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Sorting Out The "hungers" And Fibro Is Kicking My You-Know-What...

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Caribear

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Isn't it funny how our brain can cause us to think we feel things when we really don't? One of the hardest things I have been dealing with is trying to sort out when I am actually hungry and when I am not. Someone without food issues would probably think that this sounds really easy, but for someone like me who is trying to untangle food and emotions, it is far from simple.

 

For years I thought that whenever my stomach felt uncomfortable, it was hunger and I should eat. It has only been within the past few months that it has really sunken in that 1) not every feeling is hunger, and 2) even if it is hunger, it's okay to feel it. Funny how it has become such an alien concept that I don't have to run to the kitchen and fix something to eat every time I am hungry. My therapist has been trying to tell me this for several years now, poor thing, and as hard as she tried to tell me I just couldn't internalize it. I'm not sure what it was that really made it sink in, but now I finally get it. Sometimes my stomach feels "hungry" because I am bored or stressed. I have always been a comfort eater, so now the first thing my brain does when I feel unpleasant emotions is cause that feeling that I should eat. It's been a real struggle trying to remember that it's not actual physical hunger. I guess this is what they call "head hunger."

 

My nutritionist offered me an awesome coping strategy for when I am struggling with that feeling and it won't go away. The best thing to do is make yourself busy with something else to take your mind off of that feeling. But what do you do, and how do you make sure to do it in times of stress? Her idea was to make a "tool box" of things that will distract you from the false hunger. She said that it could be an imaginary box, but personally I need a physical object that I can look at. The box should contain things that you enjoy doing that will keep your attention long enough to forget about being hungry. Some of the things she suggested were knitting or crocheting, puzzle books, craft projects, etc. In my box I have a sudoku book, a crossword puzzle book, and three guided relaxation CDs. I will continue to look for other things as well until I have a good variety of stuff. The box has already proven very useful, not only in helping me overcome those fake hunger feelings, but also just seeing the box gives me a sense of empowerment in knowing that I am prepared to deal with those feelings.

 

I hope this post is making sense. It's getting colder, and that means I've been run over by the fibromyalgia bus. One of the worst symptoms of fibro (in my opinion) is the fogginess, which sometimes makes it hard to finish a sentence. Today my brain feels like it has turned to mush. Even though it is warmer today than it was this weekend, I feel worse because of the wind and the rain. My body hates any kind of weather that is not clear, calm and mild, but winter is probably the worst. My low back is on fire and my legs hurt so badly I can hardly think. But on the plus side, I found a DVD on Netflix called Healing Yoga: Aches And Pains that seems to be helping somewhat. It's a yoga workout designed for people with arthritis and other pain conditions. It's available as a DVD and streaming video as well, which is really convenient. It loosened up my hips and back enough today that I could get my household stuff done without wiping myself out.

 

I am really praying that losing weight will help me become a little more functional on days like today.

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I really liked your post. I am going to try the tool box as I think it is a fabulous idea. you sound just like myself with battling over food. I try to explain to my husband about my food addiction and although he pretends he understands I know that he does not. He does not get excited over food nor care if he even eats period. when i am cooking food I get so excited over the smells and cant wait for the taste and he doesnt acknowledge it, makes me jealous in a way. I believe that I have food addiction due to the fact of being lonely and depressed for most of my life and food was my "everything" even though I am older now, not so much depressed anymore and not lonely, the food addiction is a long standing "addiction" and "habit" that is hard to break. makes me sad sometimes that I have complete control over everything in my life except food. again, I appreciate your post and I am going t try the tool box. thank you again and I pray for both of us with our ":head hunger" struggle. god bless

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I have to practice eating when I am hungry not when my Brain signals that it's "noon" time to eat or" hey it's 5pm it must be time for dinner." I grew up with specific meal times and eat whats on your plate or you cant get away from the table. Who thought that up?! I have made it a point to never make my kids finish whats on their plates if they don't want to, I think it sets up bad eating habits. Now I have to train my brain to eat when I am hungry, not just because it is a certain time of the day. Hard to teach an old dog a new trick!

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I so fill your pain! I am also a fibromyalgia victim. I understand the brain fog, the food issues, and the constant pain. I tell my doctors I have more restrictions for fibromyalgia then I do with the band. I miss apples and bananas. I have resolved that any bread at all is not for me. Not just white bread.

My biggest problem has been the exercising. Summer was a breeze because of our pool. Now, everything I try starts out fine but I can't seem to progress for any length of time because of pain set backs.

I am going to look into the yoga tape you suggested, I'll try just about anything to gain success.

I am so ready for summer and my pool!!!!!!

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Trisha, I have fibro, diabetes and pcos. exercising as never been an option for me because it either hurt too much or I just didnt have the energy to do it. I found some great video tapes for chair exercises that are non painful. I also recently ordered tony littles easy shaper which was only like 30 dollars on home shopping and it comes with a dvd that has chair exercises using the resistant band and I was able to do that and felt great. I liked it because it has beginner, intermediate and advanced. I of course did the beginner but am setting a goal to try for 3 times a week. hope some of this helps you. good luck

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