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WHAT IS EMOTIONAL EATING?!
Using food to make yourself feel better - to fill emotional needs rather than your stomach
Does not fix emotional problems, but makes them worse
Emotional issue remains, now you feel guilty - vicious cycle creates a compounding snowball effect
IDENTIFY YOUR EMOTIONAL EATING TRIGGERS
What situation, places, or feelings make you reach for comfort foods?
Most emotional eating is linked to unpleasant feelings but can also be linked to positive feelings; such as rewarding yourself with food after accomplishing a goal
CAUSES OF EMOTIONAL EATING
Stress
Stuffing emotions
Boredom or feelings of emptiness
Childhood habits
Social influences
TIPS ON OVERCOMING YOUR EMOTIONAL EATING
Keep a food diary
Every time you overeat or feel compelled to reach for your version of comfort food Kryptonite, take a moment to figure out what triggered the urge. If you backtrack, you’ll usually find an upsetting event that kicked off the emotional eating cycle. Write it all down in your food and mood diary: what you ate (or wanted to eat), what happened to upset you, how you felt before you ate, what you felt as you were eating, and how you felt afterward. Over time, you’ll see a pattern emerge.
Pause when cravings hit and check in with yourself.
Learn to accept your feelings, even the bad ones
Practice mindful eating, savour your food
Ensure your following all other lifestyle habits laid out in this guide
ALTERNATIVES TO EMOTIONAL EATING
Feeling depressed or lonely? Call someone.
Anxious? Expend nervous energy by exercising.
Exhausted? Take a bath. Have a hot cup of tea.
Bored? Read a book, watch a comedy show, turn to activity you enjoy.
We all emotional eat from time to time. And emotional eating isn't always linked to negative emotions. Often times we eat when we're overjoyed, infatuated in a new and exciting relationship or celebrating a milestone. Keeping it in check and ensuring it doesn't become a reckless pattern that is wreaking havoc on your overall health and wellness is the most important thing to be aware of.
Love, peace and health!
-LH