Ep 129 Your Feelings Are Not a Food Group

Are you eating instead of feeling your feelings?

Do you and your scale have a love hate relationship?

If you answered yes to either of my questions then you must listen to this episode.

I also read another listener’s heartfelt letter with her new awareness around feeling her feelings. Read her letter below.

I just discovered your podcast and am now an avid follower and listener. I started at the beginning of your podcast- determined to make some changes in my eating. I knew I was out of control and I also understood why. My sweet mom passed away suddenly in May. We were very close and I am grieving her. That occurrence also led to me practically living with my 90 year old dad who also has dementia. So you can imagine the grief and stress I’ve been in.

“Eating my feelings” (even though grief is not a food group) was what I turned to – well, food and prayer. I knew I was out of control. I’m also 56 and in menopause so, of course, weight packs on easily. It got so bad, nothing fit anymore. I felt sluggish, and I knew I had to get a grip on myself.

I found your podcast and am applying your strategies, have started a food journal, rate my hunger and feelings, notice my thoughts about food, and have even incorporated a little JOY food when I want it! I really started paying attention to my thoughts about eating! That was the most fascinating thing- to actually observe my thoughts and what I said to myself about food. It’s the same old lies all the time. Little by little, I am breaking the cycle. This past week I have not had a bingeing episode-NOT ONE! Oh, I heard the voice when dad went to bed and I was by myself, but I decided I didn’t have to act on the voice. I could make a better choice. I could form a new pathway in my brain!

I still miss my mom, but I know the storm eating will not bring her back, or even make me feel better. I am experiencing my feelings as they occur. After all, feelings only last 90 seconds. I’m practicing mindful eating and listening to my body and my thoughts. This is a whole new experience for me! I haven’t weighed yet and that’s ok. I just started my journey. It’s not all about the weight!!!

I want food to move into its rightful place and not control my life anymore! Thank you, Dr. Deb! Thank you for your compassion, your advice, your techniques, your wisdom, your patience with people who are struggling, and for your devotion to helping people! I will continue to listen and learn. What a blessing you have been to me as I begin a whole new way of thinking about food! ~Laura

Enjoy the show!

To get your free copy of the Thinner Peace in Menopause and Beyond Podcast Companion please go to https://drdebbutler.com/change. This will make it even easier to follow along with me on future podcasts.

If you like what I’m talking but think you need more guidance, I am offering a free consultation to my listeners to answer any questions you might have about anything I’ve talked about. Just go to https://drdebbutler.com/mini-session.

Please leave me an honest rating and review on iTunes at https://drdebbutler.com/itunes. It will help me reach more women who struggle with these issues. Here’s how to rate and review on iTunes: https://drdebbutler.com/rate. Thank you!

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