Emotional eating

[mgb2020]

I used to lose my appetite when I felt stressed or anxious. Then I realised it started to make people question when I wasn’t eating so I began to force myself to eat to avoid having to explain myself when I wasn’t feeling okay. Now I find myself eating constantly so I appear fine when really I’m not hungry, or I eat socially to make others happy.

I don’t know why I am like this. Can anyone else relate?

I’ve put on 7kgs since this habit started and it’s making me feel worse about myself and a vicious cycle has started 😔

How do I manage/change this?

Any advice will be appreciated greatly.

Thank you for reading

M

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello mgb2020 and welcome to the forum

Many of us develop odd relationships with food, maybe for social or emotional reasons. Untangling that and learning to eat real food, home cooked, eating when hungry and stopping with full can seem far more difficult than it should be. There was a thread on a similar topic yesterday: Why is it so hard to say no? healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... Have a read and join in the conversation if you want to.

You'll find everything you need to get the best out of the forum in our Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... , including a Welcome message and weigh-in and Daily Diary: they are a good place to start getting involved with the forum.

Take your time exploring and then join in as much as you can

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Hi my goodness I can really relate to this. Why do we let others affect what we eat when we know what we need to keep healthy, feel full enough and lose weight. No one is the same and we question ourselves too much. I eat homemade cakes for my lunch at the weekend but sometimes I feel like I'm being judged. I have decided that I am in control of me and it feels good. If you don't feel like eating at times it won't kill you and you will get back on track if you ignore what people say. I eat more when I'm stressed and am learning slowly that the only person its affecting is me so I intend to do what I want. Although our problems are opposite we can use the same solution to overcome them xx have a good stress free week 🥰

[gman1961 Restart April 2024]

I'm the opposite,I used to eat rubbish when stressed.I have gone back to Intermittent fasting.So I know I can only eat within a window of time.

So whether I'm stressed or not ,I eat a certain time.

Good luck .

Gary

[Lilaclady24 Restart Sept 2023]

There’s a lot of references here to not feeling fine and having to pretend to be fine etc. It could be that you need professional help with anxiety or depression or some other dysfunction that could be greatly ameliorated with meds or therapy. Worth considering. Even if that is not the case, your relationship to food and others really needs some work. You should have the courage to not eat or not eat much in front of people. Perhaps you could have a chat with the people who are putting this pressure on you and explain nicely that while you appreciate their loving concern it is having a detrimental effect on your mind, body and spirit. They’ve got to cut it out!

All of us on here have a dysfunctional relationship to food, me included. All others have advised you, the best place to start is by eating real, cooked, not overly processed food. Fats do quel the appetite a bit. IF is helpful too —the idea that you simply can’t eat between certain hours. Good luck. I’m doing better now with the help and instruction I got on here and so can you.