Emotional Rescue

Never will I forget a story my mother once told me. When I was growing up my father (who is a wonderful, wonderful man in all other ways) was a yeller. After dealing with difficult co-workers all day in a noisy factory, performing what I imagine to be an un-fulfilling job (my father is an extremely intelligent man but came from a home life that didn't offer him many opportunities), he would come home stressed and tired. And he would yell. Often. Loudly. On a certain day my mother just couldn't take it and left the house to take a walk. She headed towards a nearby drugstore intent on purchasing a candy bar to soothe her nerves. As she entered the store she realized what she was doing, stopped and said to herself "I am not going to let that man make me fat." She turned around and continued on her walk.

My mother is a strong woman, physically and emotionally. At 79 years of age she still cleans houses twice a week. She has the emotional control that I long for. She can separate eating from emotions--oh how I envy her.

How often have you reached out for food as a comfort, a self-medication for what ails you. Stop and think--are you eating to feed and strengthen your body?--or your soul?

If eating, overeating, or eating the wrong foods, wasn't fulfilling a desire or emotional need of some sort you probably wouldn't have a problem reaching for a bowl of brussels sprouts rather than ice cream.

I truly believe that our societies' struggle with weight loss is largely tied to emotional issues with the balance coming from physiological issues such as hormones, disease, medications that cause weight gain, etc.

Argument: I just like food--the taste, the texture, everything about it--I just enjoy good food. Think about it, what is it about eating these foods that are fattening, sugar-laden, most-likely unhealthy in some way? It gives you pleasure. What is pleasure-it's an emotion. For the short time that you are savoring the food in your mouth you enjoy a moment of pleasure--guilty pleasure as it might be.

Why am I shoving potato chips with dip into my mouth at the party--why not carrot sticks? Is it to feed my hunger? Why when I enter a restaurant intent on ordering a healthy meal, do I instead order the eggplant parmesan, smother my bread with butter, and laden my otherwise healthy salad with gorgonzola. I do it because it tastes good and for a short while will make me feel good. I had a long day. I worked hard. I'm tired. I'm stressed. I deserve it.

I believe a good example of emotional eating tied to the struggle with weight can be seen in Oprah's story. She has every resource available to her to aid in a healthy lifestyle including a personal chef and personal trainer at her disposal. Help is available to her round the clock. Yet she still struggles with her weight. Another example is Kirsty Alley who, in the limelight boasted about and lost a tremendous amount of weight on Jenny Craig but regained it in record time.

What is stopping them both from permanent, sustained weight loss? I believe that both Oprah and Kirsty have deep-rooted obsessions with food stemming from emotional issues that need to be addressed and healed. Until then, food for them, may always be an addiction that cannot be controlled.

I am not talking about weight loss for the sake of fitting into a size 2 pair of jeans. Being thin won't make you happy, trust me in that. But being overweight or obese can lead to hypertension, hyperlipidemia, degenerative arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, certain cancers, back pain and more. Maintaining a healthy weight through a regular exercise and a healthy diet is key to avoiding many of these issues which can lead to a decreased quality of life.

Sometimes these changes can be made on your own. Here is a great article from MayoClinic.com on emotional eating that offers some good suggestions on taking control--

You only have one life, one body, one mind. Try to take care of them the best you can. You deserve it.

Be strong. Be confident. Be fit. Be your best.

Hugs,

Joanne