Life off the D-list (guest post)

by

“This journey is not just a physical one but also an emotional one as well. Make sure you take care of both sides of that coin.” Me

 

On the healthiness journey the word diet is often considered a nasty little “four letter word”.  This is not about quick fixes, it’s about life! It doesn’t matter if you have 5 or 150 pounds to deal with; being healthy is a life style.

For me there have been 2 huge influences on how I eat. It all started one day when I discovered Carla and Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone. I instantly fell in love and had to listen to all of the podcast and read all the blogs. When I got to episode 14 Intuitive eating and then episode 18 intuitive eating part II this was the ticket for me! I am a type 1 diabetic. Having to already count carb’s, I loathed and fight with everything in me against calorie counting; or for me even worse tracking points. Now these work great for some people but it just was not working for me. I hated the idea of having to track yet another thing.

The problem with this was I am an emotional eater. I grew up with a grandmother who cooked or took me out for treats when I was sad, happy, mad, bored. I grew up learning food is comfort. This all changed a few months ago after reading Geneen Roth’s book, When Food is Love. This book seriously changed me. I was originally looking for her book Women, Food and God that is so popular (but it was checked out) and found this instead. Even though I cried through about the first half of this book it had a profound effect on my life.

Eating right and exercising is just one side of the coin. The other side of this healthiness journey is emotional. There is a reason we all got the way we are, no one wakes up one day and says “Hey I think I’ll gain 150 pounds” or even 20 pounds. Something affected us deep down that needs to be dealt with. I am a firm believer in treating both sides of the coin. I also believe that if you don’t, while you may physically reach your goals, it won’t last. If you lose the weight, run the marathon, buy the little black dress those feelings will still be there if you don’t deal with them. Now I’m not saying everyone needs to spend hours and hours in therapy (although therapy is a great tool), but you need to do something to heal those emotional wounds.

For me Blogging is in a way my therapy. I write out the feelings. Blogging has also connected me with a network of people who get it! Having people around in your daily life who understand and can be positive make a huge difference for me. As a single mother who has also lost both my parents this network gives me support when I need it. Find a support system and do what works for you.

Peace, Love and Happy Blogging

Misty, Life Off the D List!


 

POSTS BY EMAIL

Never miss a post. Enter your email to get my latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Comments

  1. Very nice insights. Thanks for sharing our story and best of luck on your healthy journey.

  2. It’s so true! I used to think I over ate because I just loved food, but then I caught myself diving into a box of puffed Kashi (not the honey kind, the cardboard kind!). I resisted “journaling” but am in love with blogging which is almost the same, but better because of the network of support.

  3. Intuitive eating is changing my life for the better… painful step by painful step. I am so happy that I don’t have to punish myself anymore! Thanks for sharing!

  4. What a great guest post! We all bring emotional baggage to weight, I think. Maybe a small % not, but most, yes. We all have to find our way & what works for us. So glad you did!

  5. “I also believe that if you don’t, while you may physically reach your goals, it won’t last.”

    So true…I lost 136 pounds, I lost 50 pounds, I lost 60 pounds etc., but I still have not dealt with the other side of the coin.

  7. Kimberly, I have lost the same 40-60 pounds over and over and each time gained it right back…this time I’m treating “both sides of the coin”. It is a much slower process but I think it will have lasting effects 🙂

  8. Great guest post! I’ll be checking out your blog. I also agree part of being healthy is the emotional side. I’ll be checking out the podcast too!

  9. Misty,
    Thanks so much for posting this. I really feel like you get it. I have lost 30 pounds to date and its a real struggle. Sometimes the fear of putting it back on is the very fear that will make me feel like I want to eat. I feel guilty if I eat dinner, I feel guilty if I want to eat something I shouldn’t. And all those feelings end up making me feel like an emotional mess. But then I get mails like this in my inbox and I feel supported again. Thank you so much!!! <3 <3

  10. Sheve
    You are not alone! That’s part of why I feel this is so important to talk about. So many people just focus on the physical and it is taboo to talk about why we actually end up using food as a comfort source. We have to heal and grow as a whole.

  11. Totally, seriously, absoLUTEly agree with this post! I appreciate the succinct way you put it… as two sides to the coin. And that they must both be dealt with, sooner or later. So so true.

  12. Love this post! Yesterday and today I’ve been frustrated with my tracking. Much to think about. Thanks for sharing!!

  13. I know exactly where you are coming from but like you said – use your writing as an outlet. So therapeutic! Good luck to you!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This