...Apparently foods that we eat DO cause us to remember/react to past situations in our lives. They also cause our bodies to produce certain chemicals that calm us for awhile. It IS a physical process as well as an emotional one...
Oh yes...another emotional eater here. Part of my journey years ago was going through OA. I learned a lot about emotional eating there. Comforting, nurturing and celebration with food is built into cultures all over the world. I tend to think that since women, especially in past centuries, didn't have any money or power, they used what they had at hand, the food and cooking. The kitchen was their domain from the begining of time. They made it their way of showing their love.
One thought on the anger/frustration eating. More than likely we are feeling out of control when we are either angry or frustrated. We don't like the feeling of being out of control. What DO we have control of? Food, our bodies, our eating. I'll show them...How dare they (fill in the blank)...I'm going to have a pint of Haagen Daz in one sitting!!! That'll show 'em! Mind you, that wasn't a concious thought but many have expressed the feeling. Intelligently we know the only one we are hurting is ourselves, but when speaking of emotion we aren't talking about intelligence.
There are so many good conversations going on throughout this website, but I can mostly relate to yours. I'm such an emotional eater -- one of the "wonderful" skills I learned from my mom. Would love some books, etc. regarding this if anyone knows of any. By the time I've eaten my food based on anger, stress, etc., I usually lost track of how I even ended up in the kitchen to start with!! Just a reaction I guess. I think it's always best to have a "backup plan", some hobby, chore you can do instead of heading to food. The more free time I have, the more I tend to eat.
There is a book that I forgot to mention. It's called The Taming of the Chew: A Holistic Guide to Stopping Compusive Eating by Denise Lamothe. It has a lot about emotional issues, healing and the "why" of things.
cantforgetthis, that is such a great point you bring up about the kitchen being women's domain!!!! I was a SAHM for many years, not right away when the kids were very young, buy shortly thereafter I became this mega cook. One meal better then the next. Holidays, birthdays, forget about it - over the top. I would also have dinner parties that rivaled the best caterer. Exquisite linens and serving pieces. Appetizers, 3 different salads, 3 or 4 main courses, 4 or 5 side dishes, 4 or 5 assorted desserts. It was insane. And of course I nibbled as I cooked and then, this is the dreadful part - I would eat the leftovers and as good as the food was, ain't nobody gonna finish all the food I would put out. Oh, yeah except me. And my home was perfect. With 3 young children. Nothing out of place. Dust free. This was MY domain. And darn it this is where I could prove myself.
I am happy (or sad) to say that I haven't thrown a dinner party or hosted any holiday parties since Sept. 4, when I started changing my lifestyle. I just wasn't ready to handle the cooking and therefore nibbling and dealing with the leftovers. I don't know when or if I will ever be able to do that again. And I am happy to say that dinners around here are just as yummy as ever, just not fat and calorie laden.
Yummy Robin, can I eat at your house!? Once you get this healthier lifestyle thing down, you'll be able to have a dinner party once again. You can substitute most of the dishes for tasty healthier versions (your guests will probably appreciate this), and once you've lost your excess weight eating a bit more than usual once and a while won't be a problem.
Actually Mami, I'd LOVE to have you over. I think we'd have some great conversations!! But like I said those days of over the top cooking are history. And I know that one day soon, I will be able to entertain again. My will power has become enormous, opposed to once having just an ENORMOUS appetite. But my guests will just have to settle for a little less food, and a healthier version at that.
We have to work past the emotional eating and fill that spot -- so any favorite ways to "vent" instead of eating? I guess the last few days I've come here instead -- works good!! My skinny husband can't understand the concept of eating a box of cookies, but then if I could stop when I was full, I wouldn't be overweight, right? 100 lbs just creaped up on me over 10 years strange! But, I have a 7 year old son who seems to be following in my footsteps and I can't put him through this, so I HAVE to stop myself and set a better example. I learned my binging from my mom, but I can't really blame her anymore, I'm 36 years old -- she still struggles and I really don't want to be 70 years old and still trying to lose weight!!! Hope everyone has a great day, meets their goals and has the strength to "start over" if they don't!!!
Well, I better get a handle on stress eating in a hurry. dh is likely quitting his job and starting his own company with 2 other people. I am a SAHM so we have no income from me--except I am going to do some work for the company, but probably at a token salary or just a % of profits should profit come.
There will be a lot of travel involved for him which is stressful for me with 2 small kids. Last night was a test drive of that and holy binge eat batman . By the time I got food ready I was so frazzled I inhaled a full 2 servings without tasting it
But I am down another 0.4 so Im at 152.8
Wish the tracker allowed decimals...I think I might need to switch to a tickerfactory one
Ennay -- I know where you are coming from, my husband travels for work and works odd hours -- I've learned to eat a lot of microwave popcorn -- it takes a while to finish the bag and keeps my mouth full so I can't shovel anything else in! I also keep lean pocket's -- breakfast and lunch frozen meals, so when he's not home for dinner I can give the kids a quick meal but I don't spend my night emptying the cupboards!! Good luck to both of you, it's very exciting to start new, but SO stressful!!
but many have expressed the feeling. Intelligently we know the only one we are hurting is ourselves, but when speaking of emotion we aren't talking about intelligence. 
