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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ClearSkies on October 29, 2006, at 8:29:31
I am fat. I have rolls. I am fit and my weight is no longer going up, but my heaviness causes me great distress. When I am waiting for sleep to arrive I'm ususally hanging on to one of my rolls, worrying about them. I'm trying to keep my hands on top of the covers but it feels all "wrong".
So here we go, another diet or attempt to change my eating behaviours. My eating is definitely emotional, it's definitely aggravated when I'm alone, but mostly because I'm afraid that if I overeat while my husband is home, he'll notice and comment. (like, where'd all the halloween goodies go??)
I am so upset at having yet another cause for anxiety and depression, and one that I feel I should be able to control and change. Yet any good intentions go right out the window when I feel the least amount of stress. Terribly unhealthy. Good food choices are right here in my home, but what I crave is the good old refined sugars and processed foods. I will only buy one "bad" thing at a time but it lasts less than a day in the house with me around.
Experiences, solutions, ideas anyone?
Posted by ClearSkies on October 29, 2006, at 8:57:48
In reply to Weight loss, emotional eating, posted by ClearSkies on October 29, 2006, at 8:29:31
This feels wayyyy too much like alcoholism. It frightens me.
Posted by Dinah on October 29, 2006, at 10:48:24
In reply to p.s., posted by ClearSkies on October 29, 2006, at 8:57:48
My therapist uses the addictions model for my eating and spending.
I wish I had the answer. I've been letting my husband buy the treats lately, and he's been buying stuff I don't like. So my poor son doesn't get Pringles.
But I'll eat anything carbohydrate to self soothe. And at that moment, the long term consequences don't matter a bit. I just want to feel better at that moment.
Posted by MidnightBlue on October 30, 2006, at 0:55:17
In reply to Weight loss, emotional eating, posted by ClearSkies on October 29, 2006, at 8:29:31
CS,
I wrote a beautiful long reply to this and lost it! The other day on Oprah there was a program about gastric bypass surgery and the problems some people were having after having to give up using food to soothe themselves.
At least two of the people on there had turned to alcohol! So it really is a type of addiction.
Sorry, my meds are kicking in now. Maybe more later.
MB
Posted by MidnightBlue on October 30, 2006, at 15:32:37
In reply to Re: Weight loss, emotional eating » ClearSkies, posted by MidnightBlue on October 30, 2006, at 0:55:17
Sigh,
This didn't come out NEAR as supportive as I wanted it to be! What I was trying to say and did say in the message I lost, is that I turn to food to soothe me when I am overly stressed. It seems I am NOT alone in that!
What the Oprah program was about was that "fixing" the weight problem (in her examples by gastric bypass surgery)didn't fix the problem. It just came out in another form like excessive drinking or spending. So ClearSkies, I do think that eating can be another addiction like alcoholism.
I guess what we need to find is something positive to be addicted to! That is much easier said than done.
MidnightBlue
> CS,
>
> I wrote a beautiful long reply to this and lost it! The other day on Oprah there was a program about gastric bypass surgery and the problems some people were having after having to give up using food to soothe themselves.
>
> At least two of the people on there had turned to alcohol! So it really is a type of addiction.
>
> Sorry, my meds are kicking in now. Maybe more later.
>
> MB
Posted by ClearSkies on October 30, 2006, at 16:17:15
In reply to Re: Weight loss, emotional eating, posted by MidnightBlue on October 30, 2006, at 15:32:37
((((MB)))) thanks for the support! I too think that the positive addiction will be my answer. Addiction to well-being, to feeling good about how my clothes fit, to being able to flow with the ups and downs of our everyday lives... that to me is the healthiest addiction I can imagine.
I went grocery shopping yesterday and avoided the snack department entirely. It was a lonely experience without my chips and pretzels in the cart, but I have spent some time doing veggie and fruit preparation so I have healthier snacks at hand. It is definitely something I have to approach with a day-to-day success expectation. How am I doing today? Not, how am I ever going to get thru the holiday season without gaining even more weight?? I find that if I think that far ahead, I anticipate that I'll be getting fatter anyway and what's the difference if I eat another handful of (whatever).
That this is something I'll never get to grips with is a scary thought.
Posted by sabrina0805 on October 31, 2006, at 11:57:40
In reply to Re: Weight loss, emotional eating » MidnightBlue, posted by ClearSkies on October 30, 2006, at 16:17:15
ClearSkies
I know *exactly* what you are going through. Eating and alcohol - such evil lovers.
This is not easy, this journey. I can be there for you with this, if you let me.
Please email me.
Love
Sabrina
Posted by ClearSkies on November 1, 2006, at 8:19:28
In reply to Re: Weight loss, emotional eating » ClearSkies, posted by sabrina0805 on October 31, 2006, at 11:57:40
>
> Please email me.
>Done!!
Posted by ClearSkies on November 1, 2006, at 23:37:44
In reply to Weight loss, emotional eating, posted by ClearSkies on October 29, 2006, at 8:29:31
"Breaking Free of Emotional Eating" sure has a promising title.
I am looking into it.
Posted by MidnightBlue on November 2, 2006, at 21:33:45
In reply to My T recommended a book to me, posted by ClearSkies on November 1, 2006, at 23:37:44
Let us know if it is any good!
MB
Posted by ClearSkies on November 3, 2006, at 7:25:32
In reply to My T recommended a book to me, posted by ClearSkies on November 1, 2006, at 23:37:44
Boy, did my therapist listen to my pleas. I'm going to a workshop this weekend called "diets, Fish and Company Stink After 3 Days".
I hope to get some useful information to pass on here.
CS
Posted by ClearSkies on November 6, 2006, at 9:21:47
In reply to And also, posted by ClearSkies on November 3, 2006, at 7:25:32
> Boy, did my therapist listen to my pleas. I'm going to a workshop this weekend called "diets, Fish and Company Stink After 3 Days".
>
> I hope to get some useful information to pass on here.
> CS
This was very useful for me as a starting point. I've decided to make some notes for myself and share them, if anyone else finds it useful.Why food can't protect you: the pain will still be there are the food is gone. Eating only makes you feel full, not happy. Eating can never make illness, rejection, sadness, loneliness or fear of death go away.
People who are emotional eaters can be hypersensitive to mood fluctuations (hello, that's me!), experience more intense negative moods (check), and self medicate with food (I do this instead of with alcohol). Statistics (of which I'm unable to cite sources, sorry) say that 2/3 of emotional eaters are depressed; 1/3 are anxious, and 1/3 abuse substances. (OK, I fit all three.)
We experience distorted beliefs - there's confusion over real hunger and mind hunger. We hold faulty beliefs that enable u nhealthy habits. Our brains engage in a battle between the emotional and intellectual parts. Good habits are practiced when these two parts cooperate completely. Our emotional part wants immediate gratification, whereas the intellectual part will accept delayed rewards.
We were asked - why do I want to be healthier in my eating?
I will work on listing these reasons. (Another post).
I plan to make this my record of my journey to healthier eating. If anyone wants to join in, please do! At this point I'm not in a position to defend any of the information that's been passed on to me.
CS
Posted by MidnightBlue on November 6, 2006, at 14:22:38
In reply to Emotional eating workshop, my notes, posted by ClearSkies on November 6, 2006, at 9:21:47
Interesting, BUT eating does make you feel better even if only for a few hours. Sigh.....
Yeah, I'm depressed and anxious. Probably need to be on a mild AD. Was going to start watching my diet today. Think I will put it off until next Monday. This Wednesday will probably be really stressful.
MB
Posted by ClearSkies on November 6, 2006, at 15:01:05
In reply to Re: Emotional eating workshop, my notes » ClearSkies, posted by MidnightBlue on November 6, 2006, at 14:22:38
> Interesting, BUT eating does make you feel better even if only for a few hours. Sigh.....
>I feel like crud pretty much as soon as I overeat :-( Mostly guilty, sometimes nauseous, and disgusted with myself. I don't always overeat, but I do often eat emotionally.
> Yeah, I'm depressed and anxious. Probably need to be on a mild AD. Was going to start watching my diet today. Think I will put it off until next Monday. This Wednesday will probably be really stressful.
>
> MBI hope that Wednesday is over before you know it. What's going on then that you're concerned about?
I find that the reason diets are so hard for me to follow is that I rarely actually start them properly. I can always find a reason that delays it. I am so tired of beating myself with my guilt and shame stick, so I'm hoping this workshop series helps me deal with eating day to day.
(((MidnightBlue)))
Posted by ClearSkies on November 9, 2006, at 7:58:47
In reply to Emotional eating workshop, my notes, posted by ClearSkies on November 6, 2006, at 9:21:47
Ha! When enough people give me advice about what would help me feel healthier, sometimes I actually take that advice. A 20 minute scoot around the neighbourhood. Not long enough for me to resist getting out the door too much. Plus it's more comfortable here and I'm only sweating like a piglet when I walk.
Oh, and I have gold stars to put in my diary when I've walked. Infantile, but it's also a record of my efforts.
CS
Posted by Dinah on November 9, 2006, at 19:14:39
In reply to I've been walking every day, posted by ClearSkies on November 9, 2006, at 7:58:47
Good for you!
I keep saying I'll start walking with my morbidly obese pooch, but we somehow never manage to get out the door.
Posted by zenhussy on November 10, 2006, at 14:19:53
In reply to I've been walking every day, posted by ClearSkies on November 9, 2006, at 7:58:47
if gold stars help by all means use 'em!
walking and hiking (typed hiding...hmmm?) are easier out in boonies due to horse trails where the liklihood of running into another human is slim to none. feels good to keep the ol' lungs working and the leg muscles from atrophy.
hydrate and watch your shoes. recent study about osteoarthritis showed that barefoot walking/running was lower impact on the knees than appropriate shoes. go figure!
Posted by MidnightBlue on November 10, 2006, at 14:29:29
In reply to not infantile to reward your progress! well done!! » ClearSkies, posted by zenhussy on November 10, 2006, at 14:19:53
HUH?
> hydrate and watch your shoes. recent study about osteoarthritis showed that barefoot walking/running was lower impact on the knees than appropriate shoes. go figure!Are you saying I'm NOT doing damage by running around the house all the time without shoes on? I don't have to spend $100+ for spring loaded Nikes?
MB
Posted by zenhussy on November 10, 2006, at 15:17:15
In reply to Re: not infantile to reward your progress! well done!! » zenhussy, posted by MidnightBlue on November 10, 2006, at 14:29:29
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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