Did anyone happen to watch Oprah today? Very interesting-children obesity. Had a doctor suggesting that a major cause of it is the lack of emotional support from the parents. That the child is rebelling for this lack of support/connection. I think and remember that food was my afternoon buddy when I came home from school. Mind you I am not blaming my mother because as a mom myself I can see and understand that she did the absolute best-she really never had a mother image herself so she did a great job. But I can relate with those kids who use food as a comfort but do agree that the emotional support is a very important factor. Not to feed the feelings but understand them--according to Oprah. I appreciated the program and would hope that alot of parents got to watch it so that they may help their children. Both my boys are the opposite-skinny poles who don't stop moving but you know, I know that I could spend more time with them and see where they are coming from. When I allow myself to "feel" this guilt I can see that I have turned to food to relieve the discomfort. I can only imagine how these kids must feel. Going through my own small (compared to most) weight gain has given me ALOT of sympathy for the overweight as well as the drug addict and alcoholic. The disease is their but it just not the obvious although that is a major contributor. No one put the gun to the head but the inner discomfort is enough like a gun.
I thank you all for letting me ramble, I suppose letting go of the thoughts is a good healing instrument.

"Knowledge is power" Oprah Winfrey

I suppose there were no replies because you said it all! Thanks for the reminder and the uplift!

I guess my question will all of that is where do kids learn to turn to food for comfort? We're not born eating to comfort anything but our physical hunger.
I see an awful lot of parents comforting their kids with food. Things like, "Oh, honey...you skinned your knee. Here...have a cookie and you'll fee better." or "Gosh, it's a shame that you bombed that test that you studied so hard for. Let's go out for pizza and ice cream and you'll feel better. ". Kids are even given that message through the media: "Drink this sugary soda or eat this sugar-packed cereal and you'll feel great and have tons of energy".
I also see sugary treats used an awful lot as rewards for good behavior. My kids' school does this and it drives me nutty. Every Friday afternoon, the kids who have behaved well during the week (not gone past a certain color with turning cards) get to go to a "success is sweet" party where they watch a movie and get to eat junk food like cookies, chips and candy.
I agree that we need to work more on helping our kids identify and work through emotions without eating and I'm sure there's a lot of parents who could and should spend more time with their kids, but it's an uphill battle with all the messages they are getting from everywhere else.

You hit that one right on the head! I often joke that I inherited my grandmother's "sweet tooth", but the truth is that sweets were always something that took on a meaning far beyond something to eat. Those associations stayed with me all my life. We all know how those well-intended lessons have to be unlearned as adults...it ain't easy!

Well talk about using food to feel better......started my Induction today and half way through the morning I caught a glimpse of myself in a patient's mirror and the first thought was "how horrible do you look" followed by "oh just don't do this now, wait until the new year, what the heck it's only 6 weeks away." Oh boy, it took alot of self talking out of that one. Went into "what good is that going to do?" "Is that how you are going to deal with feeling uncomfortable?"

Put as of right now I have not turned back from my decision and now that I will make it through this first day.

Feeling tired but now that in a few days I will start to feel better, besides I have to post here and straight on the right path. Oh I have a question. Do you feel like your mental abililty is on slow motion right about now?

Thanks to all,
Lynn

Power is knowledge