I love reading this forum. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole weight loss issue and hoping I'm not the only one going through this funk with it. Is it normal to be depressed that you can't use food for emotional gratification? I've been under a lot of stress lately and, to be honest, didn't realize I was such a stress eater until that option was closed to me.
I guess of all of the emotions I was expecting, I didn't think I'd be bummed out because I couldn't hit McDonald's to make myself feel better. It makes sense since I had used that strategy for so long but I'm not sure what to do about it. (A nice soothing trip to the gym just doesn't seem to have the same allure.)
So far, I've only given up twice and went on "food benders" but I've been able to snap out of it. (For all of the annoyance of the COD, there are two people there who can talk me off of a food ledge when I need it.)
Any ideas on dealing with the emotional side of this?
Kristi, I think its normal and probably most of us on here would agree that we occasionally have the "Dangit why cant I eat like everybody else" moments. I was a stress eater, a happy eater, a sad eater, heck I just liked to eat. The PMS munchies about killed me the first couple of months on plan. I really really learned to like hot flavored teas. THey help kinda satisfy my sweet tooth and it helps your tummy feel full. Not sure whatever tricks to tell ya to try but that one works for me. Good luck and hang in there!
I experienced the same issues you refer to when I quit smoking to a very serious degree. I was giving up my best friend. I cried and cried and got angry but thru it all I just kept telling myself "do this or die". I would then look into my sons face and all the sudden it didn't hurt so bad.
With the weight loss I'm not experiencing that in such an extreme way. I do miss being able to eat what I want when I want but really if you think about it none of us ever REALLY had that luxury. You eat it, you gain 10 lbs. I think you just have to find the main thing that will motivate you to continue. Is it a picture of smaller days, a child, a grandchild, a relative in failing health who will depend on you some day. Find your motivators, take pictures if possible have them close by for weak moments. When the urge hits, stop, look at your motivator and think about all the reasons you're doing this.
So far I have been able (for the most part) to just stop and say, "I can eat this and lose weight or stay the same, or I can eat this hamburger then I have to lose twice as much next week." Most of the time this works for me. While I haven't lost a GREAT deal I have lost. I don't really see a big difference but I know it's there (my pants are falling off).
It's all about you in the end. Do you want to lose weight so you can enjoy those treats again (in moderation) or do you want to stay fat? Personally, I hate myself right now. I hate that I let me get here. I had a good reason for it but I think I could have done it differently and acheived the desired results without becoming what I am now. Every pound lost brings back an ounce of self esteem. I snatch up every ounce and treasure it like an old lost friend.
Hang in there. Think about what initially motivated you to start this diet and hang on to it like a life raft because it literally is.
You really struck a cord with me. I have been so disappointed in myself for letting myself get here. I think that that, more than anything, is what has kept me on the "straight and narrow" so far on the plan. COD asked me this morning, "what do you tell yourself when you go off plan?" I answered, "well, I never go off plan." And it isn't that I'm perfect or a stepford-dieter or anything...it's just that when I look into my three children's faces, I see a healthier me looking back...and that is more gratifying than a piece of pie or birthday cake or a bag of cookies could ever be. I never thought that it would be that way, but once I took a good long hard look at myself, I realized that as "happy" as I pretended to be...I was disgusted. And in that moment, I decided to do something, and I have never looked back.
Know this doesn't help on the emotional eating question...but I guess for me, the two weeks before AF are killer!! I used to be a real carbo-sweet eater...so the LAWL mini cookies (chocolate chip) and my 8 oz. of skim milk are what seem to stem that craving for me.
The way I look at it is this.... When I'm in a funk and REALLY want a Mickey D's fix or a bag of chips, what REALLY makes me feel better is when I succeed in not giving in... It's a victory over my emotional eating and that honestly gets me in a better mood..
So then I go celebrate my victory with a breakfast burrito! ... just kidding, of course...
I am the worst emotional eater. Looking in my kids eyes won't even stop me, I just tell them to go outside and play so I can eat! but I have noticed that the times when I can control it most is when everything else is in check, If I have all my water in and I have eaten POP in a balanced way....... meaning I have to sit down and divide my exchanges up evenly for the whole day and stick to that map. then I feel satisfied and I can resist better. on the days that I totally binge I look back and see, "hmmm only drank on glass of water, didn't get any veggies or fruits in and I am short a protein and over by 5 starches" I guess at that point my body is screaming for the things I have not had so I just keep giving it fast food, chips, ice cream. and it goes round and round.
I can really relate to your question. I was several pounds into this before I really started dealing with the emotional part of why I had gotten overweight. I knew I would have to deal with it or this would be yet another yo-yo attempt at finally losing this weight.
I would recommend The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person by Judith S. Beck and The Four Day Win by Martha Beck books. I have The Four Day Win as an audio book and I have listened to it several times. It deals with emotional eating and creating alternatives to grabbing food when we're down and just why we do it. It has helped me a great deal. I no longer fear reacing my goal and then re-gaining.
Kristi, what are you doing for yourself? Beside LAWL, what do you do for fun? When I am stressed I do something that requires me to keep my hands clean. What I mean is that the project would prevent me from eating chips, chocolate, anything that could leave a residue. I started to crochet and keep a glass of water with me at all times. I don't crochet for myself because I could easily say I don't need to finish the project anytime soon, but if I promise something to friend/family that is different. It motivates me to keep on track with the plan and project and reduces the stress in my life. I hope this helps.
Thank you so much for the replies. I think it helped to get my head straight again. So I had a good day (POP, I believe is the correct term) and made it to the gym this morning. My weight was up 5.1 lbs over 5 days...I'm hoping alot of that is water. I actually waited at the COD until the manager was free because there was no way I could handle scrutiny of my food diary (and some of the "counselors" seem to take sadistic pleasure in pointing out every indiscretion, like I don't really that I shouldn't have saved all of food until afternoon???)
So, I feel back on course. I gained. The world didn't end. I've felt sicker over the last couple of days and never want to see a cookie cake again. (Oh, the shame...but at least it's behind me.)
I stumbled on this post at the right time. I just came home from going out to eat and giving into my temptation to eat fried appetizers and fettuccini alfredo. Seriously. No discretion used whatsoever. I'm down 10 lbs after 2.5 weeks, and I totally caved today. I know it's not the end of the world, but TOM came today, and so I used that as an excuse. What's worse, I brought my DH down with me. Now we're both pretty sick to our stomachs. The thing that amazes me though is that we didn't eat nearly as much as we used to - our stomachs wouldn't let us. I can't believe I used to eat like that every single day and worse!! I'm thankful for LAWL, and I'm going to be POP tomorrow- no excuses. I'm leaving for vacation in a week and a half (road trip to Disneyland, then Vegas), and I am concerned with staying on plan then- but there's no way I'm eating like I did tonight again. Lesson learned (I hope!!).
Hopefully the scale will be forgiving tomorrow morning, but until then, hot lemon water is my best friend. It can't hurt anyway.
I'm new here, but I thought I'd post a quick reply. I never realized what an emotional eater I was until I started trying to lose weight. One thing that has helped me a lot is those Metromint waters. They're unsweetened and taste like mild mouthwash (better than you're imagining it, though). The spearmint is my favorite. Anyway, I sip one of those through the day when I'm feeling tempted by something or when I have a craving. That way, I've got that "just brushed my teeth" feeling and know that anything I might eat will taste weird. The other thing I've noticed and that I keep telling myself is that no brownie/bag of chips/etc. could ever make me feel as good as when I'm proud of myself for resisting. It's true every time.
Getting through a funk
... just kidding, of course...
