I know we sometimes think we’re all alone in our eating struggles; we see ourselves as emotionally or binge eating challenged. We think, “It would be so nice to be able to just sit down and enjoy food rather than always fearing we’re one bite away from feeling out-of-control”.
But I don’t think we’re alone out there. A friend of mine just sent me this amusing (and so true) video about everyone’s food issues or preferences these days. For some it’s no dairy, or no gluten, low sodium or low carb. Some have a shell fish or nut allergy. Some avoid foods that lead to bloat or are fermented, not to mention foods or drinks that might clash with medications. (Vegans got thown into the song in the video below. Please don’t take offense).
Watching this video got me thinking. I don’t remember these issues being discussed over holiday dinners when I was in my 20’s or 30s. Do we really know that much more about food and it’s impact on our bodies today than we did say 20 years ago? Or did people eat and then suffer in silence? Is there something in the food and/or environment that’s making us so much more food sensitive these days? Not all food is ‘engneered’ to make us eat more, so what’s up?
As I suggest to my clients who are struggling with turning to food for comfort or emotional relief, is their focus on food, their eating struggles, a distraction from other life or relationship struggles that really feel out of their control to change? I think it’s a question worth asking.
In the meantime, take heart in the fact that you are certainly not alone in your eating struggles…enjoy!
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I’m Ellen Shuman and I’m all about having a sane relationship with food and our bodies. I’m also an experienced Coach who specializes in helping people overcome emotional eating, compulsive eating, binge eating disorder, and food addiction, Founder of A Weigh Out & Acoria Binge Eating Disorder Treatment (1993-present), Past President of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (2011/2012), and Co-Founder of the Academy for Eating Disorders Special Interest Group on “Health at Every Size”, ellen@aweighout.com, 513-321-4242.
