Being an emotional eater?

Exploring the dark side again. Somewhere in the dark world of abuse and abandonment I developed crazy eating patterns. As an adult I understand both my mother's behavior and somewhat my father's. I have successfully overcome depression and anxiety attacks, but now I want to explore the emotional world of my eating patterns and come up with effective strategies for my weight loss. There is an irrational part of my upbringing that I think affects how I eat.

I am one of the fastest eaters I know. I am also subject to binges. There are times when I'm not even thinking about it. 

It is time that I understand the irrational part my motivations. It is time that I bring it to awareness explore the feelings the negative and irrational ideas behind it. Like the lies of depression there are distortions in irrational eating. Bringing them to awareness and understanding them will also give me basic understanding into what strategies I use to put the anxiety of it to bed. To live life in my 60s free from the crazy world of emotional eating is a good goal. 

I am reading for first time Cognitive Behavior Workbook for Weight Management and Love Hunger an older work. I will also be looking into other works that I have read.

I'm going to keep a notebook jotting feelings, what I'm thinking, times when I binge eat or say no and how do I feel about that. Are there feelings of anxiety. Can I bring into awareness feelings and thoughts that I'm not sure. What are the lies that I'm dealing with? And what is the truth then I need to replace it with. 

When I was dealing with lies of depression, each one had a truth to counter it. I developed an anxiety about lying down my bed was like laying down in a coffin. The anxiety was intense and could not be ignored. The truth was lying down did not mean death. I had to both distract and replace the intense negative feelings with positive activities like listening to music, praying for my friends and family, reading, I chose detective novels. The anxiety loss its energy and soon I found the bed a friendly confine again. There were other strategies to make the bedroom more friendly. The results were wonderful.

I am just beginning to look at my emotional eating. The crazy thing is it is irrational. I am convinced that comes from the twisted world of abuse and betrayal. It is not about blaming my parents. It is about choosing not living emotionally from the past and taking ownership of today and the future. Will it unlock a better weight loss, will see.

It is not easy to tell you the weak links in my mental health. I think it's okay if you think it's crazy. I actually think it is to. 

I am 63 and I am free from depression. The anxiety attacks around my sleep disorder have put the rest. It was absolutely worth the effort to do so. Today I know 25% of people who are 63 are clinically depressed. I share my own mental battles to encourage others to get the help they need so that their senior years can't be free the "black dog". Now I'm looking at my eating, keep walking.

Surviving the beach and summer

Had sun screen, in my Caribbean
swimsuit

I am an old guy. Sometimes that is very liberating. Through the years I am spent easilyat least a year enjoying being in the sun by a body of water or on a tennis court. I did not always listen to mother Sarah who told me to be aware of the intensities of the sun by the ocean. But I did learn a few things. 

The Coppertone tan looks good when we are young. But that tan will show up when we are older like a bad tattoo. 

I read an article about want to do if you forget your sunscreen. The article was about caring for a burn. I'm sure many of you remember putting Noxzema on. Here is the old man's solution too when you forget your sunscreen.

I would rather prevent heart attack then have one. I'm down the road I may not have a choice but at least that's my working philosophy.

I would rather prevent sunburn then get sunburned. So if I forget my sunscreen which is only a partial solution and I I'm at the beach here are a few ideas to think about:

At the beach I usually bring my own sun shelter, an umbrella or one of the creative portable

Her suit looks better, but the burn is not
worth it, have options

shelters you can use. I also bring a towel which I can use for cover. A sun shirt,  a wide brim hat that I can even wear in the water. If you forget your sunscreen enjoy the day in a shirt, under an umbrella, hat and even light pants. If you are going to the water on hot day these sun items will dry out in no time. They will also keep you cool. When my shirt dries it is time for me to go back in the water.

Now I realize all these wonderful sun coverings keep everybody at the beach happy when I'm there. Nobody really wants to see a whale sunbathing anyway. Now you might look better in a swimsuit and I get it, it's all part of the beach. But a sunburn doesn't look good. And all layers of protection that I'm talking about still lets in the sunlight. Bringing covering gives you options. In the heat of the day, 10-4 you can use these coverings to help you enjoy the beach with no negative outcomes. The beach on the ocean is really a desert. Controlling the amount of sun that you have will help keep it healthy and when you're all like me your skin will be beautiful. I can't do nothing about that stupid tattoo, keep walking

God's protection can come from some unexpected sources.

Protection comes in different ways

God's protection can come from some unexpected sources. Sometimes it takes true grit.

Psalms 121 is a great song of protection. As the Old Testament Jews walked up to Jerusalem from Jericho they would recite this song. This road could be dangerous as there were robbers looking for people to assault and rob. The story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10: 25-37 gives us a great backdrop to this Psalm. The Good Samaritan story happens on this road. The trail takes you through part of the wilderness which criminals could hide. The victim Jesus is parable was traveling down to Jericho. 

We may from time to time find ourselves or our loved ones on our own Jericho Road. Protection we often take for granted. God provides protection in ways we can’t foresee. 

I am reminded in True Grit how the young girl, Mattie saw old Rooster Cogburn as His instrument to help her. The old Marshall wasn't so sure. 

“1 I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Keep walking