Battling Emotional Eating

The topic for Weight Watchers last week was "Emotional Eating." I make progress with it, but it's a continual struggle, and after all these years I'm resigned to having to watch myself for signs of stress. It's an issue to manage, rather than conquer, I fear. Leader Paula shared this poem with us at our meeting last Saturday. I just love it, and need to remember it. Anyone know the provenance? Would love to give proper credit. What Food Can and Cannot Do Food can fill our stomachs. It cannot fill our souls. Food can nourish our bodies. It cannot nourish our hearts and minds. Food can make our taste buds happy. It cannot make us happy. Food can give momentary pleasure. It cannot give lasting pleasure. Food can distract us from our pain. It cannot take away our pain. Food serves a purpose. It does not give us purpose. Food can be controlled. It does not control us. The issue I've been dealing with this week is overwork. I'm grateful that in a down economy I'm blessed with "too much work," but with that, and the cold, slimy rain this week, I'm down with a cold and feeling very low energy. The temptation to grab a quick energy boost from sugar and carbs is strong. The temptation to "baby myself" with comfort foods is strong. But here I am, flexing my tiny little willpower muscle, to refocus again, again, again on what I want long-term, rather than short-term. Health. Self-respect. Being around for my husband, and my son, for a long damn time. Keep up the good fight, sisters and brothers! Please share other inspirational bits as you find them.