What type of eater I am

After listening to the Valerie Bertinelli book on my iPod, I've been thinking a lot. 

Valerie shared that she is not only an emotional eating but an unconscious eater too.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that I'm an emotional eater.  Turn on certain emotions....a switch turns on in my head.....the screaming urge of emotional eating starts.  I've learned to develop strategies to calm that scream most of the time. 

Valerie sharing that she is an unconscious eater too really hit me.  I've never really thought about that before.  Sure, I've realized at times that I don't remember eating something or being aware of it as I've eaten something (usually a poor food choice).  I'll zone back in about half way or 2/3 of the way of eating something and then it will strike me as to not remembering that I've eaten the first part of it.  I still do that sometimes even now which is scary.  That is why it struck me so hard when Valerie shared that about herself.  I DO THAT!

That is a difficult admission.  I'm post-op 8 years!  How can that be?  Doesn't matter how but that I do it.  I am now very happily aware and can share with you plus acknowledge to myself that sometimes I am an emotional eater plus an unconscious one too.  I'm happy to be able to say that because you can't overcome something you don't acknowledge to yourself and stay aware of it.  For me, I think that is more than half of overcoming it.

Thanks for allowing me to share.  Does anyone else have these tendencies too?

Thanks, Cathy

Good thing to ponder.    I'm a big-time emotional eater and I used to be an unconscious eater - but not since surgery.  I;d never though about it, but I guess that really is progress.  Now, I don't always savor what I'm eating, but I do know what I'm eating 

Hi HappyLapBander,

You have done so well with your surgery.  I am really focusing on savoring and feeling the food in my pouch so I don't overeat. 

Cathy

 Cathy -

Reading your post - I thought I could have written it.  I am very much an emotional eater and hadn't really given it much thought - but also unconscious.  It has been good to get back on this site and refocus after being 6 years post op.  

I have been wanting to read Valerie's book and look forward to reading it after your comments.



Pre op - 288
Lowest  - 145
Present - 195

Thanks -

Michele

Hi Michele,

Thanks for your post.  It is nice to know that I'm not alone in the unconscious/ emotional eating combo.  Thanks for sharing that with me.

Valerie's book starts out with her life.  What I found interesting is that she remembers milestones and things in her life by her weight.  I've done the same thing.  It struck me as a bit sad that I mark my life by my weight. The first part is about her career and then moves into her rock and roll life with Eddie VanHalen.  She then starts discussing the steps she took with Jenny Craig and losing weight. 

If you get it, please let me know what you think.

Cathy

Hmmm I guess I would say I am an eater LOL....I was before surgery never one to gourge myself with food but would say that compulsion was there....i would not eat all day then be so starving that i couldnt pass a fast food resturaunt before my drive home. I would get to the menu and buy whatever made my mouth salivate when thinking about it....usually peeling some of the bread off ( I have always been good about that) i would do my best to enjoy it but it usually didnt last 5 mins before it was all shoveled in mindlessly. I could eat a whopper in under 5 mins .....and not remember it.

I guess I have always been a poor eater...never 3 squares...i still struggle with that....I would say nowdays I am more of an emotional/recreational eater than i was in my past....i guess it really takes me needing something to cling to to get me eat something that I know is a poor choice.

I am also an emotional eater as well as an unconscious eater. I am trying right now to try my best when I feel hungry to understand whether it is head hunger or real physical hunger, this is a learning experianc for me, but I am trying.

 Tammy

I think my less than stellar eating habits are for the most part all unconcious or what they term as "mindless" eating.  After 40 years of being automated - it has become ingrained.

However, as I approach my surgery on Monday (lap band) I have been rethinking this.   Mindful eating MUST become a new mantra, a new habit, a new way of life.

Another wls friend told me something interesting last night.  She decides before eating ANYTHING if she truly wants the food to "take up real estate" in her puch as it is a valuable neighborhood!  She judges each bite as if it is worthy - which is an interesting way to look at eating after wls.