Emotional eating is real and often not talked about openly but it happens.

Here’s an example…..I have a friend, who is in the midst of divorce.  Over the holiday season, she typically bakes  and keeps baking supplies on hand.  As her day progressed and the tension rose in her home, the bag of candies that would top her homemade cookies disappeared.  She ate a whole bag of candy in one day.  At the time she was doing this, she didn’t give it a second thought but after reviewing her habits, she noticed a pattern.  On stress filled days, she ate and she ate and she ate.  And guess what!?!  She’s put on some extra weight in the process.

Does this sound like a similar habit?  If so, here are some tips on how you can control emotional eating.

• Remove the temptation.  If you don’t have the things that tempt you in the house, you’ll be less like to emotionally binge on food that isn’t there. Go ahead and clear out your cupboards of all the things you’d be tempted by.  If you have others that live at home with you, have them hide those things so you won’t know where to find them.  If you have unopened items and want to get rid of them completely, donate to a food shelter or give away to someone else.  Regardless, if it’s not there than you won’t eat/drink it.
• Build a support system. Reach out to friends or family for positive support.  The next time you want to binge, pick up the phone and call a friend or a workout buddy.  There are also a variety of groups you can join too.
• Relieve your stress. Yep, I know.  Easier said then done some days but, find a way to relieve your stress and boost your mood that is positive and life-affirming rather than self-destructive. Go for a walk,  read a book, call a friend, get your nails done are a few examples.  Just find something to do that will make you feel good.  When you feel good, you’re less likely to want to turn to food.
• Write it down. Start a journal and include both what you eat and your mood.  Jot down what is bothering you.  You’ll then be able to see a trend of what is going on and also develop a plan on how to tackle those types of events.

I hope these tips will help you the next time you are feeling stressed or down.

Comments

comments