Comfort Eating

[Guest_1055]

Hello 

I was wondering if anyone else struggles with this issue.  The issue being comfort eating or eating to receive comfort. I know of two other people on the beyond blue forums who do. Is there truly anyone else out here that does struggle with this???

I am beginning to think comfort eating is like a circle, or a merry go round, where it is extremely hard to get off from. I think it all ties into depression somehow as well. For me when I feel sad, alone, neglected, unloved, hurt and there is probably more emotions that I haven't recognized yet. But anyway when these emotions are strong, like they just blare out, and you are completely overwhelmed by them, well for some reason, I just turn to food. The food I turn to is mainly the junk stuff. I don't eat a lot of food, except for the chocolate.

So I am feeling these emotions, I turn to the food, the junk in the food, whatever is in it, which for me is sugar, causes more depressed emotions. It seems to go around and around.....

But I must clarify, eating the sugar brings me a small bit of comfort, but it is very short lived. 

And yes I have written out a list of strategies, to help myself get off this merry go round, in which I am now visualising painted happy horses going up and down, up and down. 

I know I also eat for comfort when I feel well.....empty, empty inside my heart. Or just a plain emptiness inside. But I am looking at it very logically now, and saying to myself, how can food actually fill that emptiness or that enormous hole in my heart. Because when you actually eat food it fills your physical stomach not your heart.....

Well thank you to whoever is reading this, I so very much appreciate you listening to me ramble on and on. It is just I think I have kept my thoughts and feelings, which are many... all locked up for so ,so long, and now they are just flowing out.

With much appreciation and many, many hugs to you

Shelley anne xxx

[Bluey_moon]

You haven't rambled on at all. I think a place like this is so good to share what you are feeling and not feel so alone. I've comfort ate for a while on and off too. But I don't remember being an anxious child, mostly in the last 5 years or so. 

But it can be hard! So if I can listen and make it a bit easier, I'm so glad! 

[Guest_1055]

Thank you and I'm glad that you are glad.

[Gruffudd]

Well, dare I admit it, I do go for a whole raw carrot because it reminds me of that rascal of a rabbit. 

 Deep fried food has a place for me, I have restricted it to private time away from work for long enough that it also carries me into a mental space away from all the worries outside the front door. I am an emotional eater only in an escapist way. Mostly it is fish and chips, often cooked at home, which stops me having too much and avoids people. And yes I do like the taste. 

Rob.

[Gruffudd]

Shelley anne, I do admire your strength in reshaping your diet, not just comfort eating but food that really does make you feel better. I should go and do that.

[Bren23]

I find myself doing this alot,  i cant seem to stop doing it, then afterwards i end up hating myself even more because i know i am going to gain weight; i have tried so hard to lose weight i have lost all my motivation and i dont know what to do anymore.

[Guest_1055]

Ah Rob..... Thanks so much for the kind words. Appreciate it.

By the way, was that rascal rabbit, bugs bunny? I am trying to remember....

[Gruffudd]

Oh yes it's bugs bunny... 

You know with trying to eat healthier I sometimes wonder if I don't punish myself and go too far the other way. I think that is why I am trying to give the rubbish food a small place and let the majority be good quality, fresh, mostly fruit and vegetables and all made from ingredients that I recognise. Definitely I am restricting the sugar and the fat, and the two combined in equal proportions is out, bread is home made too using flower that is milled by hand (makes it more digestible). 

Rob.

[Guest_1055]

Hello Bren23

I am guessing you are new here on these forums, so here is a hug of welcome.

And please please, don't be too hard on yourself. 

I am struggling with this eating for comfort myself, just like you. So you are not alone. It is not an easy task to eat healthy and stay on track, especially when we are going through emotional issues and such. The one thing that I think we have to learn to do, when we fall down or stuff up, is to simply pick ourselves up again. And by the way, I am still learning this lesson.

But having just said all that, I do know how you feel, and it does feel hard to keep going.

I am not sure if you are asking for advice or not. But if you are, this is one of the strategies, that I have done. You write down a list of the reasons you have for wanting to loose weight, or reasons you want to be healthy. So for me one of the reasons was: I want to be healthy so my emotions are not so all over the place. Am I explaining OK? So if you haven't already done this, it may be a good strategy for you as well. I often look at my list as well, to help myself stay focused.

Well I hope something I have said may encourage you and if not, please know I care about you.

Shelley anne xxx

[Bluey_moon]

Shelley Anne, you are so kind and caring to everyone! You are very sweet and give us all hope! 

[Guest_1055]

Good Morning to you Rob

It sounds like you are doing pretty good in regards to the foods you consume, with all the fruit and vegetables. And just allowing yourself to only have a small amount of the junk stuff. I am guessing by doing this, you would not feel deprived, and feel like you are missing out. In fact I like the idea so much, I think I will try it. 

And the milling of the flour, my sister actually does that....And she makes her own sourdough bread, I think she uses wheat grain. Well that sourdough bread tastes really delicious, like it has a wholesome, sort of real deep taste to it. Yum,  yum, yum.

 And I know you are struggling these last few days Rob, so I am sending you a hug and please, please know I care.

Shelley anne xxx