Why I Overeat
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There is a lot of hidden pain in our lives and we may secretly over eat to feed ourselves in an effort to care for the invisible wounds. I’m both very curious and practical so when I hear a bunch of bologna I dig deep to find the truth. I look for the answers that make good old fashioned common sense, you know the stuff you hear and instantly have that light bulb moment of truth? I’ve long been thinking about why people over eat, why I overeat, in fact why anyone overeats. Could it be there is a common factor, a bond we share, and the reason as to why? Do you sometimes overeat? If so read on.
While I’ve researched my way through piles of books explaining why, every time I think deeply, soul searching for the truth a simple answer comes to mind. This answer beats the drum of truth so loudly it can no longer be ignored. So today with much thought and concern over weight I share with you my take on why you, me and every one else over eats from time to time.
Why do I overeat? Because it feels good! When we feel down and out, ran through the ringer, more than anything else we need a fix. We need to ease the pain, stress and flat out feel good! We humans are constantly seeking what ever it is that makes us feel good. Often life takes a toll on us, sometimes it’s expected and most times it’s not. It’s moments like these we may need to be nurtured, cared for, made to feel alright and safe. If only we could hear, everything will be alright. We find no comfort for our difficulties, struggles and pain regardless of how much we busy ourselves, it is still there. There is the one thing that makes us feel good. This thing is convenient and associated with people gathering together who love one another and celebrate. It is food!
We can always reach for food to feel better. It reminds us of those feel good moments, celebrations and gathering with family and friends. Why, because when we’re down, hurt or struggling and need to be nurtured or just feel better food is both handy and nurturing. We can however find other ways of nurturing ourselves without overeating.
Things that make us feel good other than food;
- The sun, sunshine raises our feel good hormones and while winter is a prime time to over eat we can feel even better by soaking up some rays.
- A good movie, preferable comedy. Laughter is good medicine and makes you feel much better than food, plus all that laughter also burns calories!
- Rearrange a room, this makes us feel refreshed and new. It feels great to improve our surroundings by rearranging a room.
- Plus this too is great exercise and makes for a great new hang out to watch those movies feeling even better.
- Munch on sunflowers, I like the ones in the shell, they are an activity that gives us something to concentrate on refreshing the mind plus they are happy food!
- Sunflower seeds are a source of protein and fiber rich in selenium a nutrient that makes us instantly feel good, happier and almost as quickly as we can eat them.
Why? Because feeding someone is taking care of them nurturing them? We were fed by our parents, when we were sick to make us better and so it seems when we feel bad we need this nurturing instinctively. It seems feeding someone or yourself is a really good way to take care them, making it better. It makes us feel all warm and loved.
When the world beats us up we need to be nurtured and food is readily available to meet the need. When we can’t be hugged and made to feel better with physical attention we reach for food. Food is a symbol of being cared for. When we are pressed in a situation that we can do nothing about we can always reach for food. No one can tell us we can’t toss a cookie or chips into our mouth and we can do so till the entire bag is gone. Food is the one thing we can control and it also has positive strings attached in our memory of fond memories. Understanding this very powerful need and desire to be nurtured is the key to freedom.
We must reprogram our responses to the need to be nurtured by creating new habits. Exercise is a great habit and produces hormones that make you feel good and helps keeps the lows away that creates the need to overeat. Try different work out routines. You may hate one, two or even three, but keep trying till you find the one that works for you, the one you fall in love with. It can feel powerful to feed ourselves. When all the world is flying past us unnoticed we’re suppose to keep up, it gets tiring and food can make us feel as if were getting the nurturing we so desperately need.
In all reality we need a long nap, a good nights sleep or some much needed down time taking a road trip or hiding out at home watching a movie marathon and sleeping. Maybe it’s a long bike ride we long for or a jog. No questions asked it’s a food fix that makes us feel cared for and knowing this opens a new concept of thought as to how we can better address these real and valid needs.
There is nothing wrong with you, you are not weak, you just need to be nurtured and loved as all do all living creatures. Building a strong sense of self is one of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself. Tony Robbins is hands down one of the best, if not the best at lifting you up dusting you off as you rise from the ashes and become a phoenix.
So the next time you feel the urge to just eat something think of other ways you can self nurture. It could be a nice trip to the hair dresser, buy a new top, rent a funny movie or visit old folks in the nursing home. Help someone who can’t help themselves and it is by doing this you nurture yourself as well. Remember the power of your surroundings as your home makes you feel good if we make them the best they can be. We get a huge amount of frustration from a messy home. It makes us feel bad and therefore creates a mood to overeat, or worse closet eat. Love yourself by loving your home, making it inviting for you and friends and family. Every Time you feel the urge to overeat, do one thing to improve your home. You will feel good and redirect your energy to something positive.
Often times it’s in the knowing that we find the cure. So focus on making your surroundings more beautiful and comfortable. Coming home to this provides you with a nurturing environment to feel relaxed, rested and healed.
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