To think weight loss is directly linked to emotional stuff

[LBirch02]

I was thinking recently what achievement in my life I was most proud of. When I soul searched recently I seriously think that losing weight from 15 stone to 7 and a half stone trumps any of my academic successes - even when I got As. I was trying to think why did I think this - after all with the current understandable negative publicity about fat shaming etc - we’re all encouraged that people should ‘accept us as we are’ etc etc /body positive movement etc. - then some might say it’s shallow etc to be concerned about one’s weight, etc
Anyway, conclusion I came to is that the reason I think I regard weight loss as my best achievement is that weight loss is very bound up with emotional issues - so if you’ve conquered your weight loss you’ve conquered your emotional issues.
In order to distract myself from eating I used to buy myself magazines - not top shelf or The New Statesman/Spectator more Bella/Best etc etc

Any thoughts?

Yes, you need to be in the right headspace and have mental energy to devote to it. It's not complicated, but that doesn't mean it's easy.

I can see why you think this OP, especially if you're an intelligent person and the good grades came easy.

If losing weight was a huge emotional battle for you then I can see how it trumps good grades. Well done ☺️

Totally agree DrSbaitso -

• I also feel that unlike what is popular said I don’t eat out of boredom - my personal triggers are facing tasks I find difficult like ironing /DIY cos I’m not good at them!

Thank you .GreyEyedWitch I got 3 As in A level which I worked very hard for from the start of the course - not just last minute revision / but by the time I sat them I was the size of a house as dieting went out the window!

I totally agree. Losing weight was my biggest achievement, because I knew how difficult it was for me, and how I had to work so so hard to retrain my brain, and break bad habits, sort out my emotions around eating, and generally just motivate myself. I will never pretend that it hasn’t been my greatest achievement to date.

I eat due to emotional difficulties. When I control my eating I feel generally in control and when I'm slim I feel truly my best self- I'm an active and creative person and being overweight just makes me feel disconnected, self hating, miserable, heavy. Emotions and eating are really linked for me.

And losing 4 stone and keeping it off is a major battle and a major achievement

Me too PartyPotato one thing I struggled particularly with was ‘staying in the moment’ I always wanted to be ‘further down the line’ with the weightloss

I agree OP. I've spent the past 5 years being unhappy with my weight. I've finally tackled it and taken up running. Now I feel great in clothes and have a new-found confidence. I'm very proud of finally digging deep and getting there with my weight. It's made me feel like a new person. For the past five years I've dreaded social occasions and felt rubbish in my clothes. Now I'm wearing things I haven't worn in years and can't wait to go places. You definitely have to get in the right headspace but once you're there it's an amazing feeling so well done 😊

Hmm. I see what you mean, but I don't agree that weight loss means you've conquered your emotional issues. I am an emotional issue and losing almost half my body weight was massive for me, but ten years on (and weight kept off) I feel that the feeling of being slim has replaced the emotional crutch that eating used to give me. To be honest, I think about weight and eating far more now than I ever did when I was overweight...

Totally agree with you Joystir59 - congratulations if you’ve achieved that

The only time I have ever, ever been able to lose a significant amount of weight is by suffering a broken heart... every cloud!

Bella43 I agree headspace is everything- it just got to the point I was desperate to do it as felt ugh!!

Yes, emotions are linked to weight for me too. I am really up against it right now for multiple reasons. I'm trying not to be too hard on myself - the fact that I am around 2 stone overweight. What bothers me most is that I don't feel fit and carrying the extra weight is definitely a factor in this. I've done okay today. I've thought about grabbing for something sweet but managed savoury. I do have another outlet for the boredom/distress thing but eating can be almost instant whereas I can't always access the other options instantly (pre-schooler at home on a part-time basis). Anyone got any other tips about this?

Congrats on your weight loss SilentPanic. I do agree weight loss and being slim don’t always correlate with high self esteem

Hetty I drank lots of Diet Coke to stave off hunger pangs and went on a v low calorie diet so had to stay within it

Read any of the geneen Roth books, start with when food is love.