this is real
*This post is going to be about emotional and binge eating* if you don’t want to hear about it, then don’t read it!
Here’s to me being real, me, and authentic!
I’m a binge eater.
I know that.
This is not about beating myself up. This is about recognizing that, seeing that, learning from these experiences, and growing from my choices.
I do great eating in front of other people (family, friends, strangers) well for the most part. Then, often times, once i’m alone. I go crazy eating wise. And eat, eat, and eat some more like there will be no tomorrow.
After the binge eating is over, i feel awful and sick to my stomach. My brain just can not log that feeling into it’s memory for next time. It would be great for my brain to log that memory, so next time i want to do it — it goes, NO BRITTANY STOP! YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT!!! Remember what you felt like last time this happened?!
I mean THAT would be amazing.
My binge eating is bad sometimes at night, when i’m alone. I’ve been working on finding things to do at night when i’m feeling like i’m going to binge. I’ll read, watch tv, blog, read different blogs, go outside, go for a drive. But i don’t always catch myself in those moments.
Sometimes my emotions get the better of me, before i notice i’ve eaten so much and i feel sick. Food is not a comforter. We SHOULD NOT go to food for comfort. But, we do. And i KNOW that I DO!
That habit of going to food for comfort is something that has been stuck for a long time. It’s something that i REALLY DO WANT to change. It will only change by better habits. It will only by living and dealing with the emotions. When i’m tired and lonely, that is okay– i don’t need to eat being tired and lonely away. I need to sit with those emotions, and let it pass by. I WILL BE OKAY. I DO NOT need to eat a certain amount of cookies or chips to make myself feel better. Using food as a way of comfort will not make me feel better, even if i think so at that moment. But sometimes i do. And that’s what happens.
I’m a work in progress. I’m changing my life. Like Foodie McBody said during the Intuitive Eating panel, “It’s a mindstyle change.” Which really is the trust. We can go to weight watchers, we can follow 1,000 different diets. But if we DO NOT change the way our mind thinks and works, nothing is going to change.
I’m working on me. ONE. DAY. AT. A. TIME.
Are you a binge or emotional eater? How do you deal?
What other tools have you found for dealing with wanting to eat emotionally?
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I know that it was really hard for you to write this post, but I also know that it’s so important that you had to do it!
Britt, you’re beautiful…and you’re a work in progress..so am I. And I hope we always are because that means we’ll always be working toward being better versions of ourselves…but some of this stuff is hard.
And sometimes, you don’t need advice as much as encouragement. You know this has to change, and you know that you have to keep working on it one day at a time..one moment at a time.
You fall, and you get back up. You are imperfect, and you are strong. You are lovely.
<3 <3 <3
Kenz @ All The Weigh recently posted..Something Different
thank you kenz! I am a work in progress and i love that! Thank you for your constant support and love!
Hi Brittany,
Thank you for posting this. I appreciate you being real and honest here. I am a binge eater and an emotional eater (probably an emotional binge eater!!) I also struggle with eating while alone, especially at night. I’ve used tools like calling a friend, knitting, reading, etc. I’ve also just plain not allowed myself to go in or near the kitchen/food.
Again, many thanks for posting this and letting other people who struggle with binging and/or emotional eating see we’re not alone!
Sarah
Sarah S. recently posted..Motivation – what’s yours
Thank you Sarah! It’s so nice to know people can relate to what we’re going through!
HUGS and awe at Kenz’ amazing comment.
one moment at a time, Sister.
one moment at a time.
Miz recently posted..Join me for breakfast giveaway post
Thank you so much
xoxo
I don’t know how to stop it – I wish I did. I wish I knew so I could share it with you and I wish I knew so I could control it inside myself. I don’t. Hell, I don’t think anyone does.
I do know that with every success I have I am less likely to binge. I know that every time I leave a size behind or drop another 5 pounds or complete a workout I wouldn’t have even tried a few months ago it makes it that much easier to control my binging. I have to remind myself (often) how good it feels to reach another milestone and just hope that’s all it takes to keep me in check.
You can do it Britt – we all can, it’s just gonna take some work!
Stacy aka FattyBoobaLatty recently posted..I have to do whats right for me REVISED!!!
Stac
You are amazing my friend! Thank you for your words and support!
Yes! I am a definite binge eater. I haven’t binged for a while, but I still struggle with taking it one day at a time and realizing that change isn’t going to happen overnight. Thanks so much for writing this. I’ve kept it pretty well hidden from my family and definitely hidden from my friends, so I’m too scared to write about it in depth on my blog. I definitely appreciate you taking the time to write about how so many of us are feeling
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) recently posted..Eat Your Beer
Thank you kate! It felt SO GOOD to be open about it
I said that? I didn’t say that! Karen CL Anderson (@kclanderson) said it, I just tweeted her awesome quote! LOL.
Nice job with the Blogger Responsibility Disclaimer/Spoiler Warning up top, Brit! (LOL: still digesting how I feel about that)
I used to be a big time binge eater. It hasn’t happened in a while, or when it happens it’s for shorter periods and smaller quantities. But I definitely know where you’re coming from. Dude, you should NOT have left the Jillian Michaels book in your hotel room bc I’m finding it UBER helpful.
You can do it. Just know that we are all here with you. Tweet us when you feel the urge. We are here for you, in big numbers and with much love and support.
Foodie McBody recently posted..Fitbloggin’ 2011- Or- Moby Dick Part 1
Well i thought it was from you! I’m not going to do that disclaimer all the time but sometimes i feel it’s needed! One day at a time! So glad that support is there whenever it’s needed!
One. Day. At. A. Time.
I had a wise woman friend – and I would go to her sobbing and bleeding over something or another – and I’d say, “I know I’m gonna be ok…”
She said, “You’re ok now…”
I had an aikido friend – once again – I’m laying on the mat and sobbing (a common thread) – and he said, ‘When we feel it, it moves….”
So today I feel – I feel honestly – it’s ugly – it’s rarely appropriate – but I feel.
And it has changed….
xoxoxoxo
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..Buena Vista Social Club- Chan Chan Music Monday
Kris! Thank you! My journey has begun
love you!
I am a binge eater as well. Hugs to you for being honest and laying this out there. The first step is acknowledgement, now we must work hard to overcome. We’re in it to win it, no matter how hard it seems
Emmie recently posted..A Guilty Good
Emmie! thank you
yes! We’re in it to win it!
Thank you for this. It’s good to know I am not alone in not perfect eating and trying to work on myself.
Cindy recently posted..Sundays workout
Thank you cindy! We are not alone!
I have been an emotional eater for sure, and the last 18 months have been about retraining my brain. I can honestly say that 99% of the time, I think of food as fuel. I do catch myself occasionally reaching for food because I’m upset, but I am so much improved over even a year ago! If I find myself getting emotional, I’ve learned to redirect myself. I’m not perfect, I still struggle. But you are so right in saying that it’s all in our heads. When we change how we think, we can change our habits.
Best of luck to you as you continue to retrain yourself!!
Heather @ Not a DIY Life recently posted..Knock Out the Fat Week 3
Yes! It’s all about a mindstyle change!
Awareness and acknowledgement are the first (and biggest) steps…and remember, it’s not about never, it’s about catching yourself sooner, about less frequent, about smaller quantities, about forgiving yourself…
I still consider myself a recovering binge eater. A binge looks a lot different than it did a couple of years ago…I am a work in progress.
You’ve got this! And we’re all behind you!!
KCLAnderson (Karen) recently posted..The World Peace Diet
Thank you Karen! I’m definitely aware of my eating, but it took a LOT To say it and admit it! One moment at a time!
[...] Disclosure « this is real [...]
Heck. I take it a step further. One moment at a time. One second at a time.
yes! One moment at a time.
Brittany,
Thank you so much for sharing, it’s wonderfully brave of you and so helpful for others that also struggle with binge/emotional eating.
I struggled with bulimia for many years so I can absolutely understand so much of what you’re dealing with. After each binge purge cycle I would think why do I do this, I hate this. I used to behavior to numb those uncomfortable emotions that you wrote about. You’re so right that we simply have to accept the fact that we are going to feel pain and we are going to feel uncomfortable. It took me so long to realize that once I feel those emotion they will wash over me and eventually subside and/or I learn how to resolve the issue. It has made such a difference.
Dealing with those issues, doing whatever I can to me mindful of my emotions, therapy, talking with family, going for a walk, yoga stretches, deep breathing, writing a binge pros and cons list, getting plenty of sleep, reducing stress, and eating regular satisfying meals all helped me over come binging.
I know you’re going to overcome this. Just as you said it’s one day at a time. Each day you learn something more about yourself is a day that you have succeeded.
Jenny @ FItness Health and Food recently posted..Shopping for Dreams…
My hope was for this to help me, but if it helps other people in the process to know that they’re not alone; well that’s great too! xo
Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I applaud such raw honesty. Something I find lacking the blog world. Have you ever thought about seeking professional therapy? I see a therapist once a week. She is amazing! Sometimes it helps to have a non-judgmental person to spill everything and anything out to without judgement. I know sometimes people think that seeing a therapist is taboo but it isn’t. It can be such an empowering tool. Hugs!
Kelly recently posted..and i survived
thank you Kelly
So great to get it out! Can’t wait to talk more about this! xoxo
Bravo for stating it my friend. I’m sure that wasn’t easy but I’m so proud that you put it out there. Now its our and I hope with the amazing support in the comments you find the strength to take it one day at a time.
I am an emotional eater. Stress makes me want to eat but I’ve just keep trying to talk myself out of it. I express my feelings and I feel unhappy, sad or angry and it passes. Some days it works, some it doesn’t but I’m aware of it.
I love that you shared this. {hugs}
Patty recently posted..Mid-Year Resolutions
Thank you Patty! Thank you for sharing
love you!
First of all, kudos to you for writing this, Britt. The raw emotion that leads to a binge is what we’re trying to damper down with food…so for you to sit down and write about it and put it out there for everyone to see is HUGE. Just recognizing it is the first step to getting a handle on it.
I see myself in this post as I’m sure many others do. I’m definitely an emotional eater…but I’m learning to find comfort in amazing people and not in cookies or cupcakes or fast food.
We’re all a work in progress…although I think you’re pretty damn awesome already. Love you lots….we’ll make it!!
Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous recently posted..Happy Memorial Day!
Melis! I love you
Thank you for loving me and supporting me!
I totally have binge moments too. I’ve tried to explain them to B-Fry, but if you’ve never been there, you don’t understand.
That’s why I love this community, we get each other because we’ve all been there.
Kudos to admitting it and blogging it. That’s tough. You have such an amazing spirit Britt!
Just keep taking it one day at a time and remember, we’re always here for you! *HUGS*
Brooke– thank you for sharing! Love you!