Well this is my first post on cure your body and Im pretty sure it wont be my last. But I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and mild depression a few years back after my son was born. Before he was born I was very outgoing and energetic. The pregancy was unexpected and very hard on me. After his birth I had very bad post partum depression and didnt not receive help with it untill 7 months later. During those 7 months my body took a turn for the worse and I gained a lot of weight. To this day now I am having very bad body issues and am having a lot of trouble losing the weight. I am currently on Cymbalta which helps the anxiety and depression pretty well but I still am not back to being happy yet and I am noticing that when I am experiencing days or weeks of happiness I am much more energetic and outgoing. I also notice that during the down times I seem to eat. And its not necesarily unhealthly its just more than I would normally eat. Now I know things take time but do you feel that my issues are something that I can conquer on my own or something that I may need to seek professional help with? I apoligize for getting off topic but I wanted to explain my situation. Thanks!

First and foremost, I appreciate you sharing your story with us here at Cure Your Body. I am certain you are not alone in this regard as there are significant emotional ties to various eating patterns and behavior.

As for your question, it appears you have already sought out some form of help as evidenced by your prescription for Cymbalta. Still, many doctors opt to prescribe pills, give a pep talk, maybe a pamphlet about diet and exercise (though a rarity) - but even without overriding psychiatric concern, this will probably yield minor (if any) weight loss. Group sessions may be even a better step than the prototypical psychiatric visit we may very well be accustomed to. Though its very challenging for me to address it here - I am very unsure if this is a "necessity" or perhaps you could "conquer it on your own" as intrinsic motivation and so forth is a science in and of itself without a clear-cut answer for many things.

What you could try is the following protocol in a supplemental sense (allow for your own income scenario to dictate how heavy you get involved here):

Essential Items:

[1] Fish Oil (aim for high amounts of DHA and EPA like 2-4 grams per day; mind you this is NOT 2-4 grams of Fish Oil, that will be higher - BUT combined EPA and DHA are the important pieces here). Both will have pertinence with mood and weight loss, but you really have to dose high.

[2] SAMe (pronounced "Sammy") - make certain you take this with judicious use of B vitamins (don't have to get exotic, but you should have a bunch of B Complex vitamins on hand). I usually recommend the following protocol:

Weeks 1-2: 600mg (kind of pricy here)
Weeks 3 and beyond: 200-400mg (maintenance)

This is the all-around agent: Mood, joint health, heart health, liver health, etc... The list is virtually endless.

[3] Make sure your iron level is up to par and you are not anemic; dependent upon your age, you may benefit from about 18mg of ferrous fumurate per day.

[4] 7-keto DHEA: about 200mg of a standard product may be of benefit in your scenario for a couple of reasons. I wouldn't get too crazy here with this one but I put this in your protocol for a reason and it includes your weight issue. Just keep in mind to not add 100 agents in the weight loss domain or you will never be able to tell what's working for you.

[5] Keep your fiber up to par too each day and you may find a general state of "full" increase.



Have you ever tried a ketogenic and/or cyclic ketogenic diet?


D_

Emotional eating is cureable by just tweaking your behaviour associated to food. You need to change the negative patterns you associated to food from the past.

My mom used to have the same issue and what's worked for her was self hyposis from a cd set she bought so I know it is cureable

And professional help is never a bad thing. I am bipolar and every 2 weeks I see a psychiatrist..It really helps..no one is perfect you know.

Have you tried exercise or dancing? I also wasn't able to return to my most comfortable weight after giving birth. I was able to overcome anxiety attacks but i am still heavier than before. I know it's not easy to just tell you to love yourself for who you are, but that's what i am working on. I get so busy with "feels good" activities that don't include eating but helps me become more emortionally stable.

Depression can lead to a lot of emotional eating. Try getting up and doing something. It's hard, because all you want to do is lay around. However, even forcing yourself to get up and walk around the house a few times can be a help. Get outside in the sun. Sunshine always seems to make me feel better. Do you remember how to skip? Skipping seems to automatically cause some happiness, so you might try doing some of that.

I have started taking Latin classes at my gym... It is really helping to keep me motivated to work out.. Iv also made some new friends that understand me and that are in some form going thru some of the same things is really helping.. you know they have AA groups and addiction groups but I have not found just a group of people that have issues with handling every day life.. Im not crazy im just over stressed and understimulated.. but all the advice is great and im doing better.. iv learned to enjoy fruits a bit more and find healthier alternatives to the sugars that i crave.. but again.. thank you..

fibromyalgialady1234 - 11 August 2008 06:30 AM

Depression can lead to a lot of emotional eating. Try getting up and doing something. It's hard, because all you want to do is lay around. However, even forcing yourself to get up and walk around the house a few times can be a help. Get outside in the sun. Sunshine always seems to make me feel better. Do you remember how to skip? Skipping seems to automatically cause some happiness, so you might try doing some of that.

You are absolutely correct, depression can lead to emotional eating. I am now 60+ lbs overweight. You are correct again in saying sunshine makes you feel better. The rays of the sun, although sometimes dangerous, can do wonders for your soul.

Hello
Emotional eating happens any time you eat not because you are physically hungry but because you have feelings of boredom, depression, loneliness, fear, anger or frustration. Eating takes your mind off the feelings. Eating comforts you. Eating in response to emotions and not hunger can result in overeating, unwanted weight gain, health problems and even greater stress. Be aware of what triggers your eating, and if you reach for food when stressed, consider the following:

* Keep a food diary. In your diary record data under these column headings: time, place, food eaten, amount, and your feelings. Identifying any stress, negative thoughts or emotions you?re having at the time will help you determine why you are eating.


* Identify patterns of emotional eating. Many people find that overeating tends to occur at specific times and in specific places. For instance, you may overeat in front of the TV in the evening after a stressful day.


* Plan alternatives and change routines. Instead of sitting down in front of the TV with a bag of chips after a stressful day you could take a walk, take a long bath, call a friend, write in a journal, or read a book. Do something that removes you from the situation that results in overeating.