I had a light bulb moment this morning. I've been back on plan for a week and was doing great until last night. I ate crap last night. Nothing yummy that I'd normally go out of my way to have or something that I usually crave or thoroughly enjoy...just crap. Shoveled leftover pizza and potato chips into my pie hole and washed it down with a beer. Not even my favorite beer...my husband's tasteless beer.
But leftover pizza (previously frozen! not even carry out from the best pizza joint around!) and chips made me stray??.
It's not about the actual food. It's about how I'm feeling and my state of mind in the moment. I don't eat to fuel my body. I eat to cope with my emotions. I can pass up even the most tempting and favorite foods as long as I'm feeling strong and healthy and motivated/committed to making changes. When I let my guard down just long enough while dealing with overwhelming emotions (negative AND positive), then I'm making choices I regret almost immediately..
I know this isn't anything new to many as I've read this time and time again on these boards from others. This was just the first time it really clicked with me in a meaningful way..
Back on plan today and evaluating what happened, why it happened and strategies to not let it happen again..
Realizing how food and emotions can go hand-in-hand is a huge deal. You first need to understand why in order to fix things. It's a process and will take some time. I am definitely still learning..
I'm right there with you. Even after the weight that I have lost I still have those moments. I'm working on them and I am working on me, determind to keep the weight off! It's funny because everytime I seem to allow this to happen the food never tastes as good as I want it to. So why do we do it?.
I think a lot of people are in that same boat. We've used food to celebrate feeling great and to cope with feeling bad. I've tried to find another activity I can focus on when feeling good or bad so whatever the action I take it isn't associated with food. Sometimes it's easier than others but the more I practice the better I'll get..
One of my coping mechanisms has been to enjoy a nice salt bath in my hot tub and drink about 64 oz of water during that soak. This usually leaves me feeling both relaxed and full so I am not thinking about being hungry..
This is why it's so tough to not only lose weight, but maintain a healthy weight. So many of us, I'd suspect most of us, use foods to cope with our emotions. I know I do! When that coping mechanism is taking away, we look to replace it with something else. Ideally, we learn that it's okay to feel and use exercise, meditation, or something positive as a way to deal with things. Now that you know this, the next time you want to eat something, ask yourself, are you really hungry or is it something else? If you ask yourself this enough, I think it will become habit..
I know the feeling too well, when I am upset I will grab whatever is closest and shovel it in my face. It takes large amounts of will power to not do it and when you feel like that will power is the last thing you have..
I hope you come up with something that works for you not to do it. It is great that you are back on plan today..
Just yesterday, I have had my Medifast dinner, everything was fine, and then my son throws a fit, and I am upset, angry......I caught myself standing in the middle of the kitchen trying to figure out what I could eat! I got even madder after realizing it.
I left the kitchen immideately, told my husband that I need some time, and took a long hot shower, herbal tea, and went to bed....DONE!.
It did help a lot. I hope you will figure this one out and move on. We all (well, most of us) have the strong attachment between the food and our emotions, imo.
When I feel like that, for what it's worth and I have BEEN there, I tell myself two things:.
1. If I really want it, I can have it tomorrow. When tomorrow comes, repeat. I never have it "today" or "right now"..
2. I remember what my coach told me and repeat it as a mantra - "I have been using food and drink to entertain myself for too long. Gotta find something else".
That "something else" is the hard part. I agree with hot baths/showers, treating myself well, doing puzzles or crafts (creating something seems to be cathartic for me). But I'm only on day 18 so I'm still looking for more ideas..
Chris, how many of us have done/do this??? Recognizing it is the first step to changing it. For me the lightbulb came on (pre-MF) when I hung up the phone after a very upsetting conversation and WITHOUT EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT...ate 1/2 a bag of peanut M&M's..
One of the many great things I read on these boards early on, was thinking of "food as fuel"...it's not a reward, a salve, a friend, a comfort...it's fuel...to give me enough energy to get from one task to the next. So, when I find myself wanting to eat when it's not time to "re-fuel" I have to ask myself why? Am I hungry, angry, lonely or tired?.
If it's any of the last 3...I try and deal with that in a way other than food..
I wish you the best on your journey toward wellness.
I've been there with you! I so envy those folks who don't eat as a reaction to stress!.
Previously, a crappy phone call from a client? That's worth Snickers! A candidate backs out of a position (I'm a headhunter) that is exactly what they told me they wanted? Let's go out for lunch!.
It puts me back in control for that brief, unhealthy way. But I now realize that NOT eating that crap is actually the way to regain that control. Impulsive eating is just another loss of control..
Of course, this is spoken by a veteral of all of 9 days on the plan, so we'll see how I can keep it in practice..
Stay strong fellow emotional eaters! We are on the road to being healthy!.
Of course it's the food..but your right ANY food! Food doesnt talk back...it doesnt put us down...it brings us endorfins...it loves us...it keeps us company...it hugs us! BUTTTTT.
Gotta love those lightbulbs! Welcome to "Change"!! You have just realized it and now can change it!!! Thats what Medifast is all about...so glass half full moment? You had to eat that crap to realize the truth of the matter thus causing change. Way to go!.
339 days ago
But leftover pizza (previously frozen! not even carry out from the best pizza joint around!) and chips made me stray??.
It's not about the actual food. It's about how I'm feeling and my state of mind in the moment. I don't eat to fuel my body. I eat to cope with my emotions. I can pass up even the most tempting and favorite foods as long as I'm feeling strong and healthy and motivated/committed to making changes. When I let my guard down just long enough while dealing with overwhelming emotions (negative AND positive), then I'm making choices I regret almost immediately..
I know this isn't anything new to many as I've read this time and time again on these boards from others. This was just the first time it really clicked with me in a meaningful way..
Back on plan today and evaluating what happened, why it happened and strategies to not let it happen again..
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333 days ago
Congrats on your progress so far!!.
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332 days ago
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323 days ago
I think a lot of people are in that same boat. We've used food to celebrate feeling great and to cope with feeling bad. I've tried to find another activity I can focus on when feeling good or bad so whatever the action I take it isn't associated with food. Sometimes it's easier than others but the more I practice the better I'll get..
One of my coping mechanisms has been to enjoy a nice salt bath in my hot tub and drink about 64 oz of water during that soak. This usually leaves me feeling both relaxed and full so I am not thinking about being hungry..
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314 days ago
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311 days ago
I hope you come up with something that works for you not to do it. It is great that you are back on plan today..
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308 days ago
This is the hard one! I so agree with you!.
Just yesterday, I have had my Medifast dinner, everything was fine, and then my son throws a fit, and I am upset, angry......I caught myself standing in the middle of the kitchen trying to figure out what I could eat! I got even madder after realizing it.
I left the kitchen immideately, told my husband that I need some time, and took a long hot shower, herbal tea, and went to bed....DONE!.
It did help a lot. I hope you will figure this one out and move on. We all (well, most of us) have the strong attachment between the food and our emotions, imo.
Post Reply
308 days ago
1. If I really want it, I can have it tomorrow. When tomorrow comes, repeat. I never have it "today" or "right now"..
2. I remember what my coach told me and repeat it as a mantra - "I have been using food and drink to entertain myself for too long. Gotta find something else".
That "something else" is the hard part. I agree with hot baths/showers, treating myself well, doing puzzles or crafts (creating something seems to be cathartic for me). But I'm only on day 18 so I'm still looking for more ideas..
This is a big step. I'm proud of you!.
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308 days ago
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305 days ago
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302 days ago
One of the many great things I read on these boards early on, was thinking of "food as fuel"...it's not a reward, a salve, a friend, a comfort...it's fuel...to give me enough energy to get from one task to the next. So, when I find myself wanting to eat when it's not time to "re-fuel" I have to ask myself why? Am I hungry, angry, lonely or tired?.
If it's any of the last 3...I try and deal with that in a way other than food..
I wish you the best on your journey toward wellness.
Post Reply
300 days ago
Previously, a crappy phone call from a client? That's worth Snickers! A candidate backs out of a position (I'm a headhunter) that is exactly what they told me they wanted? Let's go out for lunch!.
It puts me back in control for that brief, unhealthy way. But I now realize that NOT eating that crap is actually the way to regain that control. Impulsive eating is just another loss of control..
Of course, this is spoken by a veteral of all of 9 days on the plan, so we'll see how I can keep it in practice..
Stay strong fellow emotional eaters! We are on the road to being healthy!.
Post Reply
300 days ago
Gotta love those lightbulbs! Welcome to "Change"!! You have just realized it and now can change it!!! Thats what Medifast is all about...so glass half full moment? You had to eat that crap to realize the truth of the matter thus causing change. Way to go!.
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298 days ago
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247 days ago
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