[silverleaf]

I over-eat quite consistently, particularly at the moment when things are hard for me. I'm trying to find alternatives to this as (finally) I've recognised that it's a self-soothing strategy that I've developed as an emotional response.

Does anyone have any good tips for self-soothing that I could try instead? I've got a small list of things like having a hot drink, cuddling my cat, reading a book with a blanket round me (sometimes all at the same time!) Nothing is as good as eating a load of junk food but they are all a lot more healthy!!

Any ideas?

[Travelinglady]

I know what you mean. Have you tried something like chewing really good gum? Maybe even bubble gum and blow bubbles if you can? Or when you eat, then eat really slowly and not mindlessly?

Or maybe taking a nice warm bath--even a bubble bath? Or going out shopping with a friend? Taking a walk in a nice place? Riding a bike? Talking to a therapist? Talking to someone you care about on the phone?

Just a few thoughts off the top of my head. I hope something I said might be helpful.

I admit my method might sound strange. I've been fighting my weight for the last 20 years-every kind of diet-every sort of deprevation-wallowing in guilt while I hide in the bathroom to eat a candy bar.

Eough! I binge maybe once a week or every two weeks but I've given myself permission to stop mentally flogging myself everytime I want to eat something good. So for right now-I'm basically eating what I want. No guilt, no shame, no wallowing in self pity. Funy thing is that most of what I crave is also good for you. I love fruits and veggies-chicken (not fried!)beans and rice and salads. But I also love my chocolate and pink snowballs and nachos.

So I'm okay with me right now. Always try to look nice when I go out and keep my appearance up. And you never know! There are a lot of guys out there who like women of my size. So I smile at them all. And you know what? Most of them smile right back at me.