When food is no longer a coping mechanism.

[ChaosUnlimited 559]

1 hour ago, Minnesota Redhead said:

I feel this too. Must be after the year I've had of losing weight that the newness wears off and you realize that this is what life will be like. I find myself a bit bored and trying to find things to fill my time.

For me, it was also giving up the alcohol. I used to love to come home on a Friday night and have my husband make me a Cosmo (or two or three) at our bar. Or to invite over a bunch of people for appetizers and wine. food and alcohol were so much a part of my social identity. I was the entertainer, I was the great cook, I always had the stocked bar.

But now I am able to breathe, and I can walk and garden and do so many other things that I hadn't been able to for so long. My health has returned and I am no longer diabetic. So yes, no regrets. But I get what you are saying about the lack of coping mechanisms...and for me it is also a lack of social outings that don't involve food or alcohol.

Yes, socially it is hard! Friends ALWAYS want to go out to eat, or drink, or go to who-evers house for brunch. I'm trying to change the mindset to getting together for a walk or going to a gym class, but so far no buyers for those things. I've done a few pedicures with friends, but you can only go for so many pedis in a month before you break the bank!

Going out to eat isn't the same anymore either. I can usually find something on the menu, but it seems like a big waste of money since I won't eat all of it. And then the wait staff are always questioning if something is wrong with my meal because I haven't devoured it, lol.

[Losebig 508]

Defiitely agree. I’ve had some of the foods that used to be awesome (my glazed donut) and they just don’’’t have the same effect. They’r not worth eating and whatever they used to give me before they don’t give me now. That’s great from a eating well perspective, its bad from a coping perspective because even little amounts of those foods aren’t interesting anymore. Definitely a change. I’m hoping for an exercise addiction.