Hey there, friends! Today, we’re going to chat about something that I reckon affects most of us at some point or other: emotional eating. Just to be clear—I’m certainly not pointing any fingers. I’ve had my own dance with emotional eating too, and trust me, it’s not the cha-cha. I’ve found, however, that understanding my triggers and having some fail-safe strategies up my sleeve has helped me keep emotional eating under control. So, join me today as I share some strategies for overcoming emotional eating that have worked for me, and might just work for you too.
Understanding Emotional Eating
Let’s start off by understanding what emotional eating is. Simply put, emotional eating is when we use food as a way to manage or suppress our emotions. It’s eating in response to feelings instead of hunger. In stressful situations, have you ever grabbed a bag of potato chips or gone for an extra brownie even though you weren’t hungry? That’s emotional eating and confessing this doesn’t make you a terrible person, friends, it just makes you human.
Strategies To Overcome Emotional Eating
So, what’s the game plan, you ask? After a lot of trial and error, some professional counselling, and a few triumphant wins over a bag of jelly beans, I have a few strategies to share.
- Mindful Eating: Remember that time when I watched an entire season of “Friends” while munching on popcorn, and suddenly the bowl was empty, and I barely remembered eating it? That’s mindless eating. Compared to that, mindful eating is when you’re fully present while you’re eating. It’s savouring each bite, paying attention to your hunger cues, and stopping when you’re full. This can really help reduce emotional eating (Mayo Clinic, 2016).
- Handling Emotions Without Food: Easier said than done, I know. But finding other ways to handle stress and other emotions can make a real difference. I turn to jogging—there’s something about the rhythm that soothes me. You might prefer painting, knitting, deep breathing, or just about anything that helps you reduce stress.
- Maintaining a Food Diary: This one’s a game-changer, pals. Jot down what you eat, how much you eat, and most importantly, what you’re feeling when you eat. You’ll might start seeing patterns – perhaps you reach for candy when you’re lonely, or chips when you’re bored. Just seeing that on paper (or on screen) can be a huge wake-up call.
I know, I know—it can be much more tempting to dive headfirst into a tub of ice cream than face our feelings. But mastering emotional eating is really worth the effort. As much as I love ice cream (and that’s a LOT), I love being in control of my eating habits even more. And you know what? I bet you will too.
Wrapping Up
Emotional eating is a common phenomenon. We’ve all been there. It’s not untouchable, though. With a little understanding and some conscious efforts, you do have the power to conquer it. Friends, here’s to eating in response to our bodies, not our emotions! Until next time, keep smiling and keep fighting the good fight!
