Re: Re: Numbing My Emotions With Food

[Guest guest]

Sometimes when I find myself mindlessly eating or grazing without satisfaction, what I really am is TIRED and need a nap.  Sandy

 

I know exactly what it means to feel like you are using food as a substance and abusing it. I am in a similar boat with you Georgi, in that I have reached a point where I have legalized all foods but still mindlessly overeat in front of the TV. I have learned that whenever I have the desire to engage in this behavior, that I should take it as a clue that something deeper is going on and that I am in need of love and comfort. A lot of times, however, I just don't feel like facing whatever is bothering me and I still turn to eating. It's hard because whenever I let myself have a strong on the spot emotion and don't react to it with overeating, I just get very overwhelmed. It's very hard for me to have my emotions so on the surface. It doesn't help that I don't feel like I have anyone to share my emotional eating struggles with. I have started to share with my boyfriend but he has a hard time understanding. He also has emotional issues of his own and mine are very internalized and therefore hard for him to see and relate to.

Thank you all for your sharing and support,

>

> Hi,

>

> I have legalized all foods. I still find myself mindlessly eating in front of the TV - seeking to numb my emotions - check out. I recently lost my father and am eating so much so mindlessly I am scaring myself. Even though I know I will feel terrible, physically and emotionally the next day - I still do it and then I feel so bad I have more emotions I can't handle. I need help - probably professional. I am using food as a substance and abusing it. I have started the book Intuitve Eating twice and got stuck both times at the same point. All foods have been legalized. I don't diet. Although, lately it has been tempting to try weight watchers again as a means of reigning in my overeating. But I know that isn't the answer. I don't weigh myself. And there I have stopped. I can't bring myself to eat mindfully, pay attention to my hunger signals. I start to try and it feels like dieting to me - I get rigid about it and obsessive. I think I might have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder around the whole issue of food. I did join the Y yesterday - I haven't had a regular exercise routine in years and I know it helps - both the mind and the body. I just need to take care of myself. I really needed to get this off my chest. I am going to start utilizing this group as a means of helping myself as well as the exercise. Two positive steps I have taken this week. I have been lurking here for 2 years and rarely post. A pregnancy distracted me and made me feel normal for awhile and now one year post new baby I am really struggling with the food issues again. There is so much helpful advice in this group and I am so glad it's here.

>

> Thank you!

> Georgi

>

[Guest guest]

Sometimes when I find myself mindlessly eating or grazing without satisfaction, what I really am is TIRED and need a nap.  Sandy

 

I know exactly what it means to feel like you are using food as a substance and abusing it. I am in a similar boat with you Georgi, in that I have reached a point where I have legalized all foods but still mindlessly overeat in front of the TV. I have learned that whenever I have the desire to engage in this behavior, that I should take it as a clue that something deeper is going on and that I am in need of love and comfort. A lot of times, however, I just don't feel like facing whatever is bothering me and I still turn to eating. It's hard because whenever I let myself have a strong on the spot emotion and don't react to it with overeating, I just get very overwhelmed. It's very hard for me to have my emotions so on the surface. It doesn't help that I don't feel like I have anyone to share my emotional eating struggles with. I have started to share with my boyfriend but he has a hard time understanding. He also has emotional issues of his own and mine are very internalized and therefore hard for him to see and relate to.

Thank you all for your sharing and support,

>

> Hi,

>

> I have legalized all foods. I still find myself mindlessly eating in front of the TV - seeking to numb my emotions - check out. I recently lost my father and am eating so much so mindlessly I am scaring myself. Even though I know I will feel terrible, physically and emotionally the next day - I still do it and then I feel so bad I have more emotions I can't handle. I need help - probably professional. I am using food as a substance and abusing it. I have started the book Intuitve Eating twice and got stuck both times at the same point. All foods have been legalized. I don't diet. Although, lately it has been tempting to try weight watchers again as a means of reigning in my overeating. But I know that isn't the answer. I don't weigh myself. And there I have stopped. I can't bring myself to eat mindfully, pay attention to my hunger signals. I start to try and it feels like dieting to me - I get rigid about it and obsessive. I think I might have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder around the whole issue of food. I did join the Y yesterday - I haven't had a regular exercise routine in years and I know it helps - both the mind and the body. I just need to take care of myself. I really needed to get this off my chest. I am going to start utilizing this group as a means of helping myself as well as the exercise. Two positive steps I have taken this week. I have been lurking here for 2 years and rarely post. A pregnancy distracted me and made me feel normal for awhile and now one year post new baby I am really struggling with the food issues again. There is so much helpful advice in this group and I am so glad it's here.

>

> Thank you!

> Georgi

>

[Guest guest]

Georgi, I agree that you have been taking positive steps. The loss of a parent is such a difficult thing to deal with. You are doing the best you can. I understand that "eating when hungry and stopping when full" can seem like a diet dictate and cause rebellion. I went through that, too, and am still going through it, to an extent. How about for now just observing when you are hungry and observing when you are full? No forcing yourself to stop eating when you don't want to. But seeing how you feel, trying as best as possible to notice, even for only a minute, and trying to find additional ways to care for yourself will hopefully bring you to a point where you no longer desire to eat mindlessly as much. I've learned that it's not about forcing, but about giving yourself the tools to make it as natural and desirable as possible to be a "normal

eater."

Mimi

Subject: Re: Numbing My Emotions With FoodTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Sunday, October 2, 2011, 8:04 AM

Hi Georgi,I'm glad you decided to speak up. I'm sorry for your loss of your father. That is a major life change. It's understandable you are wanting to numb your emotions. What was your father like? Is it possible that what you really need is to let your emotions come up, to walk yourself through them, to talk, cry, scream, whatever? You mentioned counseling, which certainly is a good place to do all of these, or maybe a good friend. Sometimes writing helps me, and for me it's important to share what I've written with someone I trust as well. For many years, like many people, I did a lot of mindless eating in front of the tv. I decided I would only eat at the table, even if I had to turn the tv off to go and eat. I've done that for years, and now I just don't associate tv with food anymore. But it took a while.I started with the non-dieting approach last November. While I'm doing better, I still have a long way to go. I

am told it just takes a long time because you are changing lifelong behavior. Also it takes a lot of work\on a daily basis. But you are doing positive things like reading, writing, and exercising. For me, I have to do the reading and rereading every single day in order not to slide away from eating when I'm hungry. I understand what you mean by it seeming like a diet when you have to put off eating til you're hungry, and I think that's when we have to look at why it is we're wanting to eat if our bodies do not physically need food.Keep writing,Sara

[Guest guest]

today I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies for a pot luck dinner.  I ate 3 and felt uncomfortable full.  I realized quickly that I did not want any more. In the past I would have kept on eating because I was afraid the diet police would stop me before I really wanted to stop.  But my body knew best this time.  Sandy

 

Ah, the old HALT routine - stopping and asking if what is really happening/needed - HungryAngryLonelyTired. Works for me too :-)

GOOD for you Sandy!! Bet you felt better too. Lovely :-)

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Sometimes when I find myself mindlessly eating or grazing without

> satisfaction, what I really am is TIRED and need a nap. Sandy

>

>

[Guest guest]

today I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies for a pot luck dinner.  I ate 3 and felt uncomfortable full.  I realized quickly that I did not want any more. In the past I would have kept on eating because I was afraid the diet police would stop me before I really wanted to stop.  But my body knew best this time.  Sandy

 

Ah, the old HALT routine - stopping and asking if what is really happening/needed - HungryAngryLonelyTired. Works for me too :-)

GOOD for you Sandy!! Bet you felt better too. Lovely :-)

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Sometimes when I find myself mindlessly eating or grazing without

> satisfaction, what I really am is TIRED and need a nap. Sandy

>

>

[Guest guest]

today I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies for a pot luck dinner.  I ate 3 and felt uncomfortable full.  I realized quickly that I did not want any more. In the past I would have kept on eating because I was afraid the diet police would stop me before I really wanted to stop.  But my body knew best this time.  Sandy

 

Ah, the old HALT routine - stopping and asking if what is really happening/needed - HungryAngryLonelyTired. Works for me too :-)

GOOD for you Sandy!! Bet you felt better too. Lovely :-)

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Sometimes when I find myself mindlessly eating or grazing without

> satisfaction, what I really am is TIRED and need a nap. Sandy

>

>

[Guest guest]

Georgi,I am glad you decided to share your story and your struggles.I wonder if, for you, you need to take a step back and acknowledge all your progress, and all you are dealing with?

For me, sometimes I find I make the most " progress " when I stop striving so hard and start celebrating the smallest successes. Then the successes build on one another, in good time, when I am ready.

Just a thought. Best,Abby

 

Yay!!

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> > > Sometimes when I find myself mindlessly eating or grazing without

> > > satisfaction, what I really am is TIRED and need a nap. Sandy

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> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Georgi,I am glad you decided to share your story and your struggles.I wonder if, for you, you need to take a step back and acknowledge all your progress, and all you are dealing with?

For me, sometimes I find I make the most " progress " when I stop striving so hard and start celebrating the smallest successes. Then the successes build on one another, in good time, when I am ready.

Just a thought. Best,Abby

 

Yay!!

> > >

> > > Sometimes when I find myself mindlessly eating or grazing without

> > > satisfaction, what I really am is TIRED and need a nap. Sandy

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Georgi,I am glad you decided to share your story and your struggles.I wonder if, for you, you need to take a step back and acknowledge all your progress, and all you are dealing with?

For me, sometimes I find I make the most " progress " when I stop striving so hard and start celebrating the smallest successes. Then the successes build on one another, in good time, when I am ready.

Just a thought. Best,Abby

 

Yay!!

> > >

> > > Sometimes when I find myself mindlessly eating or grazing without

> > > satisfaction, what I really am is TIRED and need a nap. Sandy

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>