Eating Your Feelings

So yesterday I talked about a very emotional time for me during my weight loss journey.  It's understandable even to those who don't have a weight issue the yearning to eat "comfort food" during a time like that.  The problem is that many emotional eaters eat like that to console any feeling.  I was like that, and still have to watch myself now.

When I was happy, I would eat.  When I was sad, I would eat.  When I wanted to celebrate something, I'd suggest a restaurant.  Of course the list goes on and on.  The really vicious thing about it is I was miserable at 400+ lbs. and I ate because I was miserable.

As an emotional eater you have to try to separate the "eating to feel better" from the "eating to survive" cravings. It's not an easy task to do.  Here is what I did.

First I replaced the items I snacked on.  I changed from cookies, candy, and chips to carrots, popcorn, and salads (with light dressing or simply vinegar and spices).  That way I didn't feel guilty about the things I was eating.  I know that's a rather drastic thing to do, but I knew where my weaknesses were and I had to take control of them rather than continuing to allow them to control me.

After I did this I really started to concentrate on what I was feeling when I got a craving to eat.  I would go up in the kitchen and just stand there thinking for a moment and looking around.  Sometimes I'd realized I didn't really need anything.  Sometimes I'd realized I just needed a drink.  And sometimes I would get something to eat.

Even when I selected something I always asked myself, "how will I feel later about the POINTS I'm using for this?"  Basically is the satisfaction I'm going to get out of this item enough to make me not feel guilty later or upset that I won't let myself have something else?

There would be times I'd decided that the cookie was worth it, and there would be times I'd think 20 baby carrots would be much better than the one cookie.  Slowly I started to change how I ate.  I'll admit though it was much easier to stop eating for the happier emotions than it was for the sad ones.

After doing this for a while a funny thing happened.  I started to get happier and gain more confidence.  The reason is because I was loosing weight.  That kind of an accomplishment really has an impact on you that you can't believe.  I started to no longer crave the cookies and candy as much as I used to, and because I wasn't feeling down all the time I didn't feel the need to eat as often.

You've probably guessed by now that I wasn't an easy process, and not everyone will be able to do it the same way.  It may be better to find an activity to do instead of eating something.  Maybe you could pick up the knitting needles or you could do some push-ups.  I know it may sound weird, but it's worked for some people.  The key thing is you have to want to make the change.  No one else is going to do it for you.

That's the topic for tomorrow:  committing to change.


On the menu today:  (nutritional information) [POINTS Plus value]

Breakfast:
1 1/2 Cup Multi-Grain Cheerios [4]

Lunch:
Footlong Subway Turkey Breast on wheat [14]
2 triangles of Pepperjack Cheese [1]
Cup of Vegetable Beef Soup [3]

Dinner:
Genghis Grill Bowl - Italian Chicken Bowl
Chicken, Crushed Red Pepper, Citrus Garlic Herb, Black Pepper, Mushrooms, Mongo Mix, Squash & Zucchini, Spinach, Roasted Tomato Sauce, Udon Noodles (363.1 cal / 3.4 fat / 49 carb / 2.6 fiber / 32.6 prot) [9]
Dirty Martini [9] (I rarely drink, but this was a nice way to end a long day)
3 Olives [0]
1 Skinny Cow Low Fat Fudge Pop Minis [1]

Snacks:
23 Emerald Nuts Cocoa Roast Dark Chocolate [4]
2 Cups Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate Almondmilk [7]


Exercise:
1.25 miles walking during breaks.


#gghealthkwest