Overcoming a Lifetime of Bad Habits

I've been taught, for as long as I can remember, that food is the cure-all. You feel depressed - have something to eat. You got good grades and are happy - let's go out to dinner and ice cream. You're bored - sit on the couch and watch TV while you eat a bag of chips. Every emotion has always been met with food. Food complusion runs in my family. I don't think it's genetic; I think it's taught. Both of my parents are morbidly obese. My dad has Type II Diabetes and my mom is pre-diabetic. Heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure run in my family. This hasn't made them change their habits. How do you suddenly, as an adult, start dealing with all the emotions you feel in a completely different way?

I'm working really hard to recognize that I've got this obstacle to overcome. I'm working on letting my feelings out instead of holding them in. This blog has really been helping me because I feel like I'm telling someone even if no one reads the blog that day. I've also been trying to let my husband and my friends in on what's happening in my head. My daughter is such a motivator to change these bad habits, too. I don't want her to have to grow up and have to deal with all of these issues like me.

This is going to be such a long, hard process. I know I can do it, but sometimes it all makes me feel a bit overwhelmed. Who else is dealing with this? I know I can't be the only one.