Losing weight with help of T

Has anyone done this? Was it successful?
I have gained about 40lb in 18 months, and this has been comfort eating and overeating in general. I talked to T about this today (though I understated the amount I have gained - not sure why). He suggested eating had become my response to feelings of anxiety and sadness because the physical sensations associated with those feelings are suppressed by eating. In a sense those feelings almost act like hunger, and I find myself only satisfied by eating large quantities.
He says its about regaining control and rerouting neural pathways so I don't make that association (or at least, if I do, being aware and not following it).
I want to come to my T every week and tell him how much I've lost, even if its just 1lb. We have to tackle what I'm suppressing emotionally as well as the practical side of losing weight, and I seem to be lacking in the desire for self-care too, which I need to work on.
I really want to do it this time, and I'm hoping some success stories might motivate me!

Yes, I use my time with my CBT T in part on fitness issues. I thought I wasn't getting anywhere but when I was recently weighed at the dr.'s, I was about 16lbs lighter than 6-8 months ago.
We focus more on adding good habits than anything punitive or too numbers related.

I don't talk about my health, body, or weight to my T. I'm too embarrassed. But it's a given that I need help in this area. My T gave me a hw assignment to start walking again. So indirectly, w/o discussing anything, she is helping me lose weight.

Actually, come to think of it, no one talks to me about my weight, not even my primary. I guess they all think I'll figure it out on my own? But I am working to get a nutritionist to help me meal plan especially since I'm diabetic.

Thanks for this. My T also said I need to treat myself with kindness, rather than taking a punitive attitude. Great to hear you're having success

Thanks for sharing this. I too struggled with raising it but I'm at the end of my tether trying to tackle it by myself. I don't think I could tell him how much I weigh, I'm frightened I weigh more than him

I work in an eating disorders program that has a binge eating disorder group. I'm not saying you have an eating disorder at all, but even in this group what I see is often closer to emotional overeating than actual binge eating.

In these programs they use CBT and DBT to address anxiety, depression and stress. I definitely think if you work on what is underneath your behavior - what is at the root of your depression and anxiety, you will have the most success. It's possible eating has become your coping skill and you need to develop healthier skills to cope. It's not simple, especially if you're depressed, but it can definitely be done. He should help you identify what triggers eating and help you learn better ways to cope. Are there groups in the area for this type of issue? There are where I live but I know it's a rarity. It may not appeal to you at first but I think it's a great help to be with other people who share similar struggles and are in a therapeutic setting. The only thing is that it's not a weight loss program. When it's emotionally motivated then it's usually not advised to get caught up in numbers and calories but rather focus on skills and self care. A nutritionist with experience with emotional eating or binge eating will be helpful too, if that's an option. They can give you individual meal plans and make sure you're still eating healthy, which is of course, important.

Yes. But to be honest only when we got really specific because I made myself sick with anemia and vitamin deficiencies. Now we work with the meal plan from the hospital dietician and I check off what I eat and show her each week. I'm learning self care from the ground up

I never talked about my weight and eating in therapy until this therapist. I am morbidly obese. My 2nd session with MT (my therapist), she adked me how much I weighed. Much toy surprise, I answered her truthfully. We've talked on and off now about why I eat and what triggers my eating. In the last 6 months, talk about eating has turned to even though I eat to comfort myself, it's really a type of self-abuse. I've been eating to shut my screaming inner child up. Do, I've been working on being very healthy and talking about it with MT. And in the last few months, I've decided to pursue bariatric surgery and have been processing that with MT.

Thanks!! What has worked for me-- creating habits without expecting outcomes.

For example, I set a goal of walking for 1 hr twice a week. I just do it, like checking it off a list. I try to not expect results, the important thing is to create healthy habits. So if I walk every week losing weight would be nice, but expecting it just leads to disappointment. However, sometimes I am pleasantly taken by surprise by changes.

Also, it is easier to change a habit if you replace it with something you actually want. If you get a snack craving, try to replace sugar or carbs with a healthier snack that you actually like (For me, it's almonds)

T helps me monitor if I'm trying to take on too much at once--that is the road to giving up for me so I have to be careful

It is also important to me that CBT T is supportive, gentle and never a parole officer. When I fail he helps identify the roadblocks and ways around them.

I hope your path towards better health works well for you!! It might help if you try to avoid beating up on yourself or judging yourself.

Each moment is a new choice.