Lecture on Perception of Fatness and Emotions

Key Points:

• Misconception about weight gain:
  • A discrepancy between actual weight change and perceived weight gain was observed.
  • Weight had decreased by 500 grams despite the feeling of gaining 2 kilos.

Feeling Fat vs. Emotions:

• Feeling Fat:

  • The speaker often describes themselves as feeling "fat."
  • This feeling is not tied to actual weight changes.

• Fat as a Label:

  • Fat is not an emotion like sadness or anger.
  • It can be a label for negative feelings or physical sensations.
  • Often used to describe other underlying emotions.

Underlying Emotions:

• Triggers and Situations:

  • Restaurant disagreement and discomfort with menu choices discussed.
  • Arguments with boyfriend contribute to negative emotions.
  • Feelings of guilt about food and anxiety about work mentioned.

• Emotional Confusion:

  • Negative emotions can be overwhelming and lead to a focus on weight.
  • Individuals with eating disorders might shift focus to weight when experiencing negative feelings.

Monitoring Emotional Triggers:

• Fluctuation of Feelings:
  • Feelings of fatness fluctuate more than actual weight does.
  • Monitoring sheets advised to track intense feelings of fatness.
  • Focus on understanding the intense times of feeling fat for deeper insights.

Conclusion:

• Self-observation:
  • Encouragement to recognize and document intense feelings of fatness.
  • Aim to distinguish emotional triggers from actual physical changes.

These notes emphasize the need to examine the emotional roots of feeling 'fat' rather than focusing solely on weight, especially in the context of eating disorders.