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5 Excuses Emotional Eaters Make

There are many excuses emotional eaters give for hanging on to their habit of overeating, even when it affects their mental and physical well-being. Below are 5 excuses that we often hear at Shrink Yourself.

I'll never be as attractive as I want, so why bother losing weight at all?
So many emotional eaters paint themselves into a corner with this one. It's defeatist thinking at its very best. It convinces you that since you won't be Tyra Banks or George Clooney after you lose the weight you shouldn't try at all. Just because things won't be perfect at the end of your diet, and just because you won't suddenly look like a runway model, doesn't mean something positive isn't going to happen. This excuse tries to prevent you from abandoning emotional eating by telling you that things won't work out perfectly so there's no point in trying.

I've failed before, so why try again?
Most dieters have failed to achieve their goals at some point. Either they quit their diet early, or gained the weight back after reaching their goal. These failures or relapses are often used as a justification for not trying anymore.

However, previous "failure" doesn't predict future failure. Up until now, you didn't know that emotional eating is the number one reason that diets fail. If you didn't understand emotional eating there was no way you could have succeeded permanently. With a new understanding of emotional eating you could finally have all of the tools you need to succeed. It's like a baseball player: just because he struck out the first time, it doesn't mean he didn't learn how to spot the pitchers curve-ball the next time. Just because you dropped your diet once, or hundred times before, it doesn't mean you didn't learn what it's going to take to make it this time. This excuse is really just a way to justify not trying so you can hang onto emotional eating.

I'll feel too deprived if I give up overeating!

Emotional eating is satisfying to the emotional eater. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so hard to give up. But, just because it's the only way you can feel satisfied now doesn't mean it's the only way you'll be able to feel satisfied in the future, or the only way to feel satisfied, period, as some emotional eaters believe.

Think of a smoker. They can't visualize living their life without the satisfaction of smoking. They can't face the deprivation they imagine they would feel without smoking. Of course, to a non-smoker this just seems silly. There's plenty of ways to feel satisfied without smoking. And, after a few months without cigarettes, many new non-smokers realize how little the tobacco offered in the ways of real satisfaction. Nearly all successful ex-smokers wonder what the heck they were thinking. They wonder, "Why on earth did I think I wouldn't ever feel satisfied without cigarettes?" The same is true for emotional eating and overeating. Just like smoking, these habits do offer some temporary stress relief, but at a huge cost. And just like cigarettes, once you break the habit, you begin to realize overeating is not the only way to feel satisfied in life. This excuse is really just the habit trying to convince you that there is no satisfaction outside of emotional eating and uses this as a justification to hold onto your unhealthy eating patterns.

Losing weight won't really impact my health, so it's not worth it!
This excuse is just wrong no matter how you cut it. While losing weight won't fix all your health problems, even losing a small percentage of your body weight will drastically improve your health. A small reduction in your body weight cuts your likelihood for heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, impotence and a whole host of other health problems.

If you catch yourself making this excuse, tell yourself that pursuing good health is not an all-or-nothing endeavor. Just because you can't avoid all health problems, doesn't mean losing even a little weight won't drastically improve your health.

Losing weight won't fix anything...I'll still have other problems to deal with!
It's realistic to believe that reaching your goal weight won't solve all of your problems. People that expect losing weight will solve everything set themselves up for disappointment. When you stop overeating, you'll still have to contend with your spouse or job. That's just a fact of life. When you eliminate eating as a coping mechanism, you start to learn how to tackle the real problems. You might see giving up the comfort of food as a loss but what you have to gain is being more effective in dealing with your life's challenges.

Conclusion
In all the excuses above, there is an example of black-and-white thinking. "If things can't be perfect, you shouldn't try." Believing in this all-or-nothing thinking is what gives these excuses their power. If you begin to see through this oversimplified assessment, you can begin to break these excuses down so they don't convince you to hold onto emotional eating. Just because you won't be a ideal model of health, or your life won't be perfect afterwards, doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue your goals. Don't let these excuses get in the way of a new, thinner, healthier and happier you!

33 Comments In the order they were posted.

KB said...

Good article!

Ralph Smith said...

I know I need to lose weight for my health. I want to lose weight to look and feel better. I want to lose weight so I can wear clothes that fit right. I don't want to think about food and eating as much as I do. I do use the excuse that this is something that I just love and it feels like the only way I can do something for myself that I really enjoy. Still I already quit drinking and smoking and it seems like if I can do those that I should be able to quit eating but this one is MUCH harder.

Kathy said...

Comparing overeating and smoking is really a totally useless waste of the reader's time. You can totally remove yourself from cigarettes when you decide to quit, but you are always, always around food and have to make decisions. The most effective way to lose weight is not to deprive yourself of any one food, but to learn to not eat for emotional reasons. I've lost 105 pounds this way. It's not easy and takes a lot of time and effort, so reading silly articles like this is time wasted when you could be reading about intuitive eating.

norma clarke said...

I want to lose weight 40lbs I have health issues, I workout hard at the gym but I make wrong food choices.

Ana said...

I agree with the comment that Kathy made. When you try to quit smoking or drinking....just get the heck out of any environment that offers it. How do you remove yourself from eating? You need food to survive, so you constantly have to make choices and be tempted. I had lost 75 lbs the last two years, then regained 40!!!!!!!!! Made many poor choices...I wish I could just be removed from all of the food!

rachel said...

I'm really in a pickle - I've promised myself and my doctor I'd lose the 35 - 40 pounds I've been attached to,a dnnow some of those goal dates are pretty much upon me - a 20th reunion in two weeks - a family reunion in a month. i see myself unreasonably - and then I see a photo which shoots me back to reality. I eat constantly - and am cravihng - which feels out of control - chocoalt, sweets - just vast amounts of "stuff." I'm really not in touch with how I'm eating for emotional reasons - or more importantly - how to stop!

Jacob said...

I don't think the article is saying quitting overeating is like quitting smoking. I think it's saying that the emotional reward you get from smoking is similar to the emotional reward you get from eating. With both, you feel dependent on the feeling it gives you and can't really imagine getting that feeling elsewhere. But once you break the habit, you realize that you can totally get that feeling in other better ways.

Brandy said...

I agree with Jacob. I am learning how to give myself a feeling of comfort and reward without turning to food unless I'm truly hungry, and this is turning out to be the key to overcoming emotional overeating for me. I believe that making healthy food choices also makes a huge difference. I eat veggies, fruits, steel-cut oatmeal, brown rice, fish, shellfish, tofu and beans. I also completely quit junk food. Junk food is something you CAN completely walk away from - just like you can walk away from cigarettes. The human body doesn't like junk food - we just THINK we want it. We're bombarded with images and advertising telling us we want it, but whenever we give in and eat it, how many of us feels great afterward? How could we? It's empty calories! The body wants REAL food! It's just like how some of us used to THINK we wanted a cigarette. I have been cigarette-free for over 12 years now but when I was trying to quit, I used to feel that I'd never be satisfied without a cigarette in my hand. But now I can't stand second-hand smoke and I know with 100 certainty that I never want to have another cigarette for the rest of my life. One statement I read somewhere really hit home with me: "You were not born a smoker!" I can use that same idea and say: "You were not born an overeater!" and/or "You were not born to eat junk food!" The body wants nothing to do with smoke nor junk food. Listening to the body really is the only way out of all of this. The body will tell you what it wants and needs. We only need to listen and care for it enough to give it what it wants - and to not give it what it doesn't want. I believe that if everyone ate only real food - unprocessed, REAL food - like our grandparents and great-grandparents ate - we'd be much healthier. Most of of us would drop the weight off effortlessly. Have you ever tried to overeat vegetables? It's impossible! They're so fiber-rich that they fill you up before you could ever eat too many calories. I try to stay away from all processed foods - no white bread - no white rice - no sugar. This may sound strict to some - but I wouldn't have any it any other way - I really love the way I eat! A typical dinner for me is brown rice, salmon or shellfish, and loads of veggies including shiitake mushrooms - with East Indian and Asian spices, herbs and seasonings. I also cook with a teaspoon of olive oil at lunch and dinner. I also make smoothies out of unsweetened organic soymilk, frozen berries or mango, and stevia a completely natural herbal sweetener with no calories. Better than any milkshake you could ever order anywhere! Guaranteed! Every day I include one cup of steel-cut oatmeal for breakfast and one cup of brown rice with lunch and one cup of brown rice with dinner. I have one piece of fish or a serving of shellfish each day and I also have 1/2 cup of beans or tofu each day. The rest of my diet is filled out with loads of veggies fruits. And I include a tbsp of raw sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds every day. The most important thing I've found is that if I don't eat my veggies, I feel hungry again really soon. And it's because I'm not giving my body the vitamins and minerals it needs from fresh veggies and fruits. If I give my body veggies, it gets what it needs, and I never feel hungry between meals. I've lost over 10 lbs in just five weeks now - an average of about 2 lbs a week - and I'm not trying hard nor feeling deprived. I'm just listening to my body for the first time in my adult life I'm 38. I feel very excited - because I know I'm going to reach and maintain a healthy weight. I have 30 more lbs to lose I'm 5'3" and 160 lbs right now - and I want to be 130 lbs. I'm going to see my goal weight well before the end of 2008 - and I will keep it off for life!

ging said...

my sister and I have been eating 800 to 1000 calories a day by way of high protein shakes,puddings, soups. This has removed the food habit and eliment of cheating due to selection limits. Hard at first but results fast and feel great. She is off all her medicines after 10 weeks and lost 26 lbs. I started 3 weeks ago and have lost 13 lbs. She is going to a medical hospital program that is costly. I found my foods at directdiet.com. Also, like the web site and doctor information at absolutelythin.com. a doctor in Dallas. Like an alcoholic removing the food feels a bit scary for first few days then you start feeling well due to seeing results. Keep treating yourself with love and notice that when tired, scared, upset, fearful, anxious, etc. your hunger increases. Just drink your water and find some rest or stress relief. I read entertaining books. My sister and I drink 1/2 or body weight in water each day. When really hungry will each a dill pickle, sugar free sweat dill pickle, or sugar free jello, or another protein meal. We have found adding an extra pack or having a boiled egg or grilled chicken or tuna has not stopped the weight loss and helped with an extra hunger day yet kept us on our plan. If have trouble doing just the shakes, soups, puuddings after a while you can have a food meal of salad lean protein. I really feel that if you can try to lose you weight with the "fast" meals you will see the most weight loss and it short circuits the emotional eating the best. We take a small soft ice chest with our puddings, drinks, water to the movie. We sometimes think about the popcorn but once the movie starts and we have one of our products we are fine. We tell ourselves we can have other food but choose to stick to the plan so we can continue to see the quick results. We are in our 50's and are surprised how we look so good. Our shape is coming back and better than we expected. We look younger and more womanly. That is a huge incentives. I am type 2 diabetic. My numbers are in the normal range and have been able to cut out my blood pressure medicine. WOW! That is another great incentive.

Andrea said...

I understand what the others are saying I "removed" myslef mostly from the food by not buying binge food- doesnt help if it come in a hamper but I just try andf give it away as quick as I can. Also doesnt help odd bingings like flour - but at least you mostly only have healthy things to eat. I also write out the night before my eating plan for the day and then add anything extra I ate to it and if I can see why I ate a whole packet of biscuits! Any improvement is a good improvement though.

Gail said...

The word diet should be banned as it has an emotional response for nearly everyone lean or overweight! Eating is about lifestyle and our lifestyle in this the 21st century is one of instant gratification and constant confusing input and stress. There are many good points both in this article and in the responses but I believe it is about substituting eating activities with other activities which pleasure you and are more active. For women part of our role is nurturing which means we are constantly having to satisfy our childrens and partners needs and when we also work it becomes difficult to satisfy our own needs and we become overtired. We need to examine what we are teaching our families and putting into their selfconscious as comfort when we give them unhealthy foods and not have the junk food where we can snack on it at our heart's content at a moments notice. Convenience foods are for lazy or busy people and should be resorted to only when there are no other choices. When you are tired and stressed it is easy to tell yourself that just this once... RESIST. Get a George Foreman and within 15 mins you can grill a piece of chicken breast or pork neck steak or even fillet steak the size of your palm and have your vegs in a steamer or presure cooker in the microwave at the same time and ready to go. Be aware of the glycaemic index of the veges and fruit, read the labels on so called lite foods and do not purchase what has refined sugars and fats in it. DETOX first by following a high protein and then gradually introduce the higher glycaemic foods. SUBSTITUE with things which are not food related like pedicures and manicures and books even a sleep if necessary. Do not give up when you slip once, get right back on the programme and above all do not stop eating and then binge as this is very bad for the body and makes your body store the fat when you do eat the wrong foods at the wrong times. PLAN and Preprepare what you are going to have when you have time and MAKE TIME to do this by saying no to other demands. Losing weight is about a lifestyle change and involves more than just food. Do NOT expect an overnight weight loss if you have 60 pounds to lose. It did not all arrive overnight and it won't leave overnight either and when it does chances are that you will go right back to your old lifestyle very easily. Slower weight loss means that you are eating consciously and taking note of what you eat in terms of portions. Men lose quicker than woman and some women lose quicker than others so do not compare your weight loss to theirs. You are unique and special and you deserve to look good and feel healthy and happy but within reason and the reality is that if you have big bones or are predisposed genetically to being short or have a large butt or abs that protrude like your mother's did well then accept it and just ensure it doesn't get out of hand. There are no quick fixes in life and everything good requires conscious attention and work to perfect including our bodies. What we put in is what we see and we can only work on the external that our DNA dictates we should have. I once owned a swimwear shop and there wasn't a woman or girl who came in to buy a costume who did not see body flaws in themselves, even those who looked perfect to me. LOVE YOURSELF FIRST if you want others to love you and that means putting your needs first and prioritising those of others after that. HORMONES too are vital! Some plump girls become skinny women after having children and vice versa. CHECK your thyroid function as this controls everything in your body including your emotions and hormones and adrenalin etc, even having kids is affected. I had repeated miscarraiges because of this which made me depressed which meant anti depressants which made me fat which made me depressed. This is genetically inherited in my case. In my last pregnancy I was given progesterone which was to prevent the miscarriage and within 48 hours I strted having panic attacks and wishing I could die begging to be euthanased. The son I bore is gay and those panic attacks only ceased when he was 6 years old but by then my marraige was falling apart and I was suicidal. BOTTOM LINE: LOVE YOURSELF AND BE REALISTIC and PLAN

charlotte_jane said...

Smoking to repress your feelings and eating to repress your feelings are the exact same mechanism. Quitting smoking involves dealing with your emotions in some way other than reaching for a cigarette. Quitting emotional eating involves dealing with your emotions in some other way than reaching for food. They are exactly alike. It doesn't matter that you have to keep eating and but can completely exist without cigarettes. If you deal with the issues that are driving the emotional eating, then food will no longer be an addictive substance in your life.

eleanor53 said...

I have been told by my doctor that she may have to increase my blood pressure dosage. She also told me she may have to start giving me medicine to lower my cholesterol. I do not want this AT ALL. She told me to lose 15 pounds and she'll see if I still need the extra doasge. I would really like some advice as to what I should eat to stop taking pressure medication. That is my goal more than the weight loss. I also love junk food and I would like to cut it out completely. But I think it is going to be difficult. Any advice???

Lins said...

It depends, some people believe that going "cold turkey" is the only way to get rid of your addiction, others believe that a little bit of what you fancy is fine. For me it's sugar and I know that the only way for me to stop binge eating is to give it up, with me it's all or nothing. However the thought of a life without chocolate is impossible and I keep putting it off. I also agree with Jacob's article about comparing smoking and eating and the reasons why people smoke and eat too much. No we can't avoid food but we can train ourselves to deal with our problems differently so that food is not our source if comfort. I am a massive overeater but am doing really well at the minute because I stop and ask myself before I binge if this cake is going to solve my problem. The answer is no and the problem will still be there and so will my fat backside. I know it's not easy and I resort to taking a lot of naps because if I am asleep I can't eat :

YAMUS said...

i know it is very hard to loose weight, i couldn't do it for very long myself, i don't have the stamina to stop eating the wrong foods. I know what to eat and what not to eat, but if it's here iw ill eat it, that's the way with a lot of people. my family doesn't care to pull in treats of all sorts, and when they bring in junk, and i don't have the money to get good food of course i will eat the junk instead of not eating at all, or eating crackers, and hot water.

yamus said...

does anyone know how to keep family from bringing in junk foods for you knowing you are trying to loose weight? Thanks

ellen said...

I have suffered from depression on and off for my entire adult life, stemming from a lack of empathy from parents and low self esteem resulting from childhood obesity. Due to the social isolation that it inflicted and lack of help overcoming this from my family, who saw nothing wrong with my having no friends and no social outlets growing up, I have never been able to socialize easily and am therefore a loner. This has not helped my weight problem, as loneliness is a prime stimulus for overeating. Food has always meant comfort for me, where people have let me down. Without my pets, who offer unconditional love, there are times when I would have seriously considered suicide. I have been in therapy with many different therapists for the depression, all with no real benefit. I have also lost weight and regained it many many times. A doctor put me on buproprion several years ago, and I found it really eliminated my food cravings. I lost weight initially. Eventually the cravings returned, overriding the medication. After several years on it, I stopped. Big mistake. I have recently restarted it, and what a difference- I have no food cravings whatsoever. I can stay on my food plan and pass up all my "red light" foods with no problem. It's simply not an issue any more. It's been two months now, and I'm still doing great. Don't know how long it will last, but I have been under a lot of stress, at work, financially, and medically, but have no interest in turning to food for comfort. I have also started daily excercise with an elliptical I bought on line, and had assembled in my basement. in front of the big TV. I watch two back to back episodes of Seinfeld reruns while I excercise, and really enjoy it. Although I can't predict if my weight loss efforts will continue to be successful, I feel a real difference since restarting the buproprion. I have struggled to overcome food addiction for so many years, and failed so many times. At this point, I have learned so much about nutrition I could probably pass the certification exam to become a nutritional counselor without formal classwork. My point is, that it is ABSOLUTELY TRUE that you must not give up. I have kept in touch with a very caring doctor who took care of me in a distant state while I was visiting and had a gallstone attack and ended up in the hospital. He is familiar with my struggle, and has continued to encourage me, over the 5 years that has passed since. I have let him know each time I write him that I AM NOT GIVING UP. I had to quit smoking three times before I quit for good- and the second time I had quit for a year and went back. So I am encouraging all of you out there reading this NOT TO EVER EVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF. YOU WILL FIND A WAY TO GET THE BEST OF YOUR ADDICTION, everyone has a different path- but it is never easy for any of us. I have found TOPS to be very helpful, for emotional support without the pressure or emphasis on merchandising other weight loss groups have. Losing weight is big business in the U.S., and this organization is refreshing, being totally non profit and grass roots. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose but your loneliness and isolation. Good luck and God bless you.

Anastasia said...

I agree with Jacob. The problem is that i ALREADY now all of this. I knew I was eating to comfort myself, not to satisfy my hunger. I knew it's a bad thing to do. I just cannot help it! When I'm staying away from the food, I want to drink, to go to a club, or just to space out in front of TV. I'm trying to think of a HEALTHY replacement. Because I always feel - I'm wasting my life on smth absolutly ridiculous.

Andrea said...

i founf being really aware of what was in the food really helped and finding substitutions to the junk to start with - e.g. chewing gum instead of chocolate or soda water instead of beer, sugar fee red bull etc. I just completed a half ironman last weekend and coming to the understanding that food is fuel is really important and helps a lot - although i still eat chocolate virtually every day. With family and friends - with my friends i just tell them not to buy it and after a while they now know to respect that if they want to see me. With my family - I just keep explaining why I dont want to eat certain foods like fried bacon and eggs or pastry pies and would rather eat salad and broccoli with egg white omelettes and slowly after nearly 5 months theyre beginning to understand. Since I quit work to concentrate on study theres been a few bad moments -one was when i ate someone elses pizza at uni - it was cold - and he made me pay him back - but at the time I had no money, no phone credit, no petrol and a flat tyre on my bike and it was raining and id ridden an hour to get to uni in the rain!! And charity for some reason wants to give poor people fattening foods like lots of packets of biscuits and just lot of white carbs!! These days Im strong and I just send them over to my mums house before im tempted.

Anonymous said...

I started to quit emotional eating 2.5 weeks ago and so far it has gone pretty well. However, i definately agree with the smoking thing. I quit smoking 5 months ago, and in the last 3 weeks i have found myself reaching for the cigarettes and cannabis every night, usually at the same time i used to emotionally eat. I now realise that i obviously need to find something HEALTHY to do in those hours. With the gym being shut at that hour of the day, i have to find something else like watch a film etc. I have found the best way to control it is to place myself in good company. This way, i forget about my "need" and i enjoy myself. It isnt a cure, but for the moment it it keeping me away from those little addictions!!

VANITHA said...

i have breakfest in the morning i have two slice of lunch i have supper. i have 8 glasses of water during the day no tea and coffee. i have a huge stomach which i need to loose. please give suggestion.

Jenn said...

Very interesting article and comments. I liken emotional eating with smoking - gave up smoking 50 per day 30 years ago which was so hard. However, I carried a pack of cigarettes around with me for 8 years until I finally decided I could say I had quit for good,. So, although I am surrounded by food and temptation - I'm hoping that now I realise my food craving is emotional - I will be able to address the problem and hopefully in time - kick the habit. Very grateful to have found Shrink Yourself Thanks Jenn

shayla said...

I am still on the long path to success. I do have four keys that might help out. 1 Have a buddy that you report your progress to 2 Keep a food journal of everything you eat 3 Stay POSITIVE with yourself 4 Pray everyday for strength!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carla Kooij said...

Very interesting. I have a problem with overeating for emotional reasons usually boredom and my husband smokes. I found it interesting reading about how people can't perceive how they could give up something they enjoy -- I think that's how it is with my husband because he's been smoking since he was 15, and he's 37 now. I stopped a few years ago, but never smoked that long a period. Now I wish he would quit, and I'm sure he wishes I had not gotten so heavy since marrying him ... a lot has to do with he's a chef and always working, late at night and weekends, so I have used food as something to "look forward to" instead of planning more activities for myself, other than watching a lot of movies on TV.

anonymous said...

i needed a good replacement for my emotional eating....so i tried painting...earlier i was very worse at it....but now i paint really well....thanks to this journal....

rosie said...

Hi guys. It was good reading your comments. Thanks for encouraging other sufferers. It is a pain not being able to reach your long-held goals...... I think the lady with the eating lots of veggies and fruit, as our grandparents did has the right idea. Except for the shellfish.. Too many histamines are released, and they are scavengers of the sea...the garbagemen, if you like. Legumes, beans are a great source of protein, I have discovered and grains like quinoa and millet are high protein. Taste nice too. Lots of nice recipes on www.sanitarium.com.au To change unhealthy behaviour, all we need is PRAISE! praise ourselves for our caring about our health, our inner strength, and our perseverance. Many others have given up and given in, but we haven't.....so Full MArks for trying...Give ourselves a pat on the back, and a 'well done!' and Never, never give up! think of the alternative...not very appealing, is it? Thing about changing behaviour.....5 mins of skipping here, 15 mins of weights there, 30 mins of walking - fill a 2 litre bottle and try to drink it daily adding a little fresh squeezed lemon for taste and liver cleanse...grapefruit and orange make a nice change - alone or all 3 together....very satisfying and sustaining and cleansing. Keep up the good work and you will win in the end.....I'm speaking to myself also, here. love to all, Rosie

Anonymous said...

Gail's post was interesting. I wonder however, why did she mention that the son she "bore is gay"? What does that have to do with anything? Was she implying that her panic caused him to be gay? It sounded irrelevant on one hand and negative on the other. Does the writer care to clarify?

JaneN said...

Brandy, thank you for your post. When I read the origianl post I thought, "Hey, smoking and overeating aren't at all the same" since I quit smoking 20 years ago I haven't had the desire at all once I got through the initial withdrawal bit. But eating? Oh my gosh! I have tried and tried and tried and succeed then fail, succeed then fail, etc., ad nauseum, always thinking that you can't completely divorce yourself from food as you can from cigarettes. Brandy's post hit the nail on the head when she said we can't leave food alone but we can leave JUNK alone. I am going to do my best to remember and work toward doing that. Thanks

Cal said...

hey people! be careful when reading others comments! We are unqualified individuals here and advice like drink half your body weight each day et cetera will just create health problems for example. Anyway I read so many of your comments and it is evident that many of you focus on the differences and not the similarities. This is typical addict behaviour. You dont think youre a food addict. Think again cause yoiu might be. Recovery from food addiction or emotional eating starts by changing ones thinking. You dont see people filling their cars with petrolgas and shoving chocolate donuts into their fual tank or filling their oil tank with salt, do you? Why? Quite simply the engine would seize! So how come we can do it to ourselves when we are just engines or vehicles. Answer-1 We do not experience instant pain kinda like smokers and 2 we dont recognise our bodies are vehicles. we have been brain-washed from an early age to associate food with taste and smell instead of energy and vitality. If we expect to stop eating junk or smoking or taking hard drugs or alcohol we must not WANT them. Otherwise using determination and willpower will only help for a short period of time. We must change our thinking and not WANT. Then we have a chance. Learn to change your thinking and learn how to make lasting change and you may live a life beyond your wildest dreams. By the way you will slowly but surely start loving yourself for the first time in your life too and then it just get easier to take care of something you treaure rather than despise. Love Cal

Vicky said...

I don't eat bad....I just eat too much. I never eat at a fast food place. I buy normal healthy food. Fresh fruit and vegetables, 2 milk, whole grain breads and meats. Hardly ever do I buy lunchmeat. If I do it's the lean stuff. And lots of water. Once a month { gee, guess why } I fight the sweet, rich, chocolate devil and that's when I usually give in to a candy bar or 3. Other than that it makes me literally sick when and what I see other people shove in their mouths. I do eat way too much but I always feel hungry and deprived if I don't stuff myself. And I know it goes way back to my mother when if you didn't like what she made or didn't finish your plate, you didn't love her.

Sonja Walker said...

So far I have managed to keep off the 50 lbs I lost, and with the continual help of what I read on you web site, I may be able to lose the other 20 lbs. I am definately a addict when it comes to sugar and flour and all sweets, you have helped a lot. It also has helped to know I am not alone in this struggle, it may always be a struggle. So far I am winning. Sonja W.

Anonymous said...

Page said...

I was reading Brandy's comment and am wondering something. How do YOU guys know whether you are actually hungry or if it's just emotional? Because today I was trying to ask myself if I was hungry or just emotionally eating and I couldn't tell....I thought I was hungry but I was eating WAY too much for it to be hungry eating.

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