Depressed???....Let's eat!!!!!

Every time I fall into depression I move into my fridge. I eat and eat and eat so much and the wierd thing is that I never feel full nor sick as one would normally feel.
I had spent the whole last year losing weight and was quite successful with it (lost a total of 30 pounds). I thought that this would improve the way I looked. My family insists on the idea that I will never find someone because of my weight. Men like the thin ones....and I am never one of them. I need 20 more pounds to go to finally be at a normal weight.
The thing is.... the next 20 pounds are not coming off that easily. In addition to this, I am 30 and still alone. I've been feeling down for two weeks now but today was really bad. So I sat down and ate one whole package of spagetti and I am not done yet....I feel guilty about it but I feel this wierd type of comfort as well.
This condition is driving my weight up the scale again. I am going to gain back all the weight I had lost. How can I stop myself from eating during my depression?

I'm an emotional eater too. My triggers for it are being anxious or bored, though.

I am a lot bigger than you, based on your description of what you need to lose, and my family is the same way about how I'll never find anyone. 30 was really hard for me too to still be alone. Now I'm almost 42 and I don't care. I think it's a pretty common developmental stage for women to hit that age and reassess their lives.

I don't know how to stop the emotional eating or I would be a lot thinner myself -- maybe just try another form of distraction, I guess. I'm too lazy to get out of the house and take a walk, but I hear it works. Good luck.

Candy

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My family insists on the idea that I will never find someone because of my weight. Men like the thin ones....and I am never one of them. I need 20 more pounds to go to finally be at a normal weight.

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This is just not true, hon. A real man (or woman) can see who you really are. AND, men do not necessarily like "the thin ones". That is a myth. I would know. I have been as much as 200 pounds overweight and that never seemed to diminish my supply of boyfriends.

The most important thing about how you look is how you feel about it. If you like the way you look, other people will feel that and think you are pretty as well.

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This condition is driving my weight up the scale again. I am going to gain back all the weight I had lost. How can I stop myself from eating during my depression?

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Have you tried support groups? I've belonged to one for about five years and even when I don't lose weight it's nice to just have the people around.

It's funny I should come across this post. I just joined today and something I am working on is consolidating all the poetry I have spread out over a dozen or so websites to one place. Here's one I wrote about eating and depression.

You Think You Have Problems--
There are People Starving. . .
To Janie Deem

Poor thing,
are you hurt?
Here's some cookies and milk
to make it all better.
Another box of cookies, please,
some more ice cream. . .
anything to
satisfy the gnawing hunger
within;
body overfed
my spirit starves.

Cases of cookies can't fill the
abysmal nothingness
inside
and others' eyes can't see past
fat
to where
the bones are sticking out
in my soul.

That is a great poem Gwenny. I can totally connect with this. It is exactly what is happening!!!!!
You are absolutely correct pointing out for me to consider that other people have more serious problems than me. I am being selfish for feeling the way I do. I have my basic needs covered, so why do I nag and get depressed about!

Don't stop eating, just stop eating fatening foods... and stuff yourself with fat free stuff or raw veggies or such..and drink more water!

I think you did well to lose the weight, and once you are through this dip in spirit, will be able to continue to lose the rest... but I hope you do it for yourself and your health, not because of comments from family.

The last pounds are always the hardest I think. Part of your weight should now be muscle, if you've been increasing your activity too... and that will help you burn more calories too

Hang in there... if you give in to a sweet or such, then eat just half at a time (not in two bites now, you know what I mean )

TC good wishes

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valexand said:
You are absolutely correct pointing out for me to consider that other people have more serious problems than me. I am being selfish for feeling the way I do. I have my basic needs covered, so why do I nag and get depressed about!

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I SO did not intend for you to get that feeling. YOU are the most important person, hon. You are NOT selfish to consider your own needs and pain over others. Please tell me I did not make you feel that way. I didn't come here to make people feel judged or unhappy.

Noooo, I didn't feel judged nor did your post make me unhappy. The main reason why I decide to write down things in here, for other people to see, is because I am looking for other opinions, for ideas, for a new perspective from someone that can think clearer than me.

_Sky's suggestions cover (IMHO) two really important points:

a) Eating healthy stuff rather than crap
b) Not upsetting yourself if you do eat something unhealthy - deprivation very often only leads to more binging

If it wasn't 'emotional' eating I'd suggest stuff like no carbs after 4pm, protein shakes to fill the gap, low GI foods to help shift that last bit of weight. But I am sure you are doing that already

good luck

Heya, yes i know exactly what you mean - at the age of 16 i ballooned to a size 18, wighing 16 stone +
i have now slimmed down to size 16-18, wieghing 13.5 stone, over xmas... but im always depressed and then i head straight for tyhe comfort food - CHOCOLATE! pleapsleaplseplasplepalses!!!! jhelp me!!!

sami xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx