The FastDay Forum

After feeling so positive on this WOE- not just the weight loss but a more balanced and controlled attitude to food- what feels like overcoming the boom or bust approach- I've just had a powerful reminder of the huge role our emotions play, well for some of us anyway. I've just had a few unpleasant - taken-for-granted (but not by OH, pleased to say) mostly- moments that left me feeling pretty sad. Facing the kitchen full of food that my no-longer arriving guests won't eat I settled for a modest enough slice of home-baked bread and some humous rather than the chocolate cake with ganache. As I started to eat I had this really vivid sensation of trying to push the sadness down with what I was eating. So I stopped and made myself think that eating more wouldn't make that feeling go away. I suppose that this too is good? I feel that at least I now have a level of understanding that eating to fill an emotional emptiness or to suppress a negative emotion won't work. Annoying thing is I can't fit that chocolate cake in the freezer. My husband will be happy though

[Betsysgr8]

Yes! This WoE does sooo much to make us aware of when, how and why we eat and good for you to make the connection and not give in to all the temptations. I'd like a slice of the cake though. And here's a hug for the emotional day you've had

[janeg]

and another hug from me. 'tis a powerful thing this food and the associations and it's so good when we take the power back. well done with your lightbulb moment.

And one from me, not only because you do seem te need one, but also for showing me (a HUGE (dis)comfort eater as well, that this WOE helps for those moments as well

Thank you so much The virtual hugs mean a lot today! I send virtual cake (minus its calories) in return

[janeg]

Oh yum, that was damned good cake! Ta much

[carorees]

Oh, here's a hug from me too...can I have some cake then?

I heard DrM say on a radio interview how the fasting process can help us dissociate food with comfort because when we have emotional moments on fast days we can't turn to food and then when we do eat we tend to have healthy food with lots of veggies so it breaks the association between emotions and sweet things and also the link between feeling hunger and eating sweet things. Looks like your experience bears this out!

Well done you! Feel proud with your achievement and remember that hurtful people often don't intend to be hurtful, usually they are too caught up in their own issues to remember that those surrounding them are being affected.

More hugs here:

(I'm not sure how those hug smilies are meant to be hugs, but I assume you know what I mean!!!)

Thanks carorees and everyone else for the lovely replies. Yes, I think the control of fast days does dissociate food and comfort- it's not usually sweet things for me but food that has some association with childhood eating habits, which is where it all started I imagine...

And yes, I do try hard to remember I can't read other people's thoughts/ feelings but a hug or two is always very welcome! On ipad and can't think what punctutaion marks make a grateful emoticon, so a smile will have to say it for me

Well done Anaria, you are an inspiration!

And you are too kind gigi55

Thank you for you post Anaria I've had days where I've felt the same but just didn't know how to word it so it made sense.
Am I'm all for virtual hugs if calorie free cake is involved
On this subject I was just wonder what you or other former emotional eaters are now doing to relieve those stresses/feelings now food is no longer the answer?

Hello Tammz, thanks for replying I'm always keen to walk or move around if I'm upset as it seems to help me shake things off but I'm also persuaded by the idea that we should try to 'recognise' the sad feelings or negative emotions and try to separate ourselves from them a bit. Yesterday when I felt that urge to crush sadness with food I made myself think 'I'm feeling hurt and sad and lonely but it won't last forever and I will feel better soon. It's a feeling not who I am'. That may seem a bit soppy but seeing the thought as just that and as something that will pass does help. I'm not keen on mantras really but sometimes 'this too will pass' does help. Strangely, by the way, I'm still not bothered by that cake which is slowly drying from chocolate fudgy to crumby Take care and keep going

Thanks for the support I think 'this to will pass' will have to be my new mantra I'll give it a go