Discussion Board

Hello,

About 8 years ago I lost ~100 pounds on McDougall and felt great. Unfortunately, a job change brought on tremendous stress (which resulted in tremendous weight gain -- 90 pounds back on).

I've been trying to return to McDougall for 2 years. I feel like some alcoholic that, having left AA, is having a devil of a time getting sober once again.

My issue is not the nuts and bolts of McDougalling -- I'm well aware, from my own experience, that I feel a thousand times better when eating this way. My issue is that I tend to turn to food in times of extreme emotional distress. I can't be the only one for whom this challenge isn't 'just' about getting away from the habituated SAD eating.

I was wondering if there were any support boards here for support of emotional/mental distress eating. I am not going to go to Weight Watchers -- making the issue about food and points and weighing, etc. I guess I could try Overeaters Anonymous, but I was thinking it'd be more supportive to be among peers of like-mindedness with regard to what defines healthful eating.

Thanks.

I definitely fall into the category you are speaking of and can relate to the issues you are having. The support on this board in general is incredible when you jump in and start getting to know people. It seems like even a thread (like this) devoted to the topic would be good support. The journals have made me more accountable and I have found them to be motivating because many people jump in and keep up with me and my progress and they leave messages that are positive and encouraging. I also find that reading the success of others is a huge support. At times, it is nice just to have a place to vent with people that understand, a place to share success with people that will cheer you on, and a place to get a little push or shove in the right direction if it is needed.

We cannot avoid those events that cause stress. They are all around us and we either let them dictate our behaviour or not. For stress relief their are many time tested methods to help. Meditation is a common treatment, as well as yoga or one of the martial arts.
Ultimately, if your food choices and habits are made well in advance, and are healthy choices it is much easier to stay on program. We have to deal with the stresses of life in a healthy way like the choices we make about food.
f1jim

Hi... I am definitely an emotional eater and can see that a support group for overeaters would be good. Count me in for at least occasional support... maybe more. And please always feel free to PM me, if you're needing to process an issue that is pushing you to eat.

I understand the concern about OA. There can be very strong sentiment against carbohydrates there... But you might be able to find a sponsor or group that is supportive of the whole-food vegan lifestyle. I'd give it a try, at least. Who knows? Maybe there is a phone group (OA) specifically for vegans! (Something to look into...)

One good thing: it's basically impossible to overeat broccoli, carrots, and other colored veggies... So, maybe they could be "go to" foods for you when you're stressed. Teas are good, as well... chamomile is calming... so is peppermint...

Okay, you're on your journey. You're not perfect. You're learning and growing, and if you just keep putting one foot in front of the other, you WILL get to where you're going. Lots of people "relapse" (in a variety of addictive situations), and the experience can actually be a part of recovery.

All that said, John Allen Mollenhauer, an amazing trainer and entrepreneur who brought me to Dr. McD, once told me something that I found so freeing. He said, basically, that there's nothing wrong with eating for emotional reasons. Don't attempt heroics if you're really upset or stressed, other coping strategies aren't working, and you really, really want to eat. Just eat highly-nutritious whole food! Maybe you won't lose as fast as you would have, otherwise, but at least you won't totally sabotage yourself....

It's amazing what a little potato can do for the soul... it's such a serotonin booster!

Big Hugs,
Michelle

Debi and Michelle - thanks very much for your responses. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who recognizes this issue. Michelle, your point about eating when you just really need to, when all coping skills have been tried, really resonated with me. In fact, I sort of did this the first time I tried McD. If I was about to sugar binge, I chose the lesser of the two "evils" - I ate a bunch of fruit (as opposed to bingeing on refined sugary candy items). This really helps me put it in perspective: I can only do my best and making it 100% black and white (either 100% McD or its bingeing/purging) isn't helpful. So thanks very much again - I'm grateful and relieved to know that I'm not alone.

f1jim: Yes, I'm well aware that everyone has stress. Unfortunately, some people have experienced stress beyond the ability to address the source (thinking of the extreme, PTSD, might be helpful). When this happens, the brain, sensing that it is nearing overwhelm, switches to another system of support/defense: the limbic system. (If this switch over into "emergency systems" happens enough times, it creates a neuropathway - the brain becomes "wired" to this response). This system is also known as the "emotional brain" system and it's more concerned with survival; higher reasoning doesn't come into play.

So, when people like myself hit a certain level of stress the thinking brain gets hijacked by survival brain. All the mind-over-matter determination in the world doesn't matter at this point. This isn't about will power or character. Any organism, given enough stress, will decompensate. The trick, then, is for individuals with this kind of wiring to get support (which is why I posted under Support Groups) and learn techniques that help bring back in the higher reasoning and, perhaps, mitigate "hijacking effects". Hope that helps...

-Dylan

I am new to the McDougall diet, and I am gaining weight. I have problems with overeating/binging, especially when sweets are involved. I am also a recovered alcoholic and the sweet cravings, particularly chocolate arrived about eight years ago with my sobriety. I lost 160lbs about 8 years ago, have been vegan for 1 year and McDougalling for about 2 months, with the exception of the occational binge which I don't seem to be able to avoid. I have put on 30lbs over the last year, 10 in the last month. I feel so lost, is there any solution for this kind of eating disorder?

I've found the following article from the January 2005 Newsletter to be very useful. I, too, have been a binge eater, but by following the MWL program - in the manner described in this article - I can still have the occasional binge and keep my weight down. Calorie density is what's important. The 'binge eater program' is a bit like Eat to Live without the nuts - eat lots of raw salad and cooked vegetables, bean soup and THEN eat your starch when you're almost full so that you don't overeat on the most calorie dense foods. The link to the newsletter is:

http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2005nl/ ... ushing.htm

You may also want to search Jeff's forum for articles explaining calorie density or check out some of his DVD's on the subject.
Kate

Thank you Cathy! I need to do better meal planning, I work such long hours, I have a very hard time preparing one entre, let alone salad, veggies, and soup. Your story is inspiring, please keep in touch.

I don't keep things I shouldn't have in the house. The things I do have here to eat, I allow myself to eat as much as I want any time I want something. It's funny but even when I feel like I'm going to binge- I get tired of eating and quit way before I've eaten enough to be called anything more than a meal.

Down 13 pounds this month.

I have binge eating disorder. I lost 40 pounds MCDougalling, then gained it all back and more. This time around I'm getting a huge amount of help from Overeaters Anonymous. My sponsor has been totally supportive of my WOE, although it is different from his. There's also an OA-related web site called therecoverygroup.org that hosts a lot of different email groups -- I don't know whether there is one for vegans, but that would be a place to look.

When a binge comes it really doesn't matter what is in the house. I will eat 5 lbs of carrots if that's all there is. I am having more success with MWL and am only about 15lbs from where I would like to be.

One issue is my husband not being on board with the program. So I find myself having to cook the more complicated types of food to keep him satisfied which is also the kind of stuff I can binge on.

Example last night I made lentil and kale soup with a side of fat free cornbread. He enjoyed it but later ate cheese and crackers in front of me because "a couple cups of beans" wasn't going to do it for him. I ate 2 extra pieces of cornbread out of anger/guilt who knows. Tonight I'm making an Enchilada Casserole, I am going to have to include lots of veggie sides and that is where I fall flat. It is hard to make enough sides when I work so many jobs.

Ramona, why is it your job to do all the cooking for your husband? Especially when you are working so much, it doesn't make sense to me that you are responsible for making the "more complicated types of food."

My hubby has agreed to keep his SAD treats out of my sight. Funny, but if I don't have to see the temptations every time I go to the kitchen, it's much easier to not be tempted.

So for cheese, hubby keeps it in a non-see-through container in the fridge meat drawer. Crackers and chips go in a snack drawer or if possible one of hubby's secret places. I also don't make complicated food. If I can't steam it or slow-cook it, it usually doesn't happen.

I'm often able to provide steamed sides for hubby and add a simple meat dish for him--something like baked chicken reheated. One large chicken cooked once can make at least 4-5 more easy meals. Make different toppings for the already cooked meat and you have variety for him. Make your veggie/starch sides things you can eat and your meal happens easily.

Thanks for the suggestions Jellen. We usually don't keep snacks in the house, and he does try to keep them out of sight. I don't really miss cheese, but have noticed that the longer I've been without dairy the worse it smells.

As for my doing all the cooking, I'm a better cook. Hubby will make a pot of beans or split pea soup if he's home and knows I will have an extra long day, but that is about all he is comfortable making that is McDougall friendly.

After 37 years of marriage he has been through the ringer of my dragging him through fad diets, the phrase "what are you eating this week" has been heard more than I can count. It's hard for him to think of this change as anything but a "new diet" even though I have been an herbivore for a couple of years now. And yes every once in a while I feel the need to make more rich meals to keep his carnivorous self satisfied. I do the same when I have company.

That said, cooking for two when one is a fat free herbivore and the other a staunch meat eater can really test ones patience.

I can really relate to you and your husband's dilemma. I have tried about 6 or 8 different diets from Atkins to Weight Watchers to Vegan, back to Atkins, back to Vegan and on and on. Part of the problem for me is cooking two different types of meals as you said. Some people have suggested just cooking the non-McDougaller meat and vegetables and then just eating the vegetables yourself. That works at home, but my husband likes to go out to eat at least once a week or more and many times the only thing I can eat on the menu is the salad and usually without dressing if they don't have a fat-free salad dressing. It just deoesn't seem fair that he gets to chow down on a huge meal and I am just sitting there picking at a little side salad. It is all I can do to not fall to the temptation to eat meat or other unhealthy food.