Quote:
Originally Posted by Scarlet
I tell myself I am going to stay on plan as I drive to the store and buy candy---why do I do that?
You might want to really think about the why. Why do you want the candy? Are in the mood for something sweet? How about a Skinny Cow ice cream instead? Are you just feeling snacky? How about some baby carrots and salsa?
If you're anything like me, those are occasionally the reason why, but normally it's something else, something emotional. So many of us turn to food for comfort or to relieve other feelings. But really, not only doesn't it work, but it comes with extra added guilt. (Free with every candy bar!)
Emotional eating isn't necessarily a binge. For some people it is, but for some people it's just the thought pattern that leads us think things like, "I've had a crappy day and I deserve some chocolate." We just develop these habits of thinking that the food will fix things or help in some way. Even if we don't consciously realize that that's the reason we're reaching for the food, sometimes taking a few minutes to ask "why" can help us figure it out.
I'm a lot better these days, but still when I get really stressed or angry or sad I have to remind myself (sometimes out loud) that the only problem food can fix is hunger. And then I try to figure out what might really help. Do I need to rant to a friend? Write long 3FC posts about why life is hard? Sit down and have a good cry? Give myself permission to take a break from whatever I'm doing? (Yeah, that last one is a doozy. It took me a long time to understand that in my head, when I felt like I didn't have time to take a break, a break for food was acceptable.)
So as you're walking into the kitchen or reaching for the bag of candy, take a minute and ask yourself why. Not "why don't I have any willpower?" or "why am I so bad at this?" - don't beat yourself up. That's not going to help. Ask: Why do I want this? What am I thinking it's going to do for me? I think you'll be surprised at the answers. I know I was.
Lisa