helped immensely. I fully realize this is not for everyone but eliminating sugars (other than lower carb fruits), breads, etc. has worked for me for the past 8 months. For the first time in 30+ years of battling with my weight I feel more in control and free of cravings.

    I realize that eliminating/restricting is not necessary and many people do not need to do this to stop the cycle of emotional eating but it has been working for me.

    I wish you success on finding what works for you :-)

    This is a second vote for CBT! I struggled for years without help, and behavioral therapy was the only thing that got me to change my relationship with food.

  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    I agree with some of the above responses that it's a constant journey of improvement. I'm never done, and in fact, being "done" would probably derail me back into bad old habits.

    For me, stress reduction has been a big thing that's helped with the emotional eating. I handle stress better now, and did that through working on my problems with a therapist. Another big thing that has helped is I made a conscious effort to fill my time with healthier activities. I can't just stop doing something - I need something else to replace it. Food was such a big part of my life that if I tried to just stop, I would have very little to fill the gap left, and that's an easy way to slip back into emotional eating.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    For me, focusing on nutrition and what is most healthy for my body and longevity has had the biggest impact on my relationship with food. After losing the weight.then trying to maintain.. I now find myself automatically thinking about nutrition over cravings and the foods I used to long for. I now think about things like; I'm short on my calcium for the day...or I need to take an omega three since I haven't had any seafood today.. I also find myself making time to stand in the sun 10 or more minutes a day to get my vitamin d. ..and yeah..I give vitamin C a lot of thought too. lol.
  • Jackie_Aka_GetFit
    Jackie_Aka_GetFit Posts: 9 Member
    Wow, lots of great tips here! Thanks to all who responded.

    @fitpal4242 That's good advice. I always think about whether the calories are worth it to me to eat the treat. I think about whether I really want it and can fit it in my calories, but NOT how it will make me feel in an hour...will try this next time I am debating whether to eat the treat. Thx!

    @xtrain321 I will have to research volume eating. Thx for sharing.

    @88olds "if hunger isn't the problem, food isn't the solution" Such a simple concept but easily forgotten. I think this one is really going to help me by simply realizing I am eating the sweets for comfort or joy and not fuel. If that's the case, dont do it!

    @nighthawk584 I wish I could cut out all the bad stuff cold turkey! Just make the choice and do it. I know that I would eventually feel deprived. I think the trick for me to make it sustainable is finding a balance. I am very happy you found something that works for you and am impressed with your willpower. I like the tip to focus on how the foods will make you feel afterwards. Thx!

    @Keliz1173 & @gallicinvasion I will definitely be researching CBT. Did you see a therapist or practice techniques on your own?
  • k8eekins
    k8eekins Posts: 2,264 Member
    gitfit28 wrote: »
    How do you fight the urge to x (insert struggle/ultimate weakness here whether it's eating too many sweets, bingeing, late-night eating, emotional eating, etc.)?

    For those of you that have had an emotional attachment to food, what habits did you form that helped you overcome it and make the better choice in that moment?

    When on maintenance, I never feel the urge because the calories always were more than sufficient. Since my recomposition from last August, I'd started out needing to snack on a fat bomb or 2 or a low-carb chunky chocolate cookie even a non dairy creamsicle, however since around March of this year, I've simply weaned myself off cravings like chocolate for example, without any conscious effort on my part. It's simply evolved towards being all about my meat (mostly beef - meatballs), my alternative meat (seitan patties or meatballs), my nut butters or mixed nuts and eggs, if and when I feel the need for added calories, as a snack, in a low-carb salad for example.

    My sister @777Gemma888 and I live in desert country. For convenience and by preference with how well it affects our bodies, water has been our only beverage, iced and served with more ice. This too might be cause for our ability to not crave for treats like gelato, chocolate mousse, sorbets, coffee (cold & hot), cream puffs, doughnuts, ...
  • Wotan48
    Wotan48 Posts: 36 Member
    I struggled with bulimia since I was 14...it took me until 40 to burry the hatchet. I got help for my bulimia around 27 after an abusive relationship. I then replaced diet and exercise for my desire to purge...when I was 40 I met the man of my dreams and my mom said something that changed my life... " The usual has not worked for you this far and you sure has heck don't care what people think, so give it a try" I applied that not just to my now hubby, but to my life. I started yoga classes, learned to understand what hubby likes about my body, realized that my body has gotten me from hell and back, and I never took time to give it some TLC...I literally use kindness now, this suit of ours called body, is the only one we get...so I will treat it accordingly, with kindnesses, good nutrition,meditation and exercise.
  • Keliz1173
    Keliz1173 Posts: 186 Member


    @Keliz1173 & @gallicinvasion I will definitely be researching CBT. Did you see a therapist or practice techniques on your own?[/quote]

    @gitfit28 I was introduced to CBT by a clinical social worker as part of her therapeutic approach. There are likely good books/workbooks out there as well. I am just remembering Geneen Roth too - she has written a lot about emotional hunger. I've found her books really interesting.

    Best wishes on finding your way :-)

Categories