emotional eating and self-sabbotage

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I am a huge emotional eater. i eat the worst when i'm upset or angry. ie: i was doing so well today (1 hr of cardio, really healthy choices) till i got a call from mechanic re: my car's repairs being over $1k. i finished an entire box of girl scout cookies in one sitting. now i hate myself.
i lost 65 pounds in one year and in the past 3 months gained back 15. I feel like giving up.
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Replies

  • MountainMia
    MountainMia Posts: 242 Member
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    It's not worth giving up. It's SOOOO not worth giving up! I know! I'm losing 100 lbs AGAIN for the 3rd time. I'm an emotional eater too am really working on finding better coping mechanisms. Talking to a friend, or MFP peops, exercise, crafts or hobbies that involve hands ect. are all good outlets.

    Forget the cookies. That's a mistake of the past, move forward from here with new resolve to make healthy choices.

    P.S. 50 lbs is amazing and no small accomplishement. Healthy lifestyle changes can happen no matter how sick or weak you may feel. You did it before, you can do it again!
  • rjt1000
    rjt1000 Posts: 700 Member
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    I am a huge emotional eater. i eat the worst when i'm upset or angry. ie: i was doing so well today (1 hr of cardio, really healthy choices) till i got a call from mechanic re: my car's repairs being over $1k. i finished an entire box of girl scout cookies in one sitting. now i hate myself.
    i lost 65 pounds in one year and in the past 3 months gained back 15. I feel like giving up.

    Look at it this way- you went over your calorie goal for a day. Big deal! Tomorrow's another day and you can hit your goals again. I have a day every couple weeks where I indulge. But my indulging is now 2500 calories, going 800 or so over my goal rather than 4500 or more calories as it used to be.

    Remember, they're goals, not laws. Focus on the 50 pounds you're down and get back to your healthy pattern.
  • godricshollow
    godricshollow Posts: 274 Member
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    Don't give up! One bad day in the week isn't going to ruin the progress you have made this far. 50lbs is a HUGE accomplishment, you should be so proud of yourself. Don't let car and money drama make you want to throw in the towel.
  • knight76306
    knight76306 Posts: 260 Member
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    You sound like me. I know exactly where you're coming from. I'm the same way. I lost 110+ pounds about 3 years ago. Divorce = stress eating. I finally have my head back in the game. Just remember this - You are worth it! No food you eat will ever make you feel better in the long run. You have to start looking at food as fuel. You eat to fuel your body for the next event (work, gym, play, whatever).

    Don't give up!
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
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    Well that is a terribly stressful day, so venting it in some way is understandable. Just tell yourself this is making you miserable and it has to change. I am not going to choose failure when success is a option. I am worth the effort. I will fight for my happiness. I have proved I can do this, so let's kick myself up the *kitten* and finish what I started. Writing down thoughts an feelings in a diary is helping me not to binge as often as its a good way to vent your frustrations, maybe give it a go. When you feel like that make yourself busy do some exercise, cleaning, post on here... Occupy yourself and it will usually pass. Also log a binge as you eat it, and as you see the calories going up something will snap and you will say enough is enough. These methods stop me most of the time! X
  • laurakrowe
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    thank you guys. i am just so stressed - being home all day w/ kids and dealing w/ my car and money and life in general - it's like my only outlet is food! :(
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
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    The girl scout cookie boxes are getting smaller and smaller, so there are probably only three cookies in the box now, so don't worry about it.
  • Emmabulliemum
    Emmabulliemum Posts: 294 Member
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    You've lost 50Lbs that's amazing! we all have off days and as I have been told this is a lifestyle change DON'T see it as a diet it's a way to be healthy and happy.

    One slip up is not a reason to give up we all cope with stress in different ways. may be you should invest in a push bag for stress releif :-)

    Feel free to add me as a friend I'm new on here and just ereading what you've done so far has inspired me x
  • sandown12
    sandown12 Posts: 648 Member
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    Hi Im an emotional eater too been with my partner 9 years this year hes given me 4 engagement rings he wont set a date this leads to me emotionally eating ?
    I lost 57lbs in 2010 so I regained 42 in 2011 so Im here again.

    I keep a emotions diary when Im having a bad time which this years been every other day seriously with so much horrid stuff and the diarys working (((hugs))) for you its one reason many of us are on a yoyo cycle we eat as something upsets us we put on weight as we are upset at gaining weight so we eat more.

    You are never alone xx
  • Julie2402
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    Please don't give up, you can do this and you have done so well. I too comfort eat, once i start i find it really difficult to stop! Just keep telling yourself you are worth it and keep picturing yourself the size you want to be. Good luck x
  • BlessedEight
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    I completely understand--- Have several stress factors. I'm also a HUGE emotional eater. One week I have lost .2 pound and another week only .6 pound. I've been following the plan to lose 2 pounds weekly. I feel it is taking forever. People are telling me as long as I'm going down, I'm doing great... It is truly difficult though.

    I'm curious what people would do to cope with stress especially when homeschooling three children and going through separation.
  • gaberieger
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    DO NOT give up. Control life, don't let it control you. You can do this. Sent you a request, let's get after it woman!
  • StaceyL76
    StaceyL76 Posts: 711 Member
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    It happens, I do the same thing. It is about learning what we can do in place of eating when we are emotional. What worked for me for a while was drinking some hot tea or herbals. It is so comforting. I have not been doing that. I am up 10llbs from my lowest too. We can do this, we have done this. It is about learning how to keeping doing this consistently. Never ever give up - You are worth fighting for.
  • Kassileigh
    Kassileigh Posts: 28 Member
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    oooh I so hear you.

    I was doing so well and then, fell off the healthy eating regime wagon, and got run over (by the wagon) and I have been eating like an eating thing since then...

    I need help :(
  • StaceyL76
    StaceyL76 Posts: 711 Member
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    DO NOT give up. Control life, don't let it control you. You can do this. Sent you a request, let's get after it woman!

    What he said! How awesome!
  • JanieJack
    JanieJack Posts: 3,831 Member
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    The most important thing is to keep pressing, even after "messing up," and never give up. If you have a bad day, pick yourself up and keep going. You can do it.
  • OSC_ESD
    OSC_ESD Posts: 752 Member
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    Unfortunately emotional eating is a huge problem in society ... You lose control by circumstances and it's almost like an out of body experience ... you don't realize the damage until AFTER the disaster. I know this .... because I " used " to be one.

    How did I change that about myself ? I started to separate food from emotion. Meaning I had to make myself realize that nothing I consume will determine the outcome of my situation ... and at the worst, it will make it even harder as I fail in my goals of trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

    I looked at how hard I work to maintain my calories and the workouts, ohhhhh the workouts ! How could one " treat " be worth an entire days sacrifices ???? It never seemed to register until one day I started saying out loud " Ok Tracey ... is this REALLY worth destroying all your efforts " ... I kept repeating this out loud along with " I work way to hard to blow it now " ... over and over. To my surprise it worked ! It didn't relieve my emotional pain ... but it didn't add more fuel to the fire and that was a huge step ! Cause in the end everything has a way of working itself out ... EXCEPT for those extra pounds ! Now a days I workout my emotional " issues " through my exercise. Start out slowly by going for a walk, swim ... or a bike ride. Whatever you enjoy.

    And I don't give up what I love to eat ... I just eat a " little " on a good day and make sure it's in my calorie allowance for the day. Never look to food for comfort .. look at it as the fuel needed to run well equipped machine.

    On a different note ... I started to understand that life will have many bumps along the way and that no worrying has ever changed an outcome. Coming to terms with reality was a far better experience and finding a solution was key. I can honestly say I haven't had a emotional " fall " in a really long time. It feels really good to have complete control over your emotions and getting to that point is worth every step of the battle !

    Best of luck ! :smile:
  • Kassileigh
    Kassileigh Posts: 28 Member
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    Unfortunately emotional eating is a huge problem in society ... You lose control by circumstances and it's almost like an out of body experience ... you don't realize the damage until AFTER the disaster. I know this .... because I " used " to be one.

    How did I change that about myself ? I started to separate food from emotion. Meaning I had to make myself realize that nothing I consume will determine the outcome of my situation ... and at the worst, it will make it even harder as I fail in my goals of trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

    I looked at how hard I work to maintain my calories and the workouts, ohhhhh the workouts ! How could one " treat " be worth an entire days sacrifices ???? It never seemed to register until one day I started saying out loud " Ok Tracey ... is this REALLY worth destroying all your efforts " ... I kept repeating this out loud along with " I work way to hard to blow it now " ... over and over. To my surprise it worked ! It didn't relieve my emotional pain ... but it didn't add more fuel to the fire and that was a huge step ! Cause in the end everything has a way of working itself out ... EXCEPT for those extra pounds ! Now a days I workout my emotional " issues " through my exercise. Start out slowly by going for a walk, swim ... or a bike ride. Whatever you enjoy.

    And I don't give up what I love to eat ... I just eat a " little " on a good day and make sure it's in my calorie allowance for the day. Never look to food for comfort .. look at it as the fuel needed to run well equipped machine.

    On a different note ... I started to understand that life will have many bumps along the way and that no worrying has ever changed an outcome. Coming to terms with reality was a far better experience and finding a solution was key. I can honestly say I haven't had a emotional " fall " in a really long time. It feels really good to have complete control over your emotions and getting to that point is worth every step of the battle !

    Best of luck ! :smile:

    Wow. Thank you x
  • laurakrowe
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    as i feel myself getting crazy, i immediately start thinking about food. i will think about "after i drop my daughter off to preschool i can go through the dunkin donuts drive thru and get coffee and donuts" and as i'm driving home in my car eating donuts i can only cry b/c i know it's SO STUPID that i'm doing this and yet it feels like i can't stop.
    Food is my comfort. i've never really had anyone to talk to about my feelings and food was always there for me.
    this is so hard!!!
  • cmb67
    cmb67 Posts: 46 Member
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    My problem is I know I am doing myself no good, I know I am going to feel bad about myself (& stuffed) after I eat, but night after night, I sit on the couch after my daughter is in bed and just munch out. On crap, of course. I can't think of any reason why I'm self-sabotaging, and I wish I could, because it might make it easier to stop. It's like my relax time...

    I just don't know what to do. Any hints? (throwing everything out in the house that's unhealthy isn't an option due to other residents!)