Posts: 58
1/6/12 11:18 A

Celest thanks for that list. I need it especially today. I'm going to post it in the notes section of my FB account so I can access it easliy.

current weight: 238.6

257 225.25 193.5 161.75

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Posts: 940
1/6/12 9:45 A

Celest-Thanks so much for that list. When I was reading through it I saw myself making those choices and remembering how stressed, depressed, etc I was. I'm going to print it out and carry it with me...that way when I crave something, I'll know what I really need.

current weight: 214.2

214.2 193.15 172.1 151.05

130

Posts: 6,736
1/3/12 3:58 P

Just want to say, you might not be able to figure out what you really want or need, or you may not be able to get it then. My worst times are after the students are gone but I still have work to do at school. I still feel frustated with the work load and many of the tasks that are not a good match for me, but I accepted that this is the best situation for me right now, and eating wouldn't make things better. I often don't have the time or freedom to go do what I would like when the urges are bad. I also saw that I was often making it seem as if how I felt at that moment was going to be the way it always was, instead of seeing that I did have nice moments during the day, too. I say to myself, I can take this for now. Sorry if this sounds terrible ,but I'd also say I can put off peeing sometimes; I can put off eating until it's appropriate!

I have found some help this year by using a timer to do other tasks when I'm trying not to eat and I have difficult work to do. I set it for 14 minutes and work on a task. Then I reset it and work on something else, and go back and forth. this works on housework. At work, I'm going to experiment with this, but with 20 minutes at a time.

current weight: 146.5

185 175.375 165.75 156.125

146.5

SparkPoints: (64,805)
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Posts: 10,576
1/3/12 9:43 A

exercise, drink water, get out of the house, read a book,
first and foremost see if you can figure out why you want to eat. once you figure out what you really need instead of food, try to give yourself that, whether it be a hug, a kiss, some relaxation, etc. a hot bath, a good book whatever.

current weight: 212.5

247 230.25 213.5 196.75

180

SparkPoints: (5,098)
Fitness Minutes: (6,040)
Posts: 530
1/2/12 4:35 P

love your list so true

Posts: 687
1/2/12 2:51 P

Thanks for that list, it's really interesting how the different foods we crave are linked to different emotions.

Pounds lost: 29.0

0 25 50 75

100

Posts: 5,782
1/2/12 2:16 P

I found a list of what you eat = the emotion. then when I found myself heading for anyone of them through happy/sad/bored/frustrated/scared emotions I would do an activity that counteracted the feeling. It works. I also took walks every time I felt the need to eat without hunger being the reason.
Here is the list.
Food.............issue.......what you need to do.
Ice-cream - depressed - need to be soothed.
(maybe take a hot bubbly bath)
Salted nuts - stressed - take things more in your stride.
(break what you are doing into smaller doable pieces so you can finish what you start)
Spiced foods - restless/agitated - get more spice in your life.
(get a friend/hubby/child and do something different)
Sweets&chocolate - feeling childlike - self-talk from your inner adult side.
(remind yourself as an adult that you will keep the weight on if you give in to sweets then have a fruit...the sweeter the better)
Big portions - unable to cope - need support.
(talk to a trusted friend or delegate)
Creamy/cheesy foods - lack of self-esteem - get some good feedback from friends.
(ask a trusted friend/spouse/child what they really like about you)
Caffeine - need energy - do some physical exercise.
(even if you go to the loo at work and jump up and down quietly for 2mins)
Alcohol - need to block out all emotions/maybe dealing with unresolved issues - self management required.
(buy alcohol in small doses. If it isn't there, you cant drink it.Manage yourself)

You can add your own stuff in the (bracket area) but establish what your problem is right then by what you are craving and take appropriate action.

current weight: 239.0

266 243.5 221 198.5

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Posts: 6,736
1/2/12 12:11 A

I find that first I have to talk to myself about why eating at that moment is not the right thing to do. That gives me the motivation to do ANYTHING else, though writing here on Spark has often been a first line of defense. The most effective self-talk for me is when I remind myself that I am eating enough food to sustain me well (I never purposely restricted my calories to a certain amount), I had usually eaten not that long ago, and was going to be eating something good again later. I also was very sure that ordered eating was key to my curing my bingeing. I make sure I have on hand delicious meals that include something I really like, though I am lucky enough to really like a lot of good-quality food! But I often had a good-sized serving of pizza with half a plate of salad in the beginning, or similar supposedly fattening food. I find I can even get fast food and limit myself to no more volume than my two fists of "dense" food. I can always have veggies with anything so that I have a full plate. I find that looking back on or forward to good meals help keep me on track. I always included some kind of fat, usually a good monosaturated one, but not always. Nowadays I've had so much more experience with waiting to eat and truly enjoy good meals that it's become easier to ignore any little urges that come up to eat and ruin my appetite. I truly prefer getting hungry for my meals! But it has taken a couple of years of concentrating on that skill and not specifically on weight loss. I have lost weight, though, and am due for an update soon. My clothes are continuing to fit more loosely!

Whatever you do, don't castigate yourself for this kind of eating, but do be willing to fight BEFORE you transgress. Once you give in, be kind to yourself and realize you will have a chance again later. And be sure you aren't trying to eat too low of calories before you get used to eating in an orderly way.

current weight: 146.5

185 175.375 165.75 156.125

146.5

SparkPoints: (33,446)
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Posts: 829
1/1/12 9:40 P

Journaling, drinking water, exercising, making a phone call, or eat something healthy like a piece of fruit, if you have to eat. Face what is going on with you...admit you aren't hungry, you don't need more food,,, eating will only make you feel worse. These are things I am trying, all the best to you!

Pounds lost: 26.2

0 12 24 36

48

Posts: 2,051
1/1/12 9:25 P

Exercise. Take a walk around the block. Start keeping a journal. Pick up knitting. Do anything that comes to mind other than eat.

I do agree that drinking water and planning out your meals will help. Sometimes thirst disguises itself as hunger. I eat 6 small meals a day vs 3 large ones and, for the most part, it keeps me inline.

current weight: 188.8

190 176.25 162.5 148.75

135

SparkPoints: (4,091)
Fitness Minutes: (100)
Posts: 117
1/1/12 6:53 P

...drink water and more water and find something else to do. It helps to plan out your meals and eat only what you have planned. Make that your goal and if you do stray...don't beat yourself up about it. ...each day is a new day. I have decided to let this crazy eating lifestyle go...I am not sure what will happen but last night something came over me and told me to just stop being obsessed about food, diets, and weight loss. I will let you know how things turn out. And, yes, this is a journey...a lifestyle change, not a diet. Take one day at a time just like an alcoholic does in the 12 step program.
A friend of mine told me that she looks at her body as a car. We are given one car per lifetime and we need to take care of that car and give it the best maintenance as possible...it's a thought. Start with three small goals...and read SP book if you have a chance.jlr

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Posts: 4
1/1/12 6:40 P

I find myself eating when i'm emotional and not just like sad when im happy or even bored i try and take my mind off of it but it's not working what does any one else do to overcome this?
Thanks
XAllyX