In Defense of Emotional Eating
I have been through many a weight loss system. I have successfully completed Weight Watchers three times, with weight losses of up to 35 pounds. The reason I use the words successful and three times in the same sentence and feel alright about it is because I would finish the program then get pregnant and have to start again after the baby was born. So even though I don't keep it off, I sorta feel excused. Over the years, I have identified myself as an emotional eater. I love food and often food loves me back. I have identified my triggers. I have sought out alternative activities. I have conditioned myself to drink more water than a camel. I have met my emotional eating head on and got used to working every day to manage it.
The other day I was driving home from Target after our recent move. This is the second move in one year-the first being from the suburbs of Washington, DC to New Jersey. When you move at all it is stressful. When you move with three kids it is an act that borders on suicidal. On my way home from buying the essential move in items of toilet paper and snacks for the kids, I literally stuffed (I mean by the fistful) an entire bag of Peanut Butter M&M's in my mouth in the time it took to pull out of my parking space and get on the main road-about 6.5 seconds. As I turned slightly to put my garbage in my little mini-van garbage bag, I noticed there were four other finished bags of candy in the trash. Yikes. Apparently M&M's are my stress food of choice these days. The scary thing is, I don't even remember buying the candy. It is as if I am in some sort of trance. I walk- zombie like- through the check out, purchase the candy, unwrap and scarf it down only to reenter my conscious world after I have finished the bag.
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