Food, Feelings and Marriage

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Food, Feelings and Marriage
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Food

• Food Philosophy
• Non-Diet/Intuitive eating Approach (Diets Dont
  Work!!)
• Today, the 50 billion dollar diet industry
  profits from those who are afraid of being
  rejected because they appear different from the
  approved images. (Eberly, 2004)
• There is no such thing as a good food or bad food
• Balance over time - is key
• Food is fuel, medicine not an enemy
• No weighing or talking about numbers, calories or
  fat grams
• Mindful Eating

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Food

• MINDFUL EATERS are nonjudgmental, compassionate
  and above all aware of the taste, texture and
  process of eating. They check in with their
  bodies, thoughts and feelings to gauge whether
  they are hungry or full. Their diet is one of
  moderation and balance.
• MINDLESS EATERS are stuck in a repetitive cycle
  of what, where, and how much they eat. They are
  inflexible and rigid in their habits and cut off
  from hunger and fullness cues. Their habits
  include any kind of extremes, inflexible
  routines, or eating while zoned out.
• www.nationaleatingdisorders.org NEDA

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Food Feelings
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Food Feelings
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Food Feelings

• When eating becomes disordered, something is
  going on emotionally that is not getting
  resolved.
• Learn what the mood or feeling is so you can
  focus on resolving it instead of resorting to
  destructive food behaviors.

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Food and Feelings

• Emotional issues
• Black and white thinking
• Inferiority/insecurity
• Intimacy issues/Avoids Relationships
• Isolation
• Perfectionism/obsessive thinking
• Loss of direction/purpose
• Fear
• Self-centeredness
• Self-loathing

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Food Feelings

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge-Eating Disorder or Compulsive Eating
• EDNOS
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder

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Food Feelings

• Serious Distress Signals
• When someone
• Fasts or severely restricts food intake
• Hides or sneaks food
• Spends excessive time in the bathroom after meals
• Vomits, takes laxatives, diet pills or other
  medications to lose weight
• Has lost a significant amount of weight
• Is tired and depressed
• Cant concentrate
• Has irregular periods, swollen glands or joints,
  broken blood vessels or bloodshot eyes.
• Wears layers of clothes even in warm weather
• Faints or passes out

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Food Feelings

• 70 million with eating disorders worldwide
• 480,000 die each year from complications
• 1 out of 2 Americans diet 34 million are
  chronic dieters
• 81 of 10-year-olds afraid of getting fat
• Many seniors (65) struggle with eating disorders
  
• Normal weight women feel fat
• 60 of ballerinas/athletes whose field requires
  leanness practice disordered eating
• 20 of college women have ED
• 50 of disordered eaters are over 30

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Food, Feelings Marriage

• Eating disorders may develop if a person has no
  other way to speak or represent feelings.
• Frequently family dynamics, problematic
  communication patterns, losses, or stresses like
  abuse have contributed to negative feelings the
  person could not deal with directly.
• It is never a simple matter that can be solved by
  just telling the person to eat.
• The symptoms have become the individuals way to
  avoid facing problems more directly or are an
  attempt to feel in control when the rest of life
  feels out of control.

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Food, Feelings Marriage

• Society standards cannot harm you unless you buy
  into them People with extreme standards for how
  they should look are vulnerable to shame,
  anxiety, and depression.
• If you focus on a trait you think you are
  lacking, you will experience distress when you
  are in situations that trigger these feelings of
  inadequacy.

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Food, Feelings Marriage

• It is important to remember that every body is
  different.
• We all have different genetics.
• Even if everyone started eating the same things
  and did the same amount of exercise for a whole
  year, we would not all look the same at the end
  of the year.
• This is because each persons genetics influence
  their bone structure, body size, shape, and
  weight differently.
• www.nationaleatingdisorders.org NEDA

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Food, Feelings Marriage

• Eating Disorders Negative Body Image "Eat Up"
  Relationships
• Seeing someone you love damage her or his body is
  stressful.
• Often, parents, spouses, and others begin to
  become intrusive in their efforts regarding food
  and exercise.
• Soon, the individual may see these loved ones as
  enemies trying to control her or him rather than
  help.

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Food, Feelings Marriage

• Feed Your Relationship by Getting Help
• EDs usually dont go away by themselves.
• Disordered eaters often fear getting help because
  it could be seen as a sign of weakness.
• Loved ones can help break through that by being
  open to getting help themselves and by examining
  how they or other family relationships or issues
  may have contributed.
• The whole family needs to be involved in
  treatment. This challenge needs to be shared.

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Food, Feelings Marriage

• FACT Your "ideal" body weight is the weight that
  allows you to feel strong and energetic and lets
  you lead a healthy, normal life. (Dont focus on
  the number!!)
• FACT When your body is healthy and at its ideal
  body weight, you are not too tired, too easily
  frustrated, too anxious or angry, and you have
  the energy to talk to your friends, participate
  in sports, and concentrate on school or work.
• FACT When searching for your ideal weight, dont
  rely on charts, formulas, and tables to dictate
  whats right for you. Instead, eat balanced meals
  full of nutritious foods and enjoy regular,
  moderate exercise.
• FACT Avoid comparing your body or your partners
  body with your friends bodies or the people you
  see in advertisements or on your favorite TV
  shows. If you do start to compare yourself to
  others, try to remember that we are all naturally
  different which means we all have special
  qualities about us.

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Food, Feelings Marriage

• Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is
  right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
  whatever is admirable if anything is excellent
  or praiseworthy think about such things.
  Philippians 48 (NIV)
• But God told Samuel, Looks arent everything. God
  judges persons differently than humans do. Men
  and women look at the face God looks into the
  heart. 1 Samuel 167 (MSG)
• Resources
• www.centerfordiscovery.com
• www.findingbalance.com
• www.gurze.com
• www.intuitiveeating.com
• www.nationaleatingdisorders.com
• www.remudaranch.com