I would never say I've always been overweight, but I've never exactly been thin and I've always felt a little more awkwardly shaped than everyone else. My weight has never interfered with my ability to make friends and find dates, and the only times i definitely remember feeling insecure is at the beach or pool. However, I've been significantly overweight for the last 4 or 5 years (i'm 5'3 and just broke 200 lbs) and since then I've experienced bouts of depressed and anxiety that I would otherwise have thought to be out of character for me. I'm happy-go-lucky all day at work and with friends but my mood completely changes when I get home at night.

My weight has started effected my quality of life, but I'm such an emotional eater its really hard for me to lose weight. I don't just eat when I'm upset, I also use food to celebrate and to just pass the time...this weekend my boyfriend is out of town and I found myself thinking, "What will I have for dinner to keep myself occupied Friday?"

Has anyone ever tried conditioning themselves to work out or do something healthier than eat when feeling emotional? I feel like I've tried a lot of tricks to quit, but do you all have any suggestions?

Thanks for the support!!

I know this sounds crazy, but I trained myself to use the gym...(the GYM not a home work out thing)...to help with my emotions, and knowing that I am doing something good for myself, plus the endorphins, makes me happier and more satisfied than any food can. AND you are getting out of the house, you are near people (even if you don't talk to them, sometimes just being near other ppl makes you feel better)....That is my two cents!

Hi rawrbitsy. This is my first post ever, but I just had to reply because my best friend and I just had this discussion last night. We're in the same boat. We eat for a lot of reasons. Emotion, boredom, celebration, whatever. We were trying to find replacements for the eating habit that would be equally easy and just as comforting.

For me, personally, going to the gym won't work. Seeing myself in the mirrors, especially alongside all the skinny, toned people just triggers depression for me. And I don't find exercise as enjoyable as other people do. But I made a list of the simple pleasures I enjoy in life... whether it's reading under a snuggly blanket by the fire in the winter, enjoying a beautiful day outside in the spring, taking a bath with energizing bath salts, going out dancing, or watching old feel-good movies. When I put some thought into it, it turned into a pretty long list!

Starting Sunday, I cut out sugar cold-turkey, and I gave myself permission to do anything it takes to resist the sugar temptation. So I plan to refer to my list often and comfort myself with those things... anything but food.

I hope you're able to come up with your own simple pleasures. And the people here at this site will help you get through the emotional stuff. I've been lurking long enough to know that most people here are very inspirational and encouraging. If I can help in any way, just let me know. You can do it, and I'm right there with ya!

Hello and Welcome! I am a sweet eater and I am learning process of eating less in moderation and making peace of the forbidden foods that I crave fit into my calorie budget. Whenever am alone, I call a friend up or listen to upbeat music and dance to keep me from overeating. Maybe drink diet coke to replace that sweet craving. It's a learning lifestyle to give up, but in my viewpoint now is all things in moderation...Good luck.

Hi rawbitsy...

I hear you...I am:

emotional eater
recovering addict of other substances/behaviors
binge eater/restricter/exercise bulimic
bipolar and on meds that can cause weight gain
have panic disorder/agoraphobia
family of obese/overweight women
emotionally & physically abused as a child
have PCOS

Sometimes I wonder why I never got to 300 pounds, but thanks to my skinny Dad, I have a decent metabolism. And I've never owned a car, so walking around for miles a day is completely normal to me.

I have tried to overcome the above obstacles for my 40 years of life. I've gone the mental health more than the diet route so I've done everything from inpatient hospitalization to 12 step recovery, outpatient ED support, day programs, etc, etc.

I've spent decades working on myself & my issues.

And you know what?

It worked.

Somehow I absorbed every lesson even though it took 20 years to "get it."

I don't use food to numb myself or to fight my feelings anymore. I use food for fuel & have a treat now and again for taste.

My suggestion to you is to keep trying to not only stop eating, but better your life. The happier you are, the less you'll need to turn to food for love, calming, and support.

Try whatever you strategies you can and get as much help as you need. As when you fall down and binge, get right back up, learn from your relapse, and move forward.

Good luck & welcome to 3FC.

Wow, what great advice on here! I know I use food to calm me and numb my emotions. Since I have been on my new diet program ( Oh I know life style change) I have really been working on feeling the emotions and working thru them. I am having a super hard day today, feeling sorry for myself and dealing with people I cant control! I actually finally cried about it today! I felt stupid crying ..probably because I was always told oh hush knock it off your OK! But today I wasn't okay I was deeply hurt and I felt the emotion. For once in my life I didn't eat the emotion away.
My new Ipod is my best friend now. I love this site and all the wonderful support I get from it. Walks, baths, working in the yard. I have covered my kitchen chairs, cleaned out the garage. I also am finally doing all the odds and ends that I never had time for! I dont watch tv anymore as well and it is amazing the time I got back. Journaling, and writing real old fashioned letters to friends has passed the time as well. Best wishes to you!

Hi and welcome to 3FC.

Keep your self and your mind busy when you feel the cravings coming on..read a book, work a puzzle, come here and read the stories, take a relaxing bath, give yourself a manicure/pedicure, etc.

Good luck with your goals.

Hugs
Michelle

I know what ya'll mean. For me, I sit on my butt behind a desk for 8 hours. Doesn't help that I work by myself so I get bored, often. I usually fill my time with food. I'm trying to learn new habits. I've even gone to the point of taking coloring books to work with me. I know it sounds crazy, but coloring can be fun. It's something I haven't done in years. Makes you think about when you were a kid and is actually very relaxing. As for when I'm at home, I set up my Tony Little's Gazelle in front of my tv. I can't stand going to the gym because my anxiety gets real bad sometimes. I like to work out, but I always feel like people are watching my fat move. So when I'm walking on the Gazelle, I can be on my phone on the internet or surf the tv. It helps me time myself when I watch tv. When I start getting tired, I just tell myself, I'm going to keep walking until the next commercial or until this show goes off.
Don't get me wrong, I Love chocolate. Currently I am trying to detox myself. I'm not drinking caffeine, trying to limit myself to one snack with chocolate in it a day. I've done it before and found that it's not the taste of the sweets that I like. It becomes something I depend on because I think it makes me happy, which in reality, it's only making me fat and that does not make me happy. I've had to do alot of thinking on why I am so dependent on food and once you really understand yourself and why you eat the way you do, it will be easy for you to start changing your habits so you can be happy.
Lots of luck!!