I got bad news this morning, my cousin died and not only was it a shock but I just talked to her Tuesday and she seemed fine!

Usually bad news like this makes me become an emotional eater! Even though I had the surgery, I've been fighting all day to not have a bunch of food sitting in front of me and going to town...knowing I would get sick.

I had to ask my husband to come home from work early! That's what saved me from drowning my emotions into food!  Talking and focusing on something else is the best way to deal with situations like this!

So for all those emotional eaters like me, please talk to someone or try to keep busy...which is hard to do also, because sometimes you just want to sit and stare out into nowhere!

I am soooo sorry to hear that!  Stay strong and know that emotional eating comes from trying to numb the pain we feel by using food.  I have been reading this book Women, Food and God and it is so profound.  It help me understand by numbing my feelings with food I was thereby creating a bigger problem.

So, if I may make a suggestion.  Go ahead and allow yourself to feel the pain and mourn the loss of your cousin whom you appeared to be close to and with it being unexpected that's even worse.  By allowing yourself the time to mourn and feel what hurts the most, you will thereby create the space to one day enjoy the time you had on earth with her and appreciate that.....  know that you are loved and valued....  and in many ways the bond you and your cousin share still exist... it's just in a different capacity and I can almost bet that she wouldn't want you to drown your sorrows in food, because she knows what you went through to have the surgery.  So make her proud and take care of yourself.

Evelyn

Just reading what you posted and I'm getting emotional all over again! You're right she wouldn't have wanted me to drown my sorrows in food.  We both actually got out the hospital the same day July 15th and the first thing she wanted to do was come see me in the hospital but I went home that day.  So she came with the rest of the family to see me three days later.  She couldn't even walk up the stairs by herself without help from my mother and her sister...and that alone caused me to cry because she was willing to come see me.

I'm so sorry for your loss...

I do understand your reaction; I eat emotionally too.  Great job avoiding the getting sick and finding a way to work through it a bit.

I'm sorry about your loss.  I too understand emotional eating but as the days go by I learn that I'm not as addicted to food as I once was.  I've conquered food and so will you.  Stay strong my friend.

I'm so sorry about your cousin.  I understand about emotional eating only too well.  I find that when I'm stressed I NEED somthing that crunches.  I keep celery on hand.  It's nice and cruncy and by the time I've had 2 or 3 stalks, I'm too full to want anything else.

I think most of us are emotional eaters--I know I am!  I admire how you are dealing with it though

I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin. It's always sad to lose someone you love and YES, I think most of us are emotional eaters. You did a great job by pushing the food away!

Wynter

Thanks evryone for your condolesences and support! And yes I'm handling my eating very well, trying not to overeat or depend on food to help me through this!

 so sad to hear about your loss but your cousin showed you that you can overcome something so terrible and stay focused enough and learn that lesson.  I am sure she is watching down on you smiling.  I  was just reading tonight about  things you can do to keep busy and one is to read a book, go for a walk, learn to sew or knit...etc...get a hobby.  I too need to remember my advice because i am an emotional eater also.  thanks for sharing your story and sorry for your loss.