Someone asked me the other day, "do you have any tips on how to control emotional eating?"
So here is the scoop:
The best way to identify your own emotional triggers is through personal reflection. Facing your issues by bringing them out of your subconscious and into your conscious reality is the most empowering thing you can do. Make use of a diary or journal. Write down not just what you eat every day but the emotional circumstances surrounding each meal and snack. From now on, every time you reach for a bite, I want you to stop and ask yourself the questions below so you can uncover the psychological and emotional issues that are triggering your unhealthy eating habits. Write down the answers so you can't push them to the back of your mind when you're done.
1. Is my body hungry?
2. Ask yourself, am I sad, angry, mad or happy?
3. How will I feel after I eat this food, will I feel guilty or satisfied? How about in 30 minutes after? How about in 1 hour?
Regardless of what is going on in your life, I don't want you to use food as a release from stress or to make yourself feel better. Eating right and fitting in a good workout will ultimately make you feel better than trying to solve emotional problems by eating. At the end of the day, life sometimes just sucks in a way that can't be reasoned with or rationalized. Emotional eating is not the answer- the key is to take care of yourself with a strategy that is life-affirming, not self-destructive. To succeed in the wight-loss game, you have to establish healthier patterns.
Find some activities that comfort and interest you so you'll have the power to combat your emotions without resorting to food. Think about what (apart from eating!) soothes you. What makes you fell beautiful or sexy or desirable? If you steer yourself toward feelings of self-worth, you'll pick activities and behaviors that inherently contradict self-loathing and self-sabotage. take a bubble bath and listen to tunes you love. Go for a longer-than-usual walk with your pup. Go out dancing with friends. Get a massage or a mani-pedi. Learn to reward and nurture yourself with things that make you feel happy to be alive, and you will break the cycle of self-destruction caused by emotional overeating.
Until next time.....
Live Active........Live Healthy..........Live Happy
Charis
