2017 support for people struggling with emotional eating

[Whycanti]

Hey everyone..is there anyone out there who would like to support eah other with learning to eat properly and lose weight?I dont normally speak about how I feel but I'm tired of feelcing so crap about myself. .I eat when I'm happy..sad. ..bored. stressed...I hate myself hate mirrors hate clothes shopping...need to change..

[LostQueen]

I'm in exactly the same boat, desperate to make a change

[vickibee]

Ditto all your comments. I. Eat when ever I encounter any difficulty however small. I am about four stone overweight and desperately need to change. I eat healthy meals and get my five a day but it is all the additional crap on top that I need to ditch.

[pinkieandperkie]

I'm in.

[Whycanti]

Me too..that's why I thought I would reach out to anyone else.It's a horrible feeling to hate yourself

[Whycanti]

Vickibee It is a struggle every day..I've come to he conclusion that maybe it's something that we need support with.hopefully that is what we can all do for each other

[Whycanti]

Welcome lostqueen and pinkieandperkie

[nigelforgotthepassword]

I'm in too. Had an awful year last year and ate my way through it.Thig s are still not great but being a stone and half overweight certainly isn't helping.
It's so weird because in the past I've had great will power when it comes to eating and exercising.I used to be really on it and I was so healthy.
Now I just feel crap, so I eat more crap and the circle continues.

[Whycanti]

nigelforgotthepassword yep I feel I've eaten my way through the last few years.I've worked on a lot of issues I. E anxiety etc but this is the one thing I don't seem to be able to crack

[BroomstickOfLove]

I'm in. My plan for this year so far is to stop dieting, and tackle my emotional eating problems instead. Someone on MN recommended a website/book/app called Shrink Yourself which I am finding very helpful, although the app doesn't work on my phone, which is a pain.

I've also been trying to change my habits. I find the time just before dinner really hard, as I'm surrounded by food, dealing with grumpy children and doing cooking/housework tasks which I find boring and stressful, so it's a key eating time for me. I read an article about making a small change piggy-backed into a regular habit, so I've started making a big mug of herbal tea as my first step in cooking, so that I drink it instead of nibbling, and it's warm and comforting. So far, it seems to be working well.

[Whycanti]

Broom that sounds a brilliant idea..I often skip lunch when I'm at work then come home tired and hungry and just eat rubbish..its not enough for me to find a diet that works it's the challenge of changing WHY I eat crap when I feel emotion...you guys sound amazing with dealing with solutions

[MrsEricBana]

Oh yes please. Broom that tea thing really works. I drink redbush/rooibos tea with skimmed milk all the time and I really like it and it's decaf, hydrating, low calorie and it definitely does help at "danger" times as I feel like I'm having something too. I was watching How to Lose Weight Well last night and thinking that it's all very well and I do actually eating good meals but it's all the other, unnecessary stuff that I emotionally eat that is the problem. A support thread would be wonderful!

[MrsEricBana]

Yes that'sounds it Whycanti - I think we all know that if we just ate grilled chicken and salad and moved more we'd be sorted but it's not as easy as that. My only things that have helped are drink lots of tea and try not to buy the things in the first place so there is no chocolate to snack on etc, but then of course there's always cheese etc...

[BroomstickOfLove]

This is the Shrink Yourself website.
shrinkyourself.com

[Whycanti]

Thank you broom I will take a look when I am home

[nigelforgotthepassword]

Yes it's the kids stuff that flaws me-the mini cheddars and cheese and biscuits we have for snacks for them. To make matters worse They polish off all the fruit before the start on that stuff which leaves no fruit for me to snack on.Plus I've an awful sweet tooth.
I find I'm better when at work or out of the house.Ive just been for a two hour walk with the dog because I feel pretty anxious right now- and if I were in I would be eating I fear.

[sleepwhenidie]

I would check out free podcasts by Marc David and the institute for the psychology of eating. I'm sure they will resonate. I would also say that a big part of 'dealing' with emotional eating is first stopping the fight against it, insofar as willpower isn't the answer, acceptance and understanding is.

Emotional eating is normal, we all have our own coping mechanisms in different situations and using food is no worse than using shopping, gambling or alcohol. In fact it's more natural because food is so intertwined with love and comfort from birth. So it needs a two-pronged attack, from a nutritional POV (stands to reason if you eat poorly from 8am-3pm you will be starving and craving crap by 4) and also emotional...why are you eating if not from hunger? Boredom, sadness,frustration, anger, low self esteem? These need to be addressed, not the urge to eat.