This. Is. Still. Me.

All these years later — happy, sad, anxious, angry, upset, bored, elated … you name it, I want to eat. Not to the point of illness (i.e., binge) but wow.

Source: WeightWatchers

I love/hate/love how hard this hits home … “If you’re human and you know it, eat a snack.”

As WW’s Facebook post says, “Our relationship with food = complicated. Let’s get real and talk about it.”

While you might find it ironic I would still love and support WW — after following the program and finding success resulted in my disordered eating — but I honestly don’t blame WW … I blame myself and my rigidity/hard-wiring for why I went astray all those years ago.

This campaign almost makes me want to re-up my membership … I still fight the emotional eating demons constantly. Mindless munching at work. Shoveling dinner down my throat in a hurry to get everything done at bed-time. Eating my feelings, even if it’s about something good/happy. Allowing myself to have “just one more” of something I know I don’t need but want. Eating when I’m feeling pulled in a million directions and food becomes comfort when conversation would be a far superior solution.

All these years later … I still face this stuff. I handle it better because I have the tools WW gave me to lead a healthier life: knowledge about food choices, portion control, regular weighing to keep in check, etc. I still keep a food journal — some habits just never die! (albeit I do it on the free MyFitnessPal app). But I still face this stuff; many of us do.

So Weight Watchers, thank you … I needed this. This campaign isn’t the usual in-your-face “get thin for the holidays” or “have a skinny holiday crap” or the “diet in the New Year” jargon …  but rather facing it head-on: for many of us who struggle with our weight, the battle is in our head way more than our bodies. Accepting and relationship is complicated and facing it head-on is liberating. We know what to do and often are paralyzed by our emotions. Even the wisest among us can fall victim to the “If you’re happy/sad/angry/stressed/bored … have a snack” routine.

This campaign is brilliant … and you just might have a (former) member back. I’m healthy and no longer engage in unhealthy behaviors … but my jeans as snug which is usually my cue for time to reign it in; I could use a little motivation. Couldn’t we all??

Now about those two Oreo balls I stress-ate tonight …? Well, tomorrow’s a new day.