Emotional Eating-Support Group

rosehill

Tue, Jan 18 2011, 9:14 pm

Do you eat when you're not even hungry?
Have you forgotten what it's like to feel full?
Do you eat in secret?
Do you eat food that doesn't even taste good?
Have you forgotten the last time you left food on your plate?

This thread is for you.

The work of Geneen Roth came up on another thread.

It's an approach that deals with why we eat rather than what we eat. It encourages us to treat ourselves well, not deprive ourselves.

I mentioned on the other thread that the a first step would be to not eat while doing something else, and don't do anything else while eating. This way, you really concentrate on your food, and get pleasure from it, you don't just mindlessly shove it in your mouth.

This is the book I recommend:
http://www.amazon.com/Breaking.....r=1-3

Let's talk about the principals of this approach here.

Last edited by rosehill on Tue, Jan 18 2011, 9:46 pm; edited 1 time in total

rosehill

Wed, Jan 19 2011, 4:23 pm

Yocheved84 wrote:

Great Idea, but might we have this discussion in the closed forum for eating disorders or those struggling with weight long-term?

I do not have admission to those forums!!!

amother wrote:

Besides for rosehill, who else has seen long term success with this approach?

Yes. You know who? All those people who are "naturally skinny". You know, the ones who "eat whatever they want and never gain an ounce".

Their entire relationship with food is different. You might see them eat 3 slices of cake at a wedding, but you didn't see that they barely ate breakfast the next day because they weren't hungry. They don't stash food in their cars. They don't raid the fridge compulsively in the middle of the night. They know how to STOP eating chips before the bag is empty, because they're satiated.

This approach helps you THINK and FEEL like a skinny person, so that you end up EATING like a skinny person.

Yocheved84

Wed, Jan 19 2011, 4:28 pm

rosehill wrote:

Yocheved84 wrote:

Great Idea, but might we have this discussion in the closed forum for eating disorders or those struggling with weight long-term?

I do not have admission to those forums!!!

amother wrote:

Besides for rosehill, who else has seen long term success with this approach?

Rosehill--forgive my naivete here--if you have the need for OA (and I mean the general "you"--anybody) and this type of approach to life, then doesn't one conceivably have a problem? Thus, you should have the ability to join one of the two forums I mentioned above?

The point I'm making is that emotional eating is...well...emotional. While I fully support the idea of a room for it, I would like to see it in a more private room on here....

MrsDash

Wed, Jan 19 2011, 5:37 pm

Eating 3 pieces of cake and eating a large breakfast, having a stash and binging in the middle of the night, etc. What about those of us who love food and eat a lot, even when we aren't hungry because we love the taste of food. The emotional aspect of it doesn't seem too severe. It's a love for the actual food, nothing deeper than that.

Blue jay

Wed, Jan 19 2011, 8:24 pm

IM all for this thread! I had a similar one going awhile ago called the "Health Makeover". Stress eating is my biggest weightloss obstacle. I also eat when Im bored, frustrated overwhelmed or tired.

Another book "Eating by the light of the moon" helped me understand my stress triggers and Ive stopped my daily binging. Im still overweight or rather "obese" as I deduced from the Sparkpeople website.but the weight gain has stopped.

Still have to lose weight for my health though,

humph...

anyway. Ill be happy to share and post

rosehill

Wed, Jan 19 2011, 9:45 pm

yoshi wrote:

What about those of us who love food and eat a lot, even when we aren't hungry because we love the taste of food. The emotional aspect of it doesn't seem too severe. It's a love for the actual food, nothing deeper than that.

Yoshi, I don't know you, or anything about your life. If you say it's not an emotional issue for you, I have no reason not to believe you.

As a general rule, though, I believe as follows:
Some people can walk into a casino, play 2 hands of blackjack and leave. Others don't walk out until they've mortgaged their homes and pawned their jewels.

Some people can have 2 or 3 drinks at a party, and not want another sip for 6 months. Others spend their grocery money on alcohol, and lose their families due to their behaviour.

If a person just really likes ice cream, and would rather have a root canal than move their bodies, then who cares that they don't have the figure of a skinny super-model??

But if a person eats to the point that they have diagnosable health problems, or simply can't do what they want to do because of their weight, then it begs a question. Why do they love food more than they love themselves, their health and their families?

JMHO.

QueenBea, happy to have you on board. Can't wait to hear more about your experiences! Glad to hear that getting more enjoyment from your food, and you've stabilised your weight.

MrsDash

Wed, Jan 19 2011, 10:08 pm

rosehill wrote:

yoshi wrote:

The part that bothers me the most is how I feel physically after eating awful foods in large quantities. I'm like a baby bird. I have very little will power to stop eating, and will munch away till the point of feeling sick. But I absolutely love food

Although I haven't had a physical in over 3 years... embarrassed

(I have no excuse. We have great health insurance, and yearly physicals are completely free without any copay.)

Blue jay

Wed, Jan 19 2011, 11:33 pm

In some ways, I think "food lovers" have the soul of a chef. Yoshi, I love food too, It makes me feel good and is so comforting, I even love veggies! But unfortunately I Love chocolate too... Whats not to like about food?

Here is the rub,,I dont eat only feeling down, I tend to eat when Im happy too, In my case any emotion leads to eating. I dont know why but this is the way im programmed. What Ive read in my self help book is that food was a way to avoid all feelings all around. I didn;t derserve to be happy, I cant handle my frustration. An aha moment is when I realized that I need to feel the emotion first instead of feed it.

Ive read lots of articles by Geneen Roth, and I think she is great, I take lots of ideas from different health and lifestyle experts and cater it to my own special needs.

My plan of action that has worked so far,,,

1. eliminate all binge foods from home atleast temporarily so I could stop the viscious cycle (too bad for my kids but then againg do they really need oreos.

2. eliminate as much processed foods as possible. like frozen waffles and items with high fructose corn syrup Instead make fresh pancakes for family. Serve up lots of fuit and veggies.

now im on the next level

1. Lower the sugar in my diet, its incredible but toomuch of that sweet powder makes me an unstaitiable bear on the prowl for more and more honey Twisted Evil

It makes me want more and more food.

On the happy side if I eat good fibrous foods as Ha-shem has itended , I think. I become hungry but not ravenous and can control myself like a mench. Its like Dr..Jeckel and Mr.Hyde

rosehill

Thu, Jan 20 2011, 6:58 pm

yoshi wrote:

Although I haven't had a physical in over 3 years... embarrassed

(I have no excuse. We have great health insurance, and yearly physicals are completely free without any copay.)

Yoshi, darling, pick up that phone and make an appointment. Let us know when your appointment is scheduled so that we can make sure YOU GO Wink

QueenBee3 wrote:

Here is the rub,,I dont eat only feeling down, I tend to eat when Im happy too, In my case any emotion leads to eating. I dont know why but this is the way im programmed. What Ive read in my self help book is that food was a way to avoid all feelings all around. I didn;t derserve to be happy, I cant handle my frustration. An aha moment is when I realized that I need to feel the emotion first instead of feed it.

I like how you put that!! And your plan sounds excellent!! Let us know how it's working for you.

Blue jay

Thu, Jan 20 2011, 10:10 pm

To the amother who recommends OA. Im not sure its for me....correct me if im wrong but isn't it religiously affiliated?

RoseHill. Thanks for putting this emotional eating thread out there, Im totally not afraid to admit that Im an emotional eater, In fact I believe everyone has a Tiva or darkside, mine happens to be mindless and emotional eating. Some other people, its a bad temper, shopping obsession,,,drug abuse etc.

Ive come to realize that I equate food with love, nurturance and comfort. It keeps me company when Im happy it keeps me company when Im tired or haven't had any personal time. Ironically, I have no desire to eat when Im hurt or upset.

RoseHill, what emotions do you equate food to? or rather what emotions trigger your binging?