Emotional eating is problematic for many over-eaters. When stress goes up – food and calories often go up as well. When depression sets in, food can be used as a way to stop the hurt. There is some truth to the phrase “comfort food”. Food has a way of making us feel better or it can take the focus off what is making us feel bad. This is emotional eating.
Using food based on our emotions is similar to how an alcoholic uses alcohol. After a period of emotional eating or a food binge the results are not unlike an alcohol binge. We can be left feeling empty and often self-loathing is a consequence of this behavior. This begins a cyclical practice. We look to food to fill a void; make us feel better and ultimately end up feeling far worse. This is a viscous cycle that can be very damaging.
How can we make healthy food choices when life becomes overwhelming? Making poor food choices is easy. There are always reasons to make bad food choices. Fast food restaurants and junk food is always convenient. Oftentimes healthy food requires more time and attention to prepare. When we are feeling down – it’s that much more difficult to exert the energy into healthy food.
Perhaps a new or different approach to eating healthy should be considered. A different attitude about diet can be very beneficial. Eating healthy should be viewed the same way you view brushing your teeth. Most of us wouldn’t consider not brushing our teeth just because we didn’t feel like it. Try making healthy food choices a priority – the same as brushing your teeth. If the urge to eat or your emotions are such that you feel you must eat – eat something healthy. Subsequently getting away from food altogether may be necessary to avoid the temptation of making bad choices. But how do you get away from food when food is everywhere?
Divert your attention from food with a favorite hobby; a phone call to a friend; or even exercise. Ofttimes the desire to eat will pass and if you make yourself busy with something else – you will forget about eating. Diverting your attention with exercise can be beneficial emotionally too. Exercise can get the endorphins flowing. Endorphins have a way of changing moods; making your feel better overall and take your mind off food. Although exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re feeling down – it’s most definitely a worthwhile and profitable choice. And if you reward your body with something good and your mind or emotions may return the favor.
We may not always feel like making good food choices or eating healthy. In fact, eating unhealthy may be just what we feel like doing. When emotions start to rise and unhealthy food is looking good – an attitude adjustment is necessary. When you’re feeling good – begin to train yourself to eat healthy even when you’re feeling bad and know that there are alternative and constructive choices that can be made that don’t rely on food to heal us emotionally.
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This is what my friend once said when I asked her about her gaining weight, she said coz she’s depressed and she turns to food for comfort. You’d most likely find her on eat all you can restaurants … but the exact opposite is whats happened to me … I lose weight coz am depressed … down to 25 inches from 30 inches in less than a month’s time.
Great article, so many health sites and promotions are trying to hide the truths to why we gain weight, then they purpose bogus solutions. You are straight forward and honest, and it is very refreshing keep up the great work and keep the great advice coming.
Sweet article and so true. It is truly amazing how patterns in eating change with the way your mind is. The slightest little thing can alter eating for the worst. In this case it also may be good to make sure and always have a safe food fall back to turn too. Mine is celery, I will have that around no matter what, instead of the chips I eat celery!
There are so many motives to eat more than usual. If I’m stressed because of some exams I eat. If I try to quit smoking I’m always hungry and usually eat junk food. I sometimes get into a fight with my husband and to calm my self I run to the fridge and eat a bucket of ice cream. I know this is not healthy but it’s the only thing that calms me.
Yes, a person should definitely replace this automatism of eating every time it confrunts with a problem with a hobby.Hobbies relaxes the mind and fills the free time in a more constructive way .
I always eat fruit or drink skim milk when I get hungry.
I enjoy eating but due to my healthy,i stopped to eat junk foods.
Nowadays i’m eating only greeny vegetables,which makes my body healthy and fresh too.Your article was very inspirational. Thanks for contributing healthy article.
i love to eat..the best thing we can do is to take what is the best for our body
I try to drink water when I am hungry. It’s easy to just start nibbling on stuff and than you realize you just blew it. So, keep water glass next to you and grab that before grabbing a fattening snack.
Diverting your attention can be as simple as having a short walk outside. Hey, my dog is always willing and able to accompany me. Thanks.
My problem is I sometimes go days where I hardly eat simply because I forget, then have days where I can’t stop eating and have to resist eating to much! I’m sure there is a term to describe this but I’ve never been able to find it. I agree about exercise always preventing over eating food when you feel down but it’s always so difficult to get in the right mood to exercise. I just hope one day I will automatically exercise like automatically brushing my teeth.
The problem is twofold, not only do we turn to food in times of emotion, but also many of us do it automatically without thinking about it, in other words it is a habit.
Breaking habits is difficult, the first step is to recognize the times when you are eating emotionally. Every time you are about to eat, stop and ask yourself the reason why you’re eating. Is it because you are hungry or is there some other reason?
Once you have learned to recognize the difference, don’t try to stop emotional eating immediately, or you will probably fail. Instead, recognize and acknowledge that you are not hungry, but tell yourself that you can still have the ice cream/chocolate/whatever in half an hour if you still want it.
If you do still want it half an hour later then go ahead and eat, but very often the desire has passed away, thus you are taking the first steps towards breaking the habit.
Good advice. I find it helpful to try not to be a perfectionist. I am human and I have my fair share of weaknesses and indulgences, but I don’t use that as an excuse to give up on my goal of eating healthy all together. Two days of falling off the plan, but five days of doing the right things is better than all the days being reckless.
Take care,
Tri
Diverting your attention can be as simple as having a short walk outside. Hey, my dog is always willing and able to accompany me. Thanks
This is some good information about about emotional eating. I firmly believe that our eating habits need to be changed if you really want to lose weight. I lot of people have been searching for the right dieting plan only to fail and left wondering what they are going to do. Maybe, you have made these mistakes in the past. I sure hope not.
Anyways, here is some useful info on fad dieting. If you would like to read what people are talking about with some of the most popular fad diets please check out my blog on fad dieting.
i love to eat..the best thing we can do is to take what is the best for our body
i support your post. healthy food sometimes doesnt taste good. like “amapalaya”
i hate to eat this. but its good cleanser as well as blood circulation.. the best thing you can do is to make some dish that is great to taste.
I thnk that people can always make food to be healhy and taste. I like to enjoy in eating and this choice between taste and healthy - is not for me.
I always try to drink as much milk as I possibly can. I like semi-skimmed, not too much cream but at least there is some taste to it.
Very sound advice! You remind me of a good friend who once gave me advice on how to not eat right before sleeping. Thank you for your excellent site!