Friday, January 13, 2017

Emotions and eating

I was reading a post on a group I belong to, that triggered me into a thought and I felt I wanted to share.  This is what as I wrote I learnt about myself even more:

I learnt a few months ago from someone I was talking to about emotion and eating.  What she said to me as I was stating about how I know I am emotionally eating is this - You (Me) are maybe ment to be that way. Maybe you (me) will always deal with emotions immediately with foods because this is your (mine) path.  Stop trying to change who you are and stop beating yourself up over it.  Learn to find a way to live it.


That took so much pressure off me and eating/emotions.  What I started becoming aware of was when I wanted or knew I wanted to eat because of an emotion, I explained to myself that this was a very clear need/desire in me eat over ---blank--- emotions.  I needed to be first aware this is what I wanted to do, and that in me 1. was I able to overcome it without eat?  2. If so, ok go for it, 3. If not, ok be wise in my choice - instead of going for a very unhealthy choice, look for A. what is it that I need?  sweet?  salty? crunchy? comfort? soft? cold? hot? etc  then B. what is it I really want (usually chocolates or chips etc) then C. what will be very close to that choice/need?  (99% of the time I can find something close to it, even if it has that want eg chocolate in it - like a small piece of dark chocolate or some hot chocolate in it, or I can build from there.   D. how much will do it without over doing it?  E. - go for it!!!  Enjoy it, know that feeling is being comforted with food and for me that's ok to do.  

I know the whole thing sounds long but it really isn't - it's amazing how fast the mind/food need can work itself out.  

Once I have eaten over the emotion, I think now start dealing with the issue. Not to see what to do the next time, but how to heal the emotion/issue.  I don't worry that I ate first - so I'm not punishing myself on top of the emotions which would spiral me.  Dealing, eating, emotions, food.....it's who I am.  Be at peace with it.

As I wrote this I realized that when I started being at peace with foods/eating/emotions idea, I started realizing it was who I am, so I didn't have to continue to fight who I am, to be someone I am not.  I know that sounds very confusing, hopefully it can be understood though.  I could say yes, I often deal with emotions by first or needing to eat - and I'm ok with that, because this is who I am.  Ironically there weren't a lot of emotions after this that I would eat over.  I just didn't need to eat over an emotion anymore compared to when I fought every emotion by not allowing myself to eat.  Sometimes I eat emotionally over something I would think isn't that big a deal - but my body, which I am trusting - knows better and knows this emotion needs food.  Whereas another emotion that is very upsetting, that I would think needs food - just doesn't, it needs my hubby's hug instead.  It's trusting my body, my emotions, myself.

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