In 2016 when I lost 54 pounds, I never dreamed that it would affect me emotionally. At that time, I didn’t know a lot about emotions. I had no idea the rollercoaster I was getting on. I had people telling me all sorts of things.
“You’re too skinny now.” “You look sick.” “A real man would never weighs less than 200lbs.”
It messed me up.
This time I was ready for those emotions, but I was not ready for how much I had become dependent on eating and snacking when I was stressed and hurting.
How, when my emotions were messed up, I would crave things that would hinder my journey to health, and that would just make my emotions worse. How there would be days when I just didn’t want to eat right, and didn’t feel like eating good food. How there would be days when feeling depressed and not wanting to put my shoes on, and pick up the workout gear, and do the hard work.
I didn’t realize how emotionally tied to food I was. Emotionally tied to comfort food, and family recipes. Tied to having dessert all the time.
I am learning to make my emotions work for me. It isn’t easy and I am not able to apply it to all the areas of my life. If I can move from sad/gloomy to angry, I can have a good workout, and I will work that anger off and get good hormones flowing. If I can move from frustrated to curious, I can create a new recipe and eat clean. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be a drastic change, it’s just a slight shift. I want to learn to apply this in all areas. It is for sure hard work, and I have to stay diligent. I get lax and slip into old habits.
We get emotionally comfortable and neglect to do the hard things.
Or, at least, I do.
In addition to the above, the foods we eat affect our emotions. The food we eat affects our hormones, are brain function, and the over all way our bodies operate. Since we changed the way we eat I have noticed a drastic difference in our 4 year olds behavior. She isn’t as irritable, or as hyper. She feels better in her body and that affects how she acts. Not to mention the amazing things it has done for her health.
If you haven’t watched Jamie Oliver’s TED Talk “Teach Every Child About Food,” I highly recommend it!
https://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver_teach_every_child_about_food
It astounds me how unaware I was of what I was putting in my body, let alone feeding my child. I cried watching that talk, because of what I had fed Kylie. I am grateful for the changes in my family.
I am at 102 days, at the time of this writing, and I have lost 40 pounds, my blood pressure is down from 170/85 to 116/64, no more knee pain, snoring, acid reflux, heartburn, skin blemishes, bloating, receding gums, stomach pain, fewer allergies, fatigue, and tendentious.
I now have a healthier relationship with food, can say no, no more binging, no longer use food as a punishment OR a reward, don’t crave sugar or carbs, fewer cravings, no longer use food as love, improved attention span, improved productivity, fewer ADHD symptoms,, think clearer, sleep better, WAY more energy, I can exercise way longer without feeling like I’m going to die, way stronger, and maybe most importantly, I can play more with my kids.
I am grateful I got on this path, and Im staying on this path. My wife and kids are worth it.
jareddoran 