Why do we Eat? What do we REALLY want?

I was wondering if any of you watched Oprah yesterday? It made me sad. She was taking on so much shame and really kicking herself for gaining back some weight. I know shame and self hatred was big motivations for me to keep eating-just trying to hide it instead. It really reminds me of what many of us are going thru right now.
I still do not understand why we have food issues.Makes me mad that my addiction will always be there. Wi**** would go away. However, it did reasonate with me when she started talking about why she ate and what she was really wanting in her life that she was still filling with food.
I guess it is not just a diet or exercise program, it is getting to the bottom of our motivations. This is rambling but I wonder if this would be a worthwhile topic for us as a group to explore??? Not everyone wants to go to a shrink or can afford to go but maybe we can keep helping each other to make it further on down the road.
Also, did anyone watch "diet tribe" on lifetime?? Another interesting take on the weight loss reality show. I keep watching and hoping for ahaaaa moments.
This just seemed timely in light of what has been going on with us....

I didn't see those shows, but I really feel for Oprah.  All the money and chefs and trainers and everything in the world one would want, and she has the same problems as any of us.  It really goes to show this is a DEEP emotional struggle for us all, not something easily fixed with any one treatment. 

I have been thinking alot about why I eat and WHEN i eat in particular.  Right when I wake up I want to eat.  I wi**** were different because it's very hard after a nap, when it's not time for eating yet, so I try to have a big old glass of water or crystal light instead, but sometimes I just eat cheese or beans.  I eat out of boredom too, and I am trying to knit more to keep my hands busy.  

But the best answer for me of late has been asking myself Why now?  What do you really want?  taking a few minutes to say wait, are you really hungry or are you ___________?

it ain't perfect, but it has really slowed down my grazing problem a great deal.

 I did watch her show and I felt like she was talking to me.I fail at everything I ever do in life and even now after losing 128 lbs I feel like a failure as far as health wise.
I have to go back in for surgery for complication When I had shoulder surgery it was a set back then  had shoulder surgery  again and I STILL HAVE SPINAL ISSUES I need to deal with, I feel so defeated. I feel I did not only fall off the wagon but my wagon hit the wall and broke a axle, I maybe losing weight but my heath just sucks, I waited to long and now my body is paying the price for all years of abuse and neglet. I am gonna turn 50 jan 29 and I am arriving perhaps this but in broken down body I AM SO ANGRY AT MYSELF FOR NOT DOING THIS SOONER !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lost my fat armor but I did not realize under all that armor was very sick person I was such a fool to wait so long, I lost all this weight to be buried in smaller casket? I have lost my hope inspirations and feel very alone and depressed I hate myself and body. How do you love your self when it says failure written all over? I  should be on top of world  to have new body but some reason I am not seeing it that way my future is not very bright,
Lisa

This is a great topic idea and I want to participate. But at the moment I am super busy and don't have the time to jot down my thoughts on this topic. I think it is definitely worth discussing and getting into especially now when the honeymoon is over and we have to kick it up a knotch!

I am discuraged about still struggling with food issues. It's so frustrating. I thought once the weight came off I would magically be able to control my eating habits and keep it off. Not so. I gained 5 pounds over the holidays... which might as well be 50 cause that's what it feels like to me. I feel like a complete failure and FOOD seems to always be on my mind. I hate the fact that FOOD seems to be all I think about! I was so hoping to be one of those "normal" people who never have to think about what they eat and still stay skinny. "Bubble bursted moment" ....that's not going to happen...and probably never will. I am a recovering morbidly obese woman who will have to fight this addiction for the rest of my life!

So let's get this topic going... and I'll be back to share more of my struggles. Thanks for suggesting this!

Hi everyone-so nice to see all of you! I've been MIA but I'd love to chime in here. I also gained 5 lbs over the holidays and am so disappointed with myself. I'm still so far away from goal, and I can't believe I went this crazy. I was drinking tons of eggnog and alcohol, and eating sweets, and generally out of control for like 3 weeks. I am back on track now, but I know it will be a lifelong struggle. I see some of you who lose weight no matter what, and are worried about losing TOO much, and I just can't imagine what that must be like. As I type this I'm wearing size 8 pants, so on one level I know I'm a success, but to still be 50 lbs away from my goal at this point doesn't feel very good. I did watch Oprah, and I agree-when I'm eating what I really want is love, but I don't allow myself to be loved out of fear of abandonment or disappointment or whatever. I am a lot more aware of these issues now, but jeez, I'm 40, and they're just as fresh as when I was 20!  

Hello Everyone,

Its not secret that i pop in and out of this board. I am always telling myself that I will reach out and be supportive to those whom I know are just like me. Yet for some reason (okay not some reason) I end up shuffling off. I tell myself its cause I am busy with life at the moment. (3 kids, disabled mother, full time job, full time student, marriage) Thats not it though. My problem is that I constantly feel like I am failing. I am always trying to compare myself to see if I am on the right track. I always hate myself and can only see how terrible I am doing.

I started this journey weighing 316 pounds. I am currently about 165ish. I dont even weigh myself anymore becuase I feel like what I have done isnt good enough. To make matters worse I feel like I'm the only one whose addiction hasnt went away. I find myself eating trash. I have p****d up some bad habits on this roller coaster as well. I will eat until I know that I will dump. I dont think that I stretch my pouch so much because I am still eating around 1 cup of food at the most. I am aware of my portions. My newest thing is snacking like crazy when I get home from work and skipping dinner so I can snack at like 9 at night. 

I eat to make myself feel better. In general everything that goes into my mouth tastes and feels good. It only lasts for a few minutes and then I hate myself for doing it. How do I find somethign that feels better then food?  I didnt see Oprah but when I heard about the show I know Oprah has the same thing I do. How do I fix it?

Thanks for listening. I am so happy that we decided to talk about this.

Amanda