Emotional Eating

Emotional eating ties right into eating late at night because nights are when we’re most likely to engage in this particular bad habit. Our culture uses food as a drug to boost our moods and bury bad feelings. We drown our sorrows in chocolate—heck, there’s a whole industry of cards, magnets, t-shirts, and other gift items that excuse chocolate bingeing as a normal part of life!

Many people, when they’re sitting alone at night winding down from the day, find themselves beginning to think about the problems and stressors in their lives. Your alone, the house is quiet, and you have some free time, so that’s easy to do.

Unfortunately, that’s when we reach for the “comfort foods”— chocolate chip cookies just like the ones mom used to make, a bowl of ice cream like the one you’d share with your dad on Sunday nights in front of the television, or a bag of chips like the one you munched with your friends while watching a funny movie. Food is a huge part of our culture.

It’s almost always a part of our celebrations and, let’s face it, because we tie it to the good times, it has a calming, soothing effect in the bad times.

Avoiding this issue might be a little tougher than the rest, but if you make a commitment to stick to your food plan and take a moment to pause and think before you reach for your comfort food.

Tips for avoiding emotional Eating:
1. Try to keep your mind occupied with good thought by engaging in a favorite hobby or activity.
2. Reach for the phone instead of the food; call a friend.
3. Always think before you eat. Are you really hungry.

Here's a good  affirmation for the Emotion Eaters:

I am the sole creator of my life. I choose now to put loving, creative,   and consistent energy and enthusiastic effort into discovering and fulfilling   my life purpose. I take total responsibility for structuring my time. by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.

 

Comments

[Ruth]

Hello Nancy,

Than you for your help. Goodness knows, I need help!!!
I can diet for about a week or ten days, and loose about 6 pounds, and then I eat something sweet, cookies or candy or whatever, and I loose all control. I go crazy for sugar. I can't seem to get enough of it. I put back on the weight I lost, and more size than ever. If I continue to do this, I will be 40 pounds over weight by Christmas. I would rather be down 20 pounds by Christmas, and not need all of this sugar. Can you help me?
Thank you in advance.
Ruth

[Nancy]

Hello Ruth, my new program is coming out wed September 3rd! So you’ll be able to purchase the document on line.

You can also sign up for the e-course as well.
http://www.stopyoursugaraddiction.com/e-course.html
Sign up to get my weekly newsletter as well on my blog www.healthlady.com

Few post from my blog!

http://womenshealthacademy.typepad.com/womens_health_academy/2008/08/morning-meals-s.html
http://womenshealthacademy.typepad.com/womens_health_academy/2008/08/do-you-overeat.html

Keep in touch,
Best Regards,
Nancy

[Sony]

Hey Nancy,
You don't have to post this comment - I'd just like to give you some feedback from my perspective.

"Avoiding this habit might be a little tougher than the rest, but if you make a commitment"

In this, I truly believe that emotional eating is more than a habit - I believe it's a coping mechanism and as such it takes more than just discipline to overcome. I think that's why a lot of emotional eaters fail at diet programs, "lifestyle changes", what-have-you -- it's not that emotional eaters don't have discipline -- it could be that the eating is a way of coping with the rigid discipline that they have in other areas (probably most other areas) of their lives.

In this one case, I absolutely believe that the underlying cause of WHY people are eating to sate their emotions should be addressed, otherwise there will always be failure.

I love that you open yourself to discussion!

[Nancy Desjardins]

Hello Sony,
Thanks for your comment! here’s an article I wrote few months ago.
Hope this will help… "I also change habit for issue".

http://womenshealthacademy.typepad.com/articles/do_you_find_it_difficult_to_be_honest_and_open_with_yourself_/index.html

Great affirmation I found today by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.

I am the sole creator of my life. I choose now to put loving, creative, and consistent energy and enthusiastic effort into discovering and fulfilling my life purpose. I take total responsibility for structuring my time.

Sending you a big Hug
Nancy