what do you use to fill the void besides food?

I used to eat to fill whatever void I was feeling, to lower stress (not sure how that worked but I seem to have believed it did) and just to make myself feel good - now 4 years of learning latter I am finding I use food less but I keep volunteering for more and more stuff - the void and stress of Tim being deployed is being filled with "stuff" to do

anyone else do this?

I know ya'll think I am just hyperactive and that is possible but I reliezed today I will say yes to help with almost anything if someone asks me - or if I hear them ask for help - or if I just decided I "should" be doing something

Well, that is a healthy (and helpful) way to fill the "void", Danni, and congrats on doing that ..  

  The one thing we all need to look out for is filling that "void" with a transfer addiction, which is destructive rather than something constructive ..  

I am filling the void with sewing/quilting - you guys will just have to see it to believe it.  Sometimes it gets a little out of control and I find the Carb Monster will still rear its ugly head.  When that happens, like it has in the last couple of months, I just have to work through it.  Recognize it for what it is and find other ways to help myself contain the desire for my former "best friend".  I have also been volunteering to help out with the local quilt guild, which is new and still in the infancy stage. All this while continuing my job search and getting ready for the next stage of my life. 

So yeah, I basically do pretty much the same thing. You have to do something to keep your eye on the prize and not let the old ways of eating and thinking fill your head and life.  It's hard, but if you want it bad enough, you do whatever you have to do to get the job done.  Keep things under control and try not to let the Stinkin' Thinkin' take over.

Thanks Mari - I guess i needed to hear that I was not the only one still trying to fill that void. My life is crazy full to most people and I just keep tossing more stuff in but it all gets done and we are all happy so I guess it is ok - Tim says it's ok as long as the kids are taken care of, the house under control and my grades stay up - well I just checked and I have over 95% with one week left in both classes so that part is covered and the kids spend more time doing stuff with me than a lot of kids get to(don't all mom's agree to drive 45 mins so they can hit up a toys r us to download some DS thing??) and you don't stick to the floors so I guess it's all good LOL

I am even cooking less - we are still eating healthy just not gong as nutso cooking and baking as I used to -it keep the kitchen cleaner LOL

You are not the only one still trying to fill that void, I am too.  Unfortunately I'm also an emotional eater to the fullest and when it becomes a lot I still reach for food.  Sure I can't eat as much as I did previously but I still eat.  I wish I could totally control the emotional eating, it still rears it's head way to often.

I don't even know if it is possible to overcome emotional eating completely. I still eat when stressed but more with short term or imediate stress - like the papers I need to be  writing LOL or an upcoming meeting I might be concerned about - instead of more daily hassle stress - being in school, tim gone things like that

I was so proud of myself last night.  I was having a HARD time with Stats and was ready to throw the darn book acros the room.  I got up and headed to the kitchen - ld habit.  I turned back around, put on my shoes and headed out the door.  Funny thing was, hubby followed.  He saw how mad I as and he'd never seen me do this so he went to make sure I was ok.  So any way, we walked around the neighbor hood while I screamed and whined about my class and he talked me down.  It was good and I really liked the company.  He NEVER walks with me.  And I stayed out of the "feeding stress" habit of old days.

Ditto that!

I'm a combo of you and Mari. A little volunteering and a little crafting: sewing, quilting, scrapping...of course there are hours on OH and FB at times!

Karla

YALL fill that void more than who/what anything else...seriously...I can come in here and FORGET whatever it was I just HAD to eat 5 minutes ago.

As for "cross addictions"..while...SOME people may have a TRUE problem, for many I have known, they have used the TERM, as an EXCUSE to do what they they wanted to do anyway..."I have a cross addiction. I had WLS, so I'm a sex accict and MUST cheat on my wife...I can't eat, therefore I MUST get ****faced in public...I can't eat, therefore I MUST buy $600 shoes while my kid drinks welfare milk...I'm, pretty the local police are not gonna care that I had WLS when I decide to shoplift from WalWart to support my SF popsicle habit...

I honestly don't think I have any addictions I didn't already have 8 years ago. I still hae voids, but am too busy to worry about them. I guess ( a good thing)

Great question, DANNI !