Geneen Roth’s Lost and Found-Dieting and Bingeing/Saving and Splurging

Enough?

Geneen Roth realized that money, like food, was something she wasn’t supposed to have (hide the food), spend (don’t eat in front of others) or earn much of (I shouldn’t have anymore.)

Money and food/worth and nourishment. When you think of them do you feel deprived, entitled, pleasure or suffering? Have you ever had enough of both?  Can you ever have enough of both?

Telling yourself you can’t eat what you want translates that you can’t have what you want. You can’t be trusted. You’ll be out of control. You will die. When you believe you can’t have what you want there is never enough.

Roth describes two groups:  Restrictors and Permitters. One group controls by denying themselves while the other numbs themselves by overeating and overspending. Once again challenging your thoughts and testing a new reality is a solution if you are willing to live with the feelings that trigger compulsive behavior

She (Roth) recounts how her reckless buying is reminiscent of good times spent with her mother. Another woman says buying pretty things gives her a sense of control.  Whenever the urge to spend comes up it feels imperative we give in rather than feel the shame, anger, terror or whatever emotion prompts the spree. We tell ourselves we will start anew tomorrow but we must have this NOW!  

If overeating or starving, spending or saving doesn’t satisfy us how do we become comfortable with ourselves?  Most of us want to live comfortably in our bodies, love ourselves and be loved. We want to belong.  If what we have been doing doesn’t work perhaps it’s time to give Roth’s method serious consideration.