My dog passed today - emotional eating question (at the end)

I am so sorry you have lost your wonderful friend. One thing about dogs, they love you no matter what, and never hold grudges. It's a perfect kind of love. 

I'm so sorry for the loss of your furry baby. For many people our "pets" really are lived members of the family, I completely understand your loss and grief. Like another poster said, they love us unconditionally, in my opinion. I am confident your sweet doggy was just thrilled to be with you and have your love, regardless of walks, runs, or sitting getting hugs. 

Your questions are thought provoking. Some of the very things I have been mulling over in recent days. I am still pre-op and trying to get a handle on as much of this as I can in advance. I am really trying to learn, for the firsts time in 43 years, to listen to my body. I find I will simply eat more than I should because it just tastes good. What type if hunger is this?  How do I change this thought process?  All something to continue to explore, for sure. 

Best wishes and hugs to you. 

I am so very sorry for your loss. I understand all too well the loss of a beloved pet.

Your questions deserve a detailed answer and one I'm sure will have different answers depending upon who chooses to answer them. I believe that "head hunger" encompasses a lot of different types of hunger, all of which are forms of emotional hunger. So, no I don't believe "head hunger" is the result of emotional eating, but that emotional eating is the result of "head hunger".

You have years of "bad habits" to overcome and it doesn't happen over night. The truth is that your biochemistry also makes you want to eat those things you want to eat. It's the insulin cycle often that causes the up and down of energy and cravings for specific (generally carb laden) foods. Chicken, rice and veggies won't give your body the fat-carb-sugar combination that pizza will in the same fast delivery system.

So you may have some emotional issues that start you eating, but pretty soon your biochemistry kicks in to keep you eating.

I used to think that to get to 200, 300, 400 pounds or more meant that one had to have some major emotional issues around food. (And I still do believe that many of us do have messed up emotional relationships with food, but I also know there's more to it than just that.) We are brought up to believe that we the obese are gluttonous and lazy and simply eating less and exercising more will get us where we need to be. Not so simple. You know that. I know that.

While it is very important to know what triggers you to eat (and I believe boredom, sadness, eating for entertainment or to celebrate or wanting pizza and not healthy foods are all types of emotional eating caused by a type of trigger - at least for me), it's also very important to break the cycle of the bad eating whatever your understanding of your eating is. Your VSG will give you the opportunity to change your eating habits and therefore change your body chemistry and by doing so you will give you a fighting chance to create a healthy life for yourself (and maybe another wonderful 4 legged companion when you're ready).

Hope you are remembering the wonderful times with your girl. Bless you for being her loving person. Grieve well.

Thanks Karik,

I'm not sure if biochemistry makes matters easier or harder to tackle, but I like what you said.

I'm not a smoker, but for comparison I imagine what I'm feeling is like reaching for a smoke out of habit, or at particular setting(s) (vs a particular mood). It's now chemistry/habit/addiction and difficult - more than "2 weeks makes a habit" - to break.

I am so very sorry for your loss.  My husband & I were talking about our dogs that have passed on last night; I had a brittany spaniel mix named Chancy for 13 years that passed away over 5 years ago & I still miss her so much to this day.  Thankfully we continued to rescue strays & purchased a dachshund as well so I still have unconditional dog love in my life.  It's also a blessing that my husband loves animals too.  Pets never see people as being fat & just love unconditionally.  I know your heart is hurting but keep it open for another pet to love & as you discussed exercise with. 

As for the emotional eating I ate when I was anxious or bored & have realized that most of my weight gain was attributed to this; grabbing a bag of chips, eating the same foods as my skinny people, drinking soft drinks & sweet-tea...I was just really fat & unhealthy.  Most of my snacking was done at night in front of the tv...now when I want to snack I'll make a protein shake, or eat a few almonds, mini carrot sticks, quaker popped mini rice cakes-just a few, or raw sugar snap peas.  I just have to make better snacking & eating choices for life...now that I feel better I stay more active around our house so I don't get bored during the day anymore.  Good luck with everything & your on the right path addressing the problem.  Again I'm very very sorry for your loss.

Thanks for sharing. It's awesome you foster dogs. I hope to make the change from unhealthy choices to what you mentioned. I couldn't get to take before VSG, nervous than I can now.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I was a basket case after my dog passed.  

I am sorry that your dog passed away.One thing I will tell you your dog wasn't mad at you for being obese.They love you no matter what. I am sure you took care of her and loved her to.

im so very sorry about your fur baby.. it's so hard to lose a beloved pet.  Your questions I am not qualified to answer because I am just starting my journey. But It does provoke me thinking because I know I am an emotional eater. It's a comfort thing I am sure, but honestly my life is good outside of the weight issue now, so Why am I still looking for comfort in food? Head hunger is what scares me the most about after the surgery.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. 

A friend asked if it was weird around the house w/o the dog. I said, actually not as much as I thought. It helped me see that it was time for her to go. She no longer greeted me or barked at door bells or chased the cat. 

Good luck to all of us with our eating issues. If not understanding or winning, at least managing our challenges and temptations.