Emotional eater!

varduk

Here we go again... Personal issues, stress and found myself going back to my old habits... getting up in the middle of the night and going for junk food (sweets, chips, etc...)
Emotional eater here...
Need to snap out of it, don't know how.
Any advice?

healthygreek

Best advice is make sure you eat enough during the day.
Get mostly good fats, veggie, fruit, protein. Do not be overly restrictive with your diet.

williamwj2014

What healthygreek said. Eat enough during the day, find ways to reduce stress. Just keep yourself busy. Not sure what your life situation is but eating it away is just going to cause you more problems. Find something that puts your mind at ease. I find reading to be my saving grace but for you it could be something else so find what works for you.

lithezebra

I have a long list of strategies I've used to avoid emotional eating. In no particular order....

1) Make a list of things that need to be done around the house and yard and do them

2) Go to a mall and walk around

3) Couple something you like to do, like watching a movie, listening to music, or reading a book with exercise

4) Meditate for 20 minutes instead of eating if it isn't meal time

5) Do pushups, crunches, or planks instead of eating between meals, or put on an exercise video

6) Call a friend and walk around the house, or the block, while you talk on the phone

7) If you're working and you need to think, stand up to think instead of snacking

8) Make art: knit, crochet, or keep a sketchbook to keep your mind busy

9) Walk around the block. Even five minutes of sun exposure makes you feel happier

10) Walk around the house while you read a book

11) Look up super healthy, quick, low calorie vegetable recipes on the internet and make your own database, instead of snacking

mbaker566

do something else, like a push up.
eat something low calorie
deal with the issues so they can't haunt you any more

NH_1970

Write. Write about what's going on with you as a way to get it all out.
Get up and go for a walk or exercise instead
Drink water
Ask yourself am I eating this because I am bored? because I am stressed? Because I am sad? Because I want to punish someone but instead I am going to punish myself? Am I angry? If so find another outlet other than eating.
For me when I am angry instead of eating I stomp, stomp stomp stomp or go outside and stretch and scream my frustration out.
When I am sad I take a shower and cry and write about it and reach out to a friend and then sometimes I just go for a nice long walk.

Put affirming messages on your fridge. Or the questions on your fridge.
I have Is it about filling the void? if so fill it with something else on my fridge.
Find another way to cope with strong emotions, seek professional help if necessary.
Get online and read about emotional eating and what has helped others.
Reach out to a friend and talk to them
Come post on MFP and get support
Read women, food and God
Find a spiritual practice that works for you. If you're not onboard with that, find something that makes you feel good that isn't food. Music, making art, playing a game, exercising, singing, doing math, whatever floats your boat. Make a list of stuff that makes you feel good and post it somewhere, where you can see it.

You said here we go again...If you've snapped out of it in the past, figure out what it was that made you snap out of it and Do that again. Once we know how to do something we can do it again if we want and even improve on it.

Don't beat yourself up - put down the bat.

TavistockToad

varduk wrote: »

Here we go again... Personal issues, stress and found myself going back to my old habits... getting up in the middle of the night and going for junk food (sweets, chips, etc...)
Emotional eater here...
Need to snap out of it, don't know how.
Any advice?

Don't have it in the house.

Write down your feelings instead of getting up and eating.