The Missing Link to Getting Slim for Summer
WEDNESDAY, JULY 01, 2009 | POSTED BY MICHELLE
  
Summer is here, whether or not we feel ready for it. On New Year’s Day many people start to worry about getting slim for swimsuit season. Then, on the first day of spring they might start to get panicked. By the time summer actually hits, if a certain goal hasn’t been reached, it’s easy to throw in the towel and just wait for next year. But next year it can be the same thing all over again. Even if you’re not as slim as you’d like to be for the summer, there’s still hope.
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4 Ways We Contribute to One Another's Unhealthy Relationships with Food
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2009 | POSTED BY MICHELLE
The other day while waiting at the register in a local pharmacy I saw the cover of one of those trashy tabloids that showed a bunch of actresses and models in their bathing suits from the rear view. Most of the comments were talking about the women’s cellulite as though it was the biggest sin since murder. I have to admit I couldn’t stop myself from looking at the glossy pages. And for a moment, I understood how seeing these pictures could definitely make someone throw in the towel with a thought that goes something like this: “If these women who have endless access to trainers and nutritionists can’t get it right, what chance do I have?” However, a little research on cellulite will reveal that it’s a naturally occurring part of MOST women’s bodies. If you have cellulite, you are the norm, not the exception. Why should you feel bad about something that is a normally occurring part of having a human body?
The fact is that we shouldn’t feel bad, but most of us do. We contribute to one another’s bad relationships with food and with our bodies in subtle and profound ways. Take a look at the list below to see how we contribute to other people’s eating disorders:
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3 Reasons More and More People Are Addicted to Food
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2009 | POSTED BY MICHELLE
Overeating and obesity are often blamed on things like lack of willpower, metabolism, or genetics. However, more and more studies (including those in animal research) are revealing that food addiction is real. You might wonder why more and more people seem to be addicted to food these days. Weight issues are on the rise and if we look closely we might be able to determine why. The answer might help us find solutions for ourselves. Since it can be tempting to focus more on the problem than on the solution I will offer a solution to each problem here.
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The Darker Side of Emotional Eating: Overcoming Bulimia & Other Eating Disorders
TUESDAY, JUNE 09, 2009 | POSTED BY MICHELLE
Our site was created to help people overcome Emotional Eating. We wanted people to have all the information and tools they need to lose weight and master their relationship with food. Emotional eating affects so many of us but what you need to know is that there are darker sides of emotional eating and bulimia is one of them.
Bulimia is an eating disorder where a person consumes a huge amount of food and then attempts to purge it from their system by vomiting, taking laxatives or exercising excessively. The pattern itself can become addictive and despite promises made to oneself that each time will be the last time, the behavior continues. Bingeing and purging often leads to feelings of shame, guilt and self-hatred, not mention what it can do to your body and teeth.
I often tell the people that we work with here at Shrink Yourself that using food may provide a few moments of relief or comfort but it can never get you what you really need. And in the same way, purging might give you a symbolic feeling that you are wiping the slate clean or getting rid of something you don’t want. But it can never take away the things that you are really trying to get rid of for example, anxiety, fear, regret, sadness, abuse, etc.
This week I interviewed a woman who struggled with bulimia for many years. I thought it would be good for you to hear, in her words, what her experiences were so that you might find some strength and hope on your own journey.
To read the interview click here:
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3 Steps to Build Your Own Emotional Eating Rescue Kit
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 03, 2009 | POSTED BY MICHELLE
Emotional Eating can get triggered at any time of day or night. You get an upsetting phone call, text or email and suddenly you’re starving. You’re out to dinner with friends and you feel left out of the conversation and dessert immediately seems like the perfect escape. Your husband and kids have gone to bed and you want some special time all to yourself but don’t know what would feel rewarding besides a few stolen cookies and a handful of chips. Emotional eating is using food to numb, comfort or reward one’s self. It is using food, not just as nutrition but also as a coping mechanism for life.
Therefore the answer is both simple and difficult. It’s simple because if you deal with your feelings head on, you won’t need food to help you along. It’s difficult because dealing with feelings head on can be frightening and overwhelming, particularly when you don’t yet have the skills to do so which is what makes the quick fix of food so enticing.
To begin to face your feelings you can build yourself an Emotional Eating Rescue Kit. This is something that you can have fun with. Just follow these three simple steps:
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If Not Overeating, Then What?
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009 | POSTED BY MICHELLE
So many overeaters that I talk to say, “I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t stuff my feelings down with food.” Dr. Gould says, “If you really want to know what’s bothering you, stop eating, and it will all surface.” Gosh, the idea of that can be scary because many of us emotional eaters don’t know what we’d do if we stopped using food to deal with life. Of course, that’s what we’re all learning here but it still can be frightening. As the end of the school year approaches and there are graduations and summer vacations to plan with less money than ever, I invite you to slow down for a few minutes and breathe. To help you along, this week I thought I’d write something less clinical, and more reflective.
If I didn’t keep stuffing my feelings with food I would….
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3 Essential Things to Remember If You’re Trying to Lose Weight
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009 | POSTED BY MICHELLE
By now most of you know that our main belief system here at Shrink Yourself is that the majority of overeating is a result of emotional eating—using food to cope with feelings. Therefore, when you learn to address your feelings (as we teach you to do) your desire for food naturally diminishes. However, since the body is an integrated system in which your physical health can affect your emotional health, and your emotional health can affect your physical health, weight loss must be approached from many angles. If you really have worked on your emotional eating and you’re still not getting the results you want there might be something physiological going on. Consider the things below:
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