Emotional Eating

[Guest guest]

Last night I had a small second helping at dinner, and felt overfull. About an

hour later I started munching and snacking for the rest of the evening. I just

observed, no guilt. As I was drifting off to sleep I had a mental picture of a

certain person being beheaded! I'm sure this came partly from some fiction I'm

currently reading, plus some unresolved anger at the person.

This is a first for me. First, Stepping back and just allowing the eating

resulted in eating less than I would have otherwise; and then it allowed the

anger to surface enough to become recognizable. I don't have to do anything

about the anger (I don't even own a sword!) but it's also a win that I

recognized the anger, and the source, and then just moved on.

[Guest guest]

JudyT, Good for you!!!! I also over ate last night at a pot luck supper with no quilt, but did feel uncomfortably full. Just observed and I don't like feeling that way. Later that evening I ate some prunes and a peach that was rotting. Can I ask did you eat the peach because it was going bad?I'm still working on smaller portions to see what feels good. I have found that very small frequent meals feel best. Sometimes a glass of milk cuts it (turns out that I was cheating myself with skim milk. I like 2%!) sometimes I eat a little more. Yesterday lunch-ish was a simple small quesadilla I made at home. Today I was out and I was in a rush, and I had six chicken nuggets. It's nice not to have a perpetual stomach ache!Patti

[Guest guest]

JudyT, Good for you!!!! I also over ate last night at a pot luck supper with no quilt, but did feel uncomfortably full. Just observed and I don't like feeling that way. Later that evening I ate some prunes and a peach that was rotting. Can I ask did you eat the peach because it was going bad?I'm still working on smaller portions to see what feels good. I have found that very small frequent meals feel best. Sometimes a glass of milk cuts it (turns out that I was cheating myself with skim milk. I like 2%!) sometimes I eat a little more. Yesterday lunch-ish was a simple small quesadilla I made at home. Today I was out and I was in a rush, and I had six chicken nuggets. It's nice not to have a perpetual stomach ache!Patti

[Guest guest]

Good observations Ellie! I usually discover those after they occur. To be able

to notice while caught up in the situation is excellent. I used to think that

knowing meant that I HAD to react - immediately and correctly. But now I see

that that was just added pressure and unrealistic too. Besides it didn't

encourage deeper understanding of whatever was below the surface and driving the

actions really. Learning to appreciate the " Ahhhh, that's what's happening. "

response is a big baby step! Looking forward to hear what happens next for you.

Thanks for sharing and reminding me how important just noticing is.

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> This afternoon we took 3 young granddaughters to a movie. The movie was beyond

the two youngest (age 3.) One whined a lot. The other kept needing popcorn, a

drink, etc. It was 3D and everyone kept dropping their glasses. Etc. etc. etc.

(Hint: if you take young children to a 3D movie, take a flashlight, preferably a

headlamp.) My husband took one of the 3-yo's to the bathroom yet again and I was

alone w/ the other 3 and the 8-yo (who has cognitive delays) and that was when I

started eating the popcorn by the handful. I was able to observe what was going

on..... I was left alone to cope. At 60 I should be able to do that, having

progressed all the way thru mom to grandmother status, but still.... observation

was, when " abandoned " that's one occasion I start digging into the food.

>

> New at this. I'm working on the observation stage. What triggers eating? We

had dinner w/ said granddaughters' parents afterwards and I was able to keep to

one serving (pressure was off.)

>

> Ellie

>

[Guest guest]

Good observations Ellie! I usually discover those after they occur. To be able

to notice while caught up in the situation is excellent. I used to think that

knowing meant that I HAD to react - immediately and correctly. But now I see

that that was just added pressure and unrealistic too. Besides it didn't

encourage deeper understanding of whatever was below the surface and driving the

actions really. Learning to appreciate the " Ahhhh, that's what's happening. "

response is a big baby step! Looking forward to hear what happens next for you.

Thanks for sharing and reminding me how important just noticing is.

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> This afternoon we took 3 young granddaughters to a movie. The movie was beyond

the two youngest (age 3.) One whined a lot. The other kept needing popcorn, a

drink, etc. It was 3D and everyone kept dropping their glasses. Etc. etc. etc.

(Hint: if you take young children to a 3D movie, take a flashlight, preferably a

headlamp.) My husband took one of the 3-yo's to the bathroom yet again and I was

alone w/ the other 3 and the 8-yo (who has cognitive delays) and that was when I

started eating the popcorn by the handful. I was able to observe what was going

on..... I was left alone to cope. At 60 I should be able to do that, having

progressed all the way thru mom to grandmother status, but still.... observation

was, when " abandoned " that's one occasion I start digging into the food.

>

> New at this. I'm working on the observation stage. What triggers eating? We

had dinner w/ said granddaughters' parents afterwards and I was able to keep to

one serving (pressure was off.)

>

> Ellie

>

[Guest guest]

Ellie, Great observation and I would add to not judge, the " should " word.  You know, stop " should-ing " all over yourself. You found one trigger at least.I would have been so stressed out and angry/frustrated about the whole situation and probably walked out with family in tow, or let Dad have them all. Sandy

 

This afternoon we took 3 young granddaughters to a movie. The movie was beyond the two youngest (age 3.) One whined a lot. The other kept needing popcorn, a drink, etc. It was 3D and everyone kept dropping their glasses. Etc. etc. etc. (Hint: if you take young children to a 3D movie, take a flashlight, preferably a headlamp.) My husband took one of the 3-yo's to the bathroom yet again and I was alone w/ the other 3 and the 8-yo (who has cognitive delays) and that was when I started eating the popcorn by the handful. I was able to observe what was going on..... I was left alone to cope. At 60 I should be able to do that, having progressed all the way thru mom to grandmother status, but still.... observation was, when " abandoned " that's one occasion I start digging into the food.

New at this. I'm

working on the observation stage. What triggers eating? We had dinner w/ said granddaughters' parents afterwards and I was able to keep to one serving (pressure was off.)Ellie

[Guest guest]

I can tell you that in my 30 year career as a first grade teacher (which has

been my passion) there has been an amazing difference in my school year eating

versus my summer eating. It is stress-eating, and taking care of multiple young

children is tremendously stressful. It is next to impossible, sometimes

impossible to take care of your own needs. When I didn't have the time to take a

walk, veg out, or relax in some way, it was very easy to pop food into my mouth

in an attempt to rid myself of the stress. I did OA for a while, and the number

of teachers there was disproportionate. Why and how eating is the chosen method

of rellieving stress, I'd love to know, but I don't.

>

> This afternoon we took 3 young granddaughters to a movie. The movie was beyond

the two youngest (age 3.) One whined a lot. The other kept needing popcorn, a

drink, etc. It was 3D and everyone kept dropping their glasses. Etc. etc. etc.

(Hint: if you take young children to a 3D movie, take a flashlight, preferably a

headlamp.) My husband took one of the 3-yo's to the bathroom yet again and I was

alone w/ the other 3 and the 8-yo (who has cognitive delays) and that was when I

started eating the popcorn by the handful. I was able to observe what was going

on..... I was left alone to cope. At 60 I should be able to do that, having

progressed all the way thru mom to grandmother status, but still.... observation

was, when " abandoned " that's one occasion I start digging into the food.

>

> New at this. I'm working on the observation stage. What triggers eating? We

had dinner w/ said granddaughters' parents afterwards and I was able to keep to

one serving (pressure was off.)

>

> Ellie

>

[Guest guest]

I can tell you that in my 30 year career as a first grade teacher (which has

been my passion) there has been an amazing difference in my school year eating

versus my summer eating. It is stress-eating, and taking care of multiple young

children is tremendously stressful. It is next to impossible, sometimes

impossible to take care of your own needs. When I didn't have the time to take a

walk, veg out, or relax in some way, it was very easy to pop food into my mouth

in an attempt to rid myself of the stress. I did OA for a while, and the number

of teachers there was disproportionate. Why and how eating is the chosen method

of rellieving stress, I'd love to know, but I don't.

>

> This afternoon we took 3 young granddaughters to a movie. The movie was beyond

the two youngest (age 3.) One whined a lot. The other kept needing popcorn, a

drink, etc. It was 3D and everyone kept dropping their glasses. Etc. etc. etc.

(Hint: if you take young children to a 3D movie, take a flashlight, preferably a

headlamp.) My husband took one of the 3-yo's to the bathroom yet again and I was

alone w/ the other 3 and the 8-yo (who has cognitive delays) and that was when I

started eating the popcorn by the handful. I was able to observe what was going

on..... I was left alone to cope. At 60 I should be able to do that, having

progressed all the way thru mom to grandmother status, but still.... observation

was, when " abandoned " that's one occasion I start digging into the food.

>

> New at this. I'm working on the observation stage. What triggers eating? We

had dinner w/ said granddaughters' parents afterwards and I was able to keep to

one serving (pressure was off.)

>

> Ellie

>

[Guest guest]

I can tell you that in my 30 year career as a first grade teacher (which has

been my passion) there has been an amazing difference in my school year eating

versus my summer eating. It is stress-eating, and taking care of multiple young

children is tremendously stressful. It is next to impossible, sometimes

impossible to take care of your own needs. When I didn't have the time to take a

walk, veg out, or relax in some way, it was very easy to pop food into my mouth

in an attempt to rid myself of the stress. I did OA for a while, and the number

of teachers there was disproportionate. Why and how eating is the chosen method

of rellieving stress, I'd love to know, but I don't.

>

> This afternoon we took 3 young granddaughters to a movie. The movie was beyond

the two youngest (age 3.) One whined a lot. The other kept needing popcorn, a

drink, etc. It was 3D and everyone kept dropping their glasses. Etc. etc. etc.

(Hint: if you take young children to a 3D movie, take a flashlight, preferably a

headlamp.) My husband took one of the 3-yo's to the bathroom yet again and I was

alone w/ the other 3 and the 8-yo (who has cognitive delays) and that was when I

started eating the popcorn by the handful. I was able to observe what was going

on..... I was left alone to cope. At 60 I should be able to do that, having

progressed all the way thru mom to grandmother status, but still.... observation

was, when " abandoned " that's one occasion I start digging into the food.

>

> New at this. I'm working on the observation stage. What triggers eating? We

had dinner w/ said granddaughters' parents afterwards and I was able to keep to

one serving (pressure was off.)

>

> Ellie

>

[Guest guest]

Sara -- I suspect it has something to do with the release of feel-good substances in the brain in response to eating. Probably dopamine (associated with pleasure) and serotonin (calming.) From infancy the brain has learned this response. As we mature we learn other sources of pleasure and soothing and other ways to produce them in ourselves but eating is such an easy way. And it tastes so good. Usually, anyway... in my own situation tasting good isn't a requirement for using the food to satisfy who-knows-what craving..... I'll eat stuff I don't even like just to be eating. Maybe I learned that from parents who insisted I eat whatever it was even if I didn't like it ("Eat it so you'll learn to like it!") That's a great way to create a compulsive

overeater.Ellie To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 9:46 PM Subject: Re: Emotional eating

I can tell you that in my 30 year career as a first grade teacher (which has been my passion) there has been an amazing difference in my school year eating versus my summer eating. It is stress-eating, and taking care of multiple young children is tremendously stressful. It is next to impossible, sometimes impossible to take care of your own needs. When I didn't have the time to take a walk, veg out, or relax in some way, it was very easy to pop food into my mouth in an attempt to rid myself of the stress. I did OA for a while, and the number of teachers there was disproportionate. Why and how eating is the chosen method of rellieving stress, I'd love to know, but I don't.