a nutritionist and an overeating problem

I am an emotional overeater and I just can't stop it. I have found out about a great nutrionist and she wants me to start. 

since the reason is emotional and since I know everything about healthy eating and all but I don't follow it, do you think going to a nutritionist will be a good idea? will it worth the money? it is not covered by my insurance.

I've never been to a nutritionist so I can't really tell you, not to even mention every nutritionist is different.

So if you know all about healthy eating and problem is the emotional eating, then you should visit a therapist rather than nutritionist? Or if you think your nutritionist can guide you through dealing with emotions while keeping you in check with food intake, it should be fine.

Best of luck

Well I think what it comes down to is do you think you would be able to do this on your own? If not, then you should seek the nutritionist. I had one (also not covered by my insurance) during my anorexia recovery and she made me meal plans and it made me feel accountable because I had to bring in my plans to her so that she could keep me on track weekly. If you find that someone pushing you along might help, then I would say go for it. It helped me tons.

The nutrionist can provide you accountability and support.  It depends on what type you are seeing and how they will interact with you, and you with them.  If you will have regular meetings and check ins, it is a great way to stay accountable.  If they have realistic and healthy expectations, then that is great.  If they want you to eat lean chicken and brocolli for the rest of your life, or only want to meet once every 6 months, then it seems like a waste.

If you might not be truthful with them, because of shame, not wanting to dissapoint, whatever- then get a therapist instead. 

Feel yourself out, and feel the nutrionist out because it could definately be benificial.  They may also be able to recommend food to help with emotions, such as cutting out sugar or caffine. 

 

thanks for the inputs. My point is I know EVERYTHING about healthy food and what to eat what to avoid. I just eat junk food because I know it IS junk. :(

it will cost me $300 to give me my meal plan. then $150 every time I see her.

Money is not a big issue but I am wondering if a nutrionist will help me with my emotional overeating? she doesn't want to talk to me . she requested I pay for the first visit then we can talk after that.

Anyone has similar experience?? thoughts??I am confused.

Hi,

You sound like you are having serious doubts about whether or not she can help you. This is just the experience and opinion of a fellow emotional eater, but I don't think a nutritionist is going to help you with your emotional eating. You either need to see a therapist, or work on ways to deal with your emotional eating by doing research into ways that can help you cope. Basically, your plan has to address your emotional/mental needs. One of the things that I found repeatedly in my research is that emotional eaters must have an action plan to deal with various situations as an alternative to eating. For me, I have different action plans to deal with work stress, family stress, boredom, etc. You have to train your mind to follow these alternatives so that they become habits. It is not easy, but it gets easier over time as does any new habit. My action plan for example for job stress  is:

1) breathe deeply. allow myself to FULLY feel whatever the emotion is - anger, frustration, etc. Then release it . here is a link for a method that I use. I Did not purchase the kit, but just using the sample process has helped me alot. http://www.sedona.com/html/Sample-Of-Process. aspx it gets to the root of the problem with emotional eaters, which is, we don't want to allow ourselves to feel bad, so we eat instead, hoping it will keep us from feeling bad or make us feel better, but it doesn't - the emotions just don't go away and we can't seem to let them go

2) get up from my desk. Go get water go to the bathroom, walk down the hall

3) talk to someone - I text or call my husband. If I can't reach him, I talk to someone else ( someone who will just listen and give a hug if needed) who is available

4) put my earphones on and listen to some soothing music - jazz, etc

5) write in my journal. I have a small journal that I keep in my purse.

6) I repeat the steps above until I start to feel better and the urge to emotionally eat goes away. Sometimes I have to do all of these steps several times,  and other times I feel better just after doing step one.

You have to tweak your plan until you find what works best for you.

depending on how deep your emotional issues run, you may need to see a therapist regularly- only you can decide that, but be honest with yourself....the only way to get better is to deal with your emotions.

I knew all about nutrition too, but that did not help me. Now that I am dealing with my emotions, I can more easily follow a healthy eating and exercise plan.

Counting calories gives me structure, it gives me boundaries, which helps me as an emotional eater. Beware: it is easy to become obsessive, so I don't weigh food or count carbs or grams. If you get to obsessive about it, it will become an emotional issue that will sabotage all of your efforts. I will sometimes measure food out so that  I can get an idea of what the serving should look like.  Everyone has a different view about this, but I don't  deny myself any particular food. What I found was that if I denied myself something that I really like, it was the first thing that I would go to when I had the urge to eat emotionally. I do still eat those foods in moderation in order to maintain a healthy eating plan though. I keep a daily food journal (I use the online one on this site) and I started a small group (4 people) on this site that helps me. I eat at scheduled times (when you have regularly scheduled snacks and meals, it helps with emotional eating). When you go too long without eating or don't know what you are going to eat, you are more likely to succumb to emotional eating).

I take it one day at a time, one emotion at a time.

please feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk more.

Hi,

 

I loved your response to the post. I too am an emotional eater and have just discovered calorie count a week ago. I agree that counting calories gives me a very clear boundary (so far). I also found this site very helpful in giving me part of the solution... having a plan of eating for the day. I liked all of your suggestions as well. Thanks!

Hi,

 

I loved your response to the post. I too am an emotional eater and have just discovered calorie count a week ago. I agree that counting calories gives me a very clear boundary (so far). I also found this site very helpful in giving me part of the solution... having a plan of eating for the day. I liked all of your suggestions as well. Thanks!

Hi Safina,

As we've talked before, I have the same problem.  I also thought about working with a nutritionist but it was just too expensive - about the same that you say.  I just can't afford that right now.  However, I have been going to a new therapist since February and I think its finally starting to click.  She also recommended some books to me, which have been helping.  I also got a book on depression.  Its going to take time and you're not going to feel better overnight.  I have to fight everyday, but each day it gets easier.  Of course there are those days when you want to throw in the towel but like some of the other posters said, you just need to distract yourself for like 20mins - the urges to overeat do pass.  I find it really helpful to have someone to call or I have some people that I communicate with that I found on this site and I just type them an email about whats going on.  It really helps.  I know it may seem helpless right now, but you just have to take it one day at time.  Forget tomorrow and don't worry about yesterday - trust me, each day does get better. 

What I meant to say was, I think you're better off with a therapist.  Find one that you like and that maybe has some experience in this sort of thing.

Is it possible that you can be depressed?  Maybe you can try drug therapy for that.  I also started that just recently, but it will take a few months to see if it helps.