I am giving away my copy of Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth. As you've read from the title of this blog, I am fully aware of why I eat. I eat to quelch the emotions that I don't want to deal with. I eat to cap off the joy of great news or a great day. I express my emotions and anxiety through my eating.
I was hoping that this book would give me the answer I have been searching for: "how do I stop?" And despite giving wonderful advise as to delving into "why", I am not quite certain I came away with the "how" to force myself to take control.
Recently, I've been suppressing some of my hunger. I've been taking small portions of food to work. I've been snacking on a fruit and mini Luna or Lara bar before dinner. I've been supplementing my hunger with water. I lost some weight. I've gained some weight during my "binges"; especially this weekend. I have been feeling a sense of angst balancing motherhood, wifely duties, and working full time outside of the home. I don't have family here. I don't have friends to ask for help. The help I get is paid for, and that provides another sense of anxiety. How to pay for things on an already stretched budget? Exercise isn't on the top of my priority as it was months ago. I am filled with stress and I am suppressing that stress by eating an extra cookie or bowl of cereal; instead I should be sweating it out or posing it out with Yoga.
I want to give this book away to someone who wants to figure out why they overeat and how to control it. If you are interested in getting this book, please leave a comment. The winner will be randomly chosen by the random number generator. Winner will be announced on the evening of Friday, September 16, 2010.
For fun, answer this: "What is the food that you cannot live without?"
Sorry you are feeling so stressed. Keep plugging and tomorrow is a clean slate. My go-to favorite comfort food is pasta and/or bread. I can say goodbye to anything else, just not my pasta.
ReplyDeleteHi Rosa:
ReplyDeleteI already have the book. However, I was struck by your comment about forcing you to control your eating. I find that when I force myself to do anything, it creates resistance in my body, which is felt as anxiety and/or tension. When I start feeling the self-imposed pressure, I think about two hands pushing against each other. It is a great metaphor for what I do within my body.
Love your photographs.
Warmly,
Jennifer
well i have not read it but i would love to so count me in.
ReplyDeleteand when i am done i will pass it on as well:)
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and struggles with us. I'm right there with ya, working on those issues myself. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLaura Hartness
The CalicoCritic
CalicoCritic at gmail dot com
Rosa, I wish there was a book that showed mothers like you and I how to deal with those kind of stresses. I understand your plight all to well. I'm a single mom with a son that is a freshman in college. The stresses that go along with motherhood are enough but add to it the other things you mentioned and they are enough to make you eat.
ReplyDeleteThe food I can't do without is cheese. I have to have cheese on just about everything. I am trying to like 2% and fat free but it just isn't the same.