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

[Guest_1055]

Dear Skye

I can almost feel the tears come to my eyes, after I read your words to me. Happy and grateful tears. Are you going along OK today?

Hugs to you sweet Skye

Shelley xxx

[Bluey_moon]

I am going ok today Shelley Anne and I hope you are having a good day! 

Thank you for being so sweet! 

Xo

[Guest_1055]

Ah... thank you Skye, I am feeling much more encouraged today and not so sad.

Although I will tell you, I am lying on my bed, because it is so so cool in here, and beside me is an almost finished Darrell lea rocky road chocolate... well slab. It simply stared at me from the shelf at Coles yesterday. And without really thinking much about it, well I just grabbed it. Because that is what I pretty much do most of the time, when I go down that actual isle.

This time I am not eating it because of how I am emotionally feeling,  so it is not for comfort, because I am actually feeling pretty happy. So I think it is just out of habit ??? And from the fact that sugar is addictive.....

And you seem pretty sweet too!!

 And thank you for spending a little bit of time with me here Skye, with hugs to you.

Shelley anne xxx

[KTOCD]

Hey Shelley Anne,

Im struggling with the same issue at the moment. I'm trying to focus on eating healthy food instead of restricting food. I think the more I focus on limiting junk food, the worse I feel after I've eaten it. My eating is a bit of comfort eating but also some boredom. I use it as a quick 'pick me up' when I'm flat. 

So my goal for the moment is to eat more fruit and veg, limit the Coke Zero and try to exercise. 

Best of luck to u!!!

KT

[Guest_1055]

Hey KT OCD

Hug to you!  

Yeah I know it is a struggle isn't it. Me too, I eat out of boredom as well, but not as much as say comfort eating. Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is good.  For a while, I ate only fruit,vegetables and nuts and occasionally wholemeal bread and oats. And what I noticed was my taste buds actually changed and I started to really enjoy the taste of these foods. So have you experienced this at all?

Good on you for trying to exercise... ..way good.

Ok bye now

Shelley xxx

[KTOCD]

Hi Shelley,

nope...haven't experienced that but I haven't only been eating healthy food. I got into a bad trap of taking my medication in the morning and then trying to avoid the 'dull down' feeling by having Coke Zero for breakfast every morning. I've recently managed to stop that now which is good. I'm not 100% sure I eat out of boredom or whether I'm trying to perk myself up. Either way..it's something to work on.

Bought myself some flippers today. I'm off to the pool for some exercise 😉 Best find myself a kickboard. Swimming is not one of my stronger skills. Could be eventful !! 

KT

[Guest_1055]

Oh my gosh what a great idea of yours in regards to the flippers and kickboard. Should be a good exercise to do now it is Summer. Good on you...

Shelley xxx

[Guest_1055]

Just sitting in my chair now scoffing down some raspberry shortbread cookies. I was really desperate, these cookies are or were a gift for someone for Christmas.

I know the reason is that I feel sad. Not only that, since Sunday I have eaten the addictive chocolate, with all its sweet sugary deceptive taste. It is deceptive for me, because I get tricked into eating it, thinking I will feel emotionally happier or something .....but I don't.  It's true I get a sugar high, but it is short lived.

I feel like such a failure in this area of my life. Quite frankly I am sick of it. I just want to be healthy.

And besides, I say to myself you can always buy some more cookies for that person. But that isn't the point is it, I say back to myself. These cookies are not beneficial to me at all.

Such a dumb choice,  I choose.

Ok bye