STILL
I asked my class two very tough questions the other day. The first was,
"How
did you become a compulsive eater?" The second was, "Why are you still
a
compulsive eater?" I could see everyone was doing some soul searching
and
thinking before putting pen to paper. Here are some of their answers.
"I began to be compulsive to fill the void of feeling unloved and
unworthy.
I did not have to do anything to get the food to like me. It just did,
and
it made me feel good!"
"It happened when I encountered a high degree of stress I was not
accustomed
to and turned to food for comfort."
"In my house, food was a pleasure/reward kind of thing. You eat, it
feels
good, and you do it again. The immediate pleasure outweighs the
long-term
problem of gaining weight."
"As a child, I watched my parents overeat, and I needed an escape from
their
rage. Food was my refuge."
Here are some of the answers to the second question, "Why are you still
a
compulsive eater?"
"Food is still my escape because I have not yet learned to satiate my
needs.
I have changed many things, but I am so strongly rooted in eating to
feel
better, and I always return to that behavior."
"I am still one because eating is an immediate, happy rush to me."
"It`s a lifelong habit, very hard to break. My food compulsion still
calls
my name, and I always give in to it."
"I simply lack discipline. I`m just not strong enough to combat my
addiction."
"I could list a million ridiculous reasons why I have such a strong
relationship with food, but the truth is, I don`t love myself enough to
stop."
"I`m still out of control because I`ve been hurt many times in my life,
and
I overeat to gain weight and not look attractive to protect myself from
being hurt again."
I have such a good relationship with all of the wonderful people who
come to
Slimmons because they are so honest about their emotions. Are you
honest
about yours? I know you can relate with what my students have to say.
Figure
out how you became an emotional eater and why you still may be one. One
of
my biggest hopes for you is to finally find some peace with your
relationship with food.
Love,
Richard
SOURCE: Richard Simmons Message of the Day
