IS there always and emotional reason for
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IS there always and emotional reason for
| Wed, 08-24-2005 - 8:32pm |
being fat? I've been thinking about this a great deal after watching yet another Oprah show in which she talks about how there is always 'something else' going on if a person is (a lot) overweight. I've heard this many times, and it is a talk-show favourite with the likes of Oprah, Bob Greene and Dr. Phil. It has caused me to do a lot of soul searching, since they always stress that you CANNOT solve the weight problem until you address the underlying issues - but I keep coming up empty handed! I had an average child hood with no traumatic experiences, I have a great husband and kids, a decent lifestyle, and a job I enjoy. I'm overweight because I like to eat, and especially all the WRONG foods. So, what do you think? Am I missing something here, some unacknowledged emotional reason I must plumb the depths of - or is fat sometimes just fat?

That is a very good question. I sometimes think that, while there may have been an emotional reason we started overeating in the first place, we continue on the road to becoming fat out of habit. I mean, you can spend years overeating for one emotional reason or another, but sometimes that reason goes away (i.e. when you eat for comfort or boredom or loneliness but then find other outlets for these feelings) and yet we continue overeating. I think that when this happens it's because overeating has become such a part of our lives that, even when we eliminate the reasons behind the overeating, the overeating itself doesn't go away. I know that I have to consciously make the effort to not eat all of my food at a restaurant or not grab chips or some other snack when that is what I am used to, and I even made mention in my post earlier tonight about not knowing why I am in binge mode, and it's true. I have no clue what is compelling me to overeat, but it doesn't feel like an "emotional" reason, the bingeing feels more like a trained physiological response than an emotional response. But, maybe there is an emotional reason that I cannot see because I am too close to the situation?
Staci
In my case, fat is simply fat!!
I never eat when i am stressed (actually i smoke, but that's a totally different issue). I don't eat out of boredom or loneliness. I overeat out of habit.
I didn't even start overeating for an emotional issue. I started overeating because I was around people who overate (namely my husband, but he is built differently and he never gains a pound. He has a super metabolism). Soon, I was eating just as much as he was (big mistake).
So right now after i realised what was happening (and believe me that took some time), I am simply trying to brake a habit. Which is not easy. In my case, if eating was accompanied with a problem, then solving the problem will solve the eating right? (I am great at solving problems) But if it is a habit, then it needs discipline. And discipline is sometimes very difficult. Especially if you are too comfy with who you are.
Offtopic: Anyone noticed that I am posting long posts today? I'm at work and in no mood to actually do anything. I'm sorry if i'm boring anyone
Mary
247/231/165
Girlfriend!
For me in particular the weight gain was not emotional, but once I got the weight I believe it became emotional to hang on to the weight.
I agree with some in the fact that my overeating didn't start as an emotional problem, but now it is. I was a "skinny kid" up until I was 9 years old. My mother always cooked very healthy. My family was on an allergy diet, not to lose weight but to eat healthy foods to control our allergies. We had absolutely no sweets in the house. We were allowed 1 sweet a week, which usually was a frozen yogurt from the sunflower shop (health food store). So, not having sweets and junk food around as a child didn't prepare me for the real world and determining adequate portions.
Around the age of 8 my brother was admitted into a alchohol/drug rehab center. At this place the parents would have a "host home" the guys or girls would come home in the evening and eat dinner, go to bed, then get up in the morning....go to the center for therapy/group meetings, etc.. As most of us know ppl coming off of drugs or alchohal desire junk food/sweets (these were growing teenagers too). So, my mom went off to Sams and bought big trays of lasagne, big bags of chips and dips, boxes of candy....you get the drift. We had a host home for over a year.
I was in shock I had never seen this much food. My thought process was I better eat it now while it was here. I can remember stuffing my purse with blow-pops because I didn't know how long it would last. These new eating habits set the standard for the next 15 years. I was always in shock that at my best friends moms house would have jars of candy and other snacks. My friend never felt the need to overeat though.
This has allowed me to learn how I will set up my household WHEN I have kids. I believe it is important to have regular food at a house, but limit portions.
Okay....thatsssss it folks!!!!
GiGGles
I have an under active thyroid mine wont get better though its a family thing and i will have to be on meds for the rest of my life.....
its called hypothyroidism........
its a pain to deal with......but i manage like im sure you do too
tosha
Ive said this before....for me. I dont find a real reason for why this has happened.
That is an interesting question and i have wondered it many times. I really think there are many things that can contribute to that kind of weight gain. Genetics, I think, plays a MAJOR roll. When i had children they were born with bellys...everybody claims its baby fat and they will grow out of it but their belly, while cute, rolled over the top of their diapers while other childrens bellys...even the ones with the chubbiest of legs...didnt have bellys that fell over the top of the diapers.
Then there is medication...some forms of birth control cause me to really pack on the pounds...then Lexapro...caused me to not only pack on the pounds but i couldnt lose weight...no matter how little i ate.
But really in my case i think i just have an addictive personality...luckily i have never turned to drugs like many addicts but i feel that i am equally dependant and addicted to food. ALthough now my addiction has turned from food to health...so that is a good thing. But it is hard if you look at it like an addiction. You can tell an alcoholic to not go into bars and to NEVER drink again...you cant tell an over weight person to NEVER go into a resturant and NEVER eat again...that is a bigger deal than you would think. What if we told alcoholics...okay you are only allowed two drinks per day....they couldnt do it but they CAN do it if they dont drink at all, unfortunatly we dont have that luxury...we have to eat...we just have to stop at our "two drink mark".
Stacy