I realized today just what a big part emotions have played in my weight gain. All those oatmeal creme pies after DD was born? Not just nursing cravings. 
Loneliness from moving across the country, a sense of loss (career-wise) becoming a stay-at-home mom, and a touch of depression all played their part in making me feel uneasy.
And how have I always dealt with emotions? By eating. DH’s bad mood getting me down? Eat it away. Anger at myself for wasting too much time? Drown out my feelings with ice cream.
I had one of those days today, and even though I kept my numbers under control (points/calories) by choosing not-so-bad snacks, it was STILL a mini-binge. The eating to relieve emotion part was still there. On the bright side, I did make a better choice for my mini-binge: WW carrot cake snacks instead of Little Debbies. But it was still giving in to that impulsive urge, that little voice that whispers “Something sweet will make it all better ~ more somethings sweet will make it even more all better”.
Little voice, YOU’RE WRONG! Something sweet does not make it all better. The rush of sugar & calories, the sensation of eating momentarily distracts me from the emotion. But once that initial binge high is over? It makes it all worse. That emotion that I thought was so bad? Now it’s tripled, by my own actions.
So on to finding ways to quiet that little voice. Get up and move, instead of binging. Pray for a way to resist that temptation to eat the emotion away.
How do you silence that little voice?
Don’t just ditch the habit of stuffing the emotions with food, replace it… Find something else to deal with the emotions like taking a walk or reading a book. I crochet or clean a room in the house when I am stressed out. I make myself only eat in the kitchen and when it is not mealtime or food prep time I just stay out of the kitchen. Fill it with an alternative and you will find yourself breaking that “stuffing your feelings with food” habit.
Comment by Leann — August 6, 2006 @ 11:08 pm
Yeah… crafting is one of my go-to things for stress. Except, it’s harder to craft around kids than eat around kids. ;-p
I think the first step would be identification. I mean, when you have a craving - stop and check your feelings. Just knowing that it’s an emotion instead of hunger oughta help…? Then perhaps writing about the emotion (yay blogging!) or praying or pondering what you can do about the situation which is causing the emotion…
Comment by blestwithsons — August 6, 2006 @ 11:23 pm
I can definitely relate to that. The other day the boys were totally stressing me out and I wanted so badly to reach for a slice of cake. I think Blest is right - knowing it’s an emotional thing should help. I think the most important thing is not feeling guilty if it happens, but just continuing to move forward. Several times, I’ve given up on diets because I couldn’t stop those little “feel-good” snacks. Just keep going.
Comment by Jana — August 7, 2006 @ 7:28 am
When super-stressed I organize something, a drawer/file/closet/room. I seem to have to find something to do with my hands, even with the minor stresses of a day.
Journaling, blogging, knitting, digging in the dirt, etc. are good alternatives for me. When it’s really bad, I leave the house and go for a walk.
Comment by lady laura — August 7, 2006 @ 8:28 am
If you are feeling the need to be consoled or comforted by food why not go to the Father instead?? Let Him fill you up with His living water!! Also I think it is important to pray for repentance. When we turn to food instead of the Lord we are sinning. Instead turn to the Lord, repent, and receive His refreshment. (Joel 2:12-14) I listed all of my sinful eating habits and then made a list of how I would “put off” those habits and how I would “put on” new habits that would be more glorifying to the Lord. Ecclesiastes 6:7 says,
“All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.” Micah 6:14 states it even clearer: “Thou shalt eat, and not be satisfied, and thine emptiness shall remain in the midst of thee;” But the GOOD NEWS is that:
53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:53-58).
Comment by Mandi — August 7, 2006 @ 11:04 am
I think for me, one of the keys has been actually identifying what on earth is going on with me emotionally. What am I really feeling? Is there a need that isn’t being met? How can I see that it gets met (within God’s design of course)?
Prayer, journaling and telling Erik what’s going on with me seem to help a great deal.
Comment by Blair — August 7, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
I (usually) pray and then call or chat online with my sister. Just getting those emotions out keeps me from stuffing my face. Most of the time, anyway!
Comment by Carrie — August 7, 2006 @ 1:30 pm
This is some good advice here! I may have to copy it over as a sticky on my personal blog
I definitely need to remember Mandi’s suggestion about going to the Father first. Thanks for the reminder that When we turn to food instead of the Lord we are sinning!
Comment by Lorri — August 7, 2006 @ 4:40 pm