Re: Numbing My Emotions With Food

[Guest guest]

So true! An important part of learning to intuitively take care of one's self is

to also care for other needs other than just food.

> > >

> > > 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]

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]

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]

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]

Fabulous point of view Abby! One plus can out weigh a whole bunch of negatives.

And its a grand attitude adjustment too. Win-win :-)

Thanks for sharing that - ehugs, Katcha

>

> 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

>

[Guest guest]

Fabulous point of view Abby! One plus can out weigh a whole bunch of negatives.

And its a grand attitude adjustment too. Win-win :-)

Thanks for sharing that - ehugs, Katcha

>

> 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

>

[Guest guest]

Fabulous point of view Abby! One plus can out weigh a whole bunch of negatives.

And its a grand attitude adjustment too. Win-win :-)

Thanks for sharing that - ehugs, Katcha

>

> 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

>

[Guest guest]

Awesome! Congrats!

Josie

>

> 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

>

[Guest guest]

Awesome! Congrats!

Josie

>

> 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

>

[Guest guest]

Well said Abby. Last year I was taking a counseling class in school and the

method we were studying was cognitive behavioral therapy. The basic premise is

how our thoughts control our feelings and our feelings control our actions, so

in order to change behavior we have to change our thoughts. One day my put this

scenario to the class: " Picture a day when you do hundreds of things

successfully throughout your day. You wake up, get dressed, get in the car, get

to work, talk to your friends, help your family, etc. If one single thing goes

wrong that day, what do you go to bed thinking about? The many successful things

you did that day or the one mistake? " For many of us, what we are focused on is

the one mistake. We often fail to realize the many things we do successfully and

think we are failures for one mistake. This is totally unfair to ourselves and

it's also illogical. This lesson made a huge impact on me and how I view myself.

> > > > >

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

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

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

This is the method my therapist uses and I have also found it extremely helpful.

Our thoughts really do have a lot of power over us in every aspect of our lives,

not just eating.

Josie

> > > > > >

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

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

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

This is the method my therapist uses and I have also found it extremely helpful.

Our thoughts really do have a lot of power over us in every aspect of our lives,

not just eating.

Josie

> > > > > >

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

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

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Georgi,

First congratulations on posting. That shows a high level of awareness and I

want to acknowledge you for it.

Second - it sounds like it would be really helpful to find someone who can be

there for you as you process your sadness and grief. You can keep eating as a

way of dealing with it but the feelings will still be there - believe me, I

know.

If you can find a trusted professional (or gifted friend) to help you deal with

the painful emotions you're working so hard to avoid then you can truly care for

yourself. It sounds like your spirit really wants to be held and heard.

IE may be the perfect thing for you right now and it may not be. It may be that

the reason you keep getting stuck in the book is because you also need something

else.

I wish you the best with it and send you warm wishes.

>

> 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]

Hi Georgi,

First congratulations on posting. That shows a high level of awareness and I

want to acknowledge you for it.

Second - it sounds like it would be really helpful to find someone who can be

there for you as you process your sadness and grief. You can keep eating as a

way of dealing with it but the feelings will still be there - believe me, I

know.

If you can find a trusted professional (or gifted friend) to help you deal with

the painful emotions you're working so hard to avoid then you can truly care for

yourself. It sounds like your spirit really wants to be held and heard.

IE may be the perfect thing for you right now and it may not be. It may be that

the reason you keep getting stuck in the book is because you also need something

else.

I wish you the best with it and send you warm wishes.

>

> 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]

Hi Georgi,

The really important thing I learned earlier this year when I was going through

an incredibly stressful time is that I needed, above all else, to be kind to

myself and also to deal with the stressors in my life before I could get deeply

into IE. Trying to deal with all the crazy external factors in my life AND do

IE " perfectly " was just too much. It made me feel like a failure, which in

turn, made me eat even more.

With the help of my therapist, I was able to find other ways to deal with my

stressors, but I also gave myself permission to eat whatever it was I wanted to

eat without beating myself up about it. Because realistically, I was going to

eat it anyway, so shaming and guilting myself before and after accomplished

absolutely nothing. It wasn't easy, there were weeks, where I would have sworn

I gained ten pounds. But the amazing part is that although I see-sawed up and

down for a while, my weight actually stayed pretty stable. I did whatever

little bit of IE I could (and sometimes that meant doing *none* of it) and I had

to keep telling myself that that was okay. I was doing the best I could in the

moment. And I also allowed myself to comfort with food, when I needed to, while

I was learning better coping mechanisms (that's key!). This actually made the

binges much less extreme than they would have otherwise been. Now, on the other

side of that stressful time, I've not only learned better ways to deal with my

stress, but I'm able to trust my body much more than I did before.

I hope that helps and that you are feeling better soon.

Josie

> >

> > 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

> >

>