Post by Katie on Mar 27, 2004 22:44:49 GMT -5
I recently joined OA and I'm working on not obsessing about food. I'm a binge eater and a mindless eater. And I have discovered that, without a doubt, I use grazing on food to avoid focusing on other things I need or want to do. That may sound simple to someone who is not a compulsive eater, but to someone who does use food in this manner, it is a not-so-pleasant revelation. It means you have to focus on whatever it is that you are avoiding---be it problem finances, relationships & people, responsibilities like housework or unpleasant tasks...or even on things you WANT to do but you don't feel you can get it all together. "It's too much trouble to pull out that crocheting I was working on a year ago"..."I can't start that project; I'm too tired/it's too late in the evening to start it/I'll do it tomorrow"...It's a lot easier just to grab a box of cookies or a gallon of ice cream and just "space out."
As a result of years of not fully realizing that I was obsessing about food to avoid responsibilities and "life," my finances are in a mess, my health has been affected by excess weight, & relationships have suffered. Food is no longer my friend. It can be pleasureable but then so can lots of other things in life. I used it for my own individual reasons in the past, but I'm no longer satisfied with that.
And in order to not focus on food, I make a food plan each night to map out what I'm going to eat the next day within my WW points. Sounds restrictive, but actually it is freeing. The decision is made, it's on paper, and I don't have to "scout" around the kitchen to decide what I'm going to have the next day--especially when I'm hungry. And I'm also planning my meals based on what I have available and what's on sale in the stores--pretty smart, I think.
Sooooo....I'm trading reckless, dangerous freedom with food for responsible, productive freedom FROM food.
.............Until next time---one day at a time.
As a result of years of not fully realizing that I was obsessing about food to avoid responsibilities and "life," my finances are in a mess, my health has been affected by excess weight, & relationships have suffered. Food is no longer my friend. It can be pleasureable but then so can lots of other things in life. I used it for my own individual reasons in the past, but I'm no longer satisfied with that.
And in order to not focus on food, I make a food plan each night to map out what I'm going to eat the next day within my WW points. Sounds restrictive, but actually it is freeing. The decision is made, it's on paper, and I don't have to "scout" around the kitchen to decide what I'm going to have the next day--especially when I'm hungry. And I'm also planning my meals based on what I have available and what's on sale in the stores--pretty smart, I think.
Sooooo....I'm trading reckless, dangerous freedom with food for responsible, productive freedom FROM food.
.............Until next time---one day at a time.
