Hi, I am new to this-- the program has helped me immensely with my anxiety and depression, as I shared the other day. I'm trying to use my skills in other areas, to change my thinking... Has any one used thought replacement or any of the other skills, or steps to lose weight? I had extra weight on after having 3 children, which i lost because Of not being able to eat much when I was really anxious. i was even underweight for a while. I was glad to get back to a normal weight where I felt and looked good, and get my appetite back. But then( maybe partially due to taking an antideppresant) I gained back 25 lbs in a few months. I due tend to eat for emotional reasons at times in my life, and I don't believe in strict diets. We eat quite healthy, but I tend to eat too much, esp. sweets-which are not good for anxiety, anyway. I just wondered if anyone else has any good ideas on how to use thoughts and care for ourselves to change unhealthy eating behaviours.After overcoming so many limitations in my life, I want to believe I can get a handle on this--- from the inside out. any thoughts or experiences?

Dear mint Flower,
Just love yourself as the beautiful person you are. And when you have a need to eat what you ought not to (I do that too) than have some low cal things on hand. Salad and olive oil great and you can eat lots of salad freely. Cucumbers, celery, etc. Water will also fill you and improve your health. But, as you wrote it is our thinking that is important. You'll be fine. Besides it is not a few pounds more or less that make the woman, it's her inner beauty. It is that beauty that will come thru in your smile and in your eyes. Look in the mirror and you can smile at what you see.

Best to you.

------------------
Victoria

Thank you for your sweet words!!! And I do love salad.... Have a good day!

quote:

Originally posted by Victoria:
Dear mint Flower,
Just love yourself as the beautiful person you are. And when you have a need to eat what you ought not to (I do that too) than have some low cal things on hand. Salad and olive oil great and you can eat lots of salad freely. Cucumbers, celery, etc. Water will also fill you and improve your health. But, as you wrote it is our thinking that is important. You'll be fine. Besides it is not a few pounds more or less that make the woman, it's her inner beauty. It is that beauty that will come thru in your smile and in your eyes. Look in the mirror and you can smile at what you see.

Best to you.

Mint Flower,

Your posted reminded me very much of my own most anxious time. While I've been on the heavy side most of my life, during a period of high anxiety a couple of years ago (gosh, has it really been that long...) I lost nearly 70 pounds in just under five months. I was just so darn queasy all the time, that I couldn't eat very much.

Some of the weight has come back, which is a good thing, but I'd also like to keep from becoming overweight again. I've found that my eating habits can be directly correlated both to my own thought patterns, and to the skills taught in the program:

The desire to eat is, for me, an anxious feeling. Not as strong as real anxiety, but still that edgy, uh oh, better do something soon or else, feeling. Eating temporarily relieves the feeling, and then round it all loops again in the neverending quest for secondary gains.

For me, treating the desire to overeat /exactly/ as I would any other anxious episode - positive affirmations (I eat well, and look and feel my best; it's only a thought, I don't need to act upon it; this feeling will pass; look at that! I just drove right by the McDonalds... way to go!; etc etc), feeling the fear but eating correctly anyway, and working gently towards lifelong changes, all have worked wonderfully.

WayStone

quote:

Originally posted by Mint Flower:
Hi, I am new to this-- the program has helped me immensely with my anxiety and depression, as I shared the other day. I'm trying to use my skills in other areas, to change my thinking... Has any one used thought replacement or any of the other skills, or steps to lose weight? I had extra weight on after having 3 children, which i lost because Of not being able to eat much when I was really anxious. i was even underweight for a while. I was glad to get back to a normal weight where I felt and looked good, and get my appetite back. But then( maybe partially due to taking an antideppresant) I gained back 25 lbs in a few months. I due tend to eat for emotional reasons at times in my life, and I don't believe in strict diets. We eat quite healthy, but I tend to eat too much, esp. sweets-which are not good for anxiety, anyway. I just wondered if anyone else has any good ideas on how to use thoughts and care for ourselves to change unhealthy eating behaviours.After overcoming so many limitations in my life, I want to believe I can get a handle on this--- from the inside out. any thoughts or experiences?

Hi Mint Flower,
Although I workout regularly,I used to eat alot of junk food. I learned that eating junk food was contributing to some of my anxiety so I stopped. If I feel stressed or anxious I try to do something that will take my mind off of the anxious thinking. Sometimes I exercise and sometimes I surf the net. I get so engrossed in it that afterwards, things seem more manageable. I love to eat too but I found that by cutting down in little things like portion sizes, I was able to lose weight. It did not come off right away but I lost fifteen pounds in four months and I didn't starve myself. I made healthier food choices. The main thing is to do something else everytime you feel like eating. Sometimes its not hunger, it may just have become habit. If you really feel like eating, have a fruit or carrots. They'll fill you up but they don't come with all the calories. If you want something sweet, try rice cakes with peanut butter they taste alot like chocolate bars but they are nutritious.

Best Wishes,
Lili