[mindoverfood]

I wanted to share with you what I've learned so far about my personal problem in overeating, because for me, it's a beginner's breakthrough!

I basically learned that whenever I reach for food even when I'm not hungry, it's because my brain is trying to cope with stress coming from various sources in my life. Unfortunately, not all of stress sources are immediately solvable. In fact, some of them can't be solved - I just have to live with them. I'm sure this is the case with most everyone on earth. I am realizing that my impatient, high-blood pressure, anxious personality does me absolutely no good. I am rapid, restless, tense and agitated all the time. I am also laughing because I realize now that my brain was trying to solve very deep, emotional problems arising from completely different area outside health or weight loss, by stuffing myself with food, which does...nothing.

Get this. This was big for me.

The only time I truly felt 100% at peace was when I was doing my last rounds of chemotherapy, 4 years ago. Why? Because I had learned to let go. I didn't overeat. I liked food for its sake, but it didn't have any control over me. I didn't even think about food. In general, I wasn't afraid of anything anymore because I was so much in pain, and I wasn't afraid to die. The worst (cancer!) had already happened to me, so there was nothing to be afraid of, and all I had to do was just exist and keep going. I was fighting for my life, but if luck wasn't on my side and I ended up dying, well, it wasn't under my control. I can't do anything about it, so why worry? Live the rest of my life with peace.

Now that I've survived, I feel like - well, how can I get that peaceful state of mind again!? I have so much to LOSE now, and I worry about everything again.

Yesterday I came up with a solution - first of many, I think - and it is two things. First, let go. Care less! yes, you're allowed! You'll still do your best, some things might go to ****, but ****, life will go on, stressing won't help! Second, Do something every day that is out of your comfort zone. Jump into it like you're jumping off from a scary-high diving board. Just do it, because there is no other way to get used to it. Scary-high pile of paperwork to do? Just do it. Putting yourself up for judgment for scholarships? Just do it. Bite your lips and jump into it every day and make it a point to stay out of the comfort zone.

So together, I remind myself: Let go, and Jump.

Doing this without therapy means that I am learning things now that are way overdue, and I think most of you know this, but if you didn't, I hope my experience helped.

[Moving Forward]

Like you, there have been times when a profound perspective shift has done wonders for my ability to adapt and cope. What you say rings true to me. In some ways it reminds me of a modern day serenity prayer. I applaud you for your search for peace. It sounds like you have a lot to be grateful for and will find balance as long as that is your intention.

[alaskanlaughter]

i need to take some of that to heart too...i KNOW i eat because of various sources of stress and, even though i realize that, it often doesn't stop me from actually eating anyhow...like i don't have any other coping skills so i do it even though i logically know why and that i shouldn't...i dont binge but i definitely overeat...i could overeat practically any type of food LOL...i definitely have to learn not to take things to heart so much and not to worry about other people's bad moods so much etc....that's THEIR baggage to carry, not mine...now if i could only put that into practice

[katrinakit]

I think I see some of this in myself too. I've gotta find my "zen".

[racrane]

I am the same way. It's finding alternatives to stress eating that's the hard part for me. I'm very happy you realized this, too.