Lived Experience Forum

[Sahara]

Hi Everyone,

@Hope4me had the brilliant idea of starting a discussion about our feelings around food. 

I thought we could write about how we feel in order to come to terms with it- like, when you are about to tuck into a unhealthy meal of junk food, what's going through your head? Would you like to share?

This is further to the discussion When food replaces love.

My personal issues are with wine, cheese and cake. I use these foods to comfort myself, habitually. I would say it is a type of addiction and it's somehow related to my anxiety. I have done this since childhood. 

I have mixed feelings about talking about it.... mainly, I think I don't want to encourage others to feel critical of themselves... I certainly don't believe that you need to be a certain weight to be happy, or that there are 'bad' foods that you must always avoid!  

There is nothing wrong with eating cake, if you really do enjoy it and you are not misusing the cake to fill an emotional need. 

@Faith-and-Hope, @Shaz51, @TAB, @Owlunar, @Appleblossom, @Phoenix_Rising

[Faith-and-Hope]

Agree entirely with your last statement @Sahara ..... although I go one step further ......

If I am really emotionally upset, there are times when I will go to a coffee shop and look for a piece of cake that I will really enjoy ..... not just any cake ..... if they don't have the "right sort of cake" I won't buy anything, but the purpose of it is that I am allowing myself to eat something as an emotional panacea ..... without pretending in any way that that is not what it is ..... but giving mys lfmfully recognition and permission for the choice.

I think that takes away any sense of oppositionalism I might have towards creating boundaries ...... it's lettjng myself know that there are no foods (or very few) that are actually "bad" ...... it's more about quantity and why we are choosing to eat that type of food.

Even "bad" foods the body can ride over if the diet is generally brimming with "good" foods ..... so for me it is a lot about removing those value judgements.

I know for people around me with food issues there is a link with shame ...... feeling at their core that they are a bad person, so therefore "of course" they choose to eat "bad" food ......

But what if there isn't any "bad" food ..... ? If all food is good in some sense, even if it's not nutritionally (only one reason for eating) ..... then food becomes about nutrition ..... refuelling ...... enjoyment (yes, that's allowed !!) .... and socialising ......

Yes ..... stop and think in the moment about why you are choosing (note - choice) to eat any particular thing ...... and why you are choosing (that word again) that particular quantity.

[Sahara]

I totally agree with you @Faith-and-Hope. "The right sort of cake", as you put it, really does make us feel better! We have to be true to ourselves and acknowledge this.

That is why, when you buy an unhappy child an icecream cone, they cheer up instantly. Food makes us feel good. It's something to do with hormones and neurotransmitters. 

People are absolutely wired to seek out food and enjoy it. No point in denying it.

But the thing is to be aware. There are other ways to cheer yourself up, too. And perhaps the thing to do is to use a variety of ways to promote happy feelings... not just the old icecream cone. Not every day, anyway. 

[Faith-and-Hope]

Yep...., that is my understanding anyway ....

@Sahara

[TAB]

Well put @Faith-and-Hope .. like who cares so I don't re bad person

[TAB]

I walked past the good pies at shop today. Told self was having bacon and eggs, was carrying too much so bye bye bacon. I settled for generic oats and oat bran. My challenge is to eat it before cockroaches get it like last lot.
Anyway am shopped out. Glass storage containers going on list now

[Faith-and-Hope]

Wtg @TAB ......:

Oats don't have to be boring tho ..... I add a bit of utter, brown sugar, nutmeg and rhubarb to mine, with chia seeds and almond milk.

Too fussy ? Good ol' sultanas are nice.

[Faith-and-Hope]

utter = butter

[TAB]

When I do do it, its honey, banana and sultanas @Faith-and-Hope

[TAB]

...udder??? I lurve Western Star ⭐️