Emotional Eating

myname20

I am sure this topic is very popular and I just want to share my story.

Just recently I understood that the main problem why I always gain (or keep the same) weight is because of emotional eating. I like to eat my emotions - good or bad..

In the last few weeks I am in a very depressive place, I have issues in my life, I am unhappy and just genuinely very sad and lonely. I don`t always eat because I am bored, but I always eat when I am sad. I feel my cheeks getting chubbier, my stomach getting bigger. I hate it! Can someone share the REAL experience how to fight emotional eating? Yeah I have read articles on internet - call a friend, drink water, go exercise. Nothing helps! I go exercise and after its done I still want to eat! Just that feeling of having a stomach full of food, it makes me feel warm and loved, I know it sounds weird. Even if I am completely full and not hungry at all I will eat and eat till I will feel sick (okay I never really feel sick, just my stomach looks like a ball) . When my stomach is full of food it kind of blocks all the emotions in my mind and I feel better (for some short time).

I dont know what I want to hear. It has never been as bad as it is now and I want to fight it. I know miracles wont happen and I will have to work myself, but maybe someone wants to share their story too - I would love to hear!

Maybe someone has some particular food or recipes (or drinks) that helps for people with emotional eating? ) Just because eating carrots or salad is the last thing people think about when they want to eat emotions.

Thanks for taking time and reading

mbaker566

the best thing to do with emotional eating in my opinion is to stop and deal with the emotions
food is a neutral object and cannot truly provide comfort. people can. dealing and resolving the issue can. exercise can help manage stress levels. food is temporary solution that can lead a cycle which is not healthy. I eat because I feel bad, oh look I'm fat, I feel bad, eat, fat, feel bad, eat, etc

scyian

As Moyer said, you need to deal with the root of the problems that are causing you to reach out for food.

Inside your head there is a template that states you need to comfort eat and well done for acknowledging it. You need to start with changing your habits and change this template. Instead of eating, call a friend, do some exercise. Things that will elevate your mood and reduce your stress levels and take your mind off it. Make sure you're getting enough sleep too as this will help reduce stress too.

I use to reach out to food and wine when I was stressed and I've had to teach myself that isn't the solution. You need to find a solution to the thing that made you stressed in the first place. Good luck!

Kalikel

Go see a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. I'm not suggesting that you have one, but they are familiar with food-related issues and may be able to help you sort through your issues with food.

AlabasterVerve

For me, my "emotional eating" -- that feeling of wanting to eat and eat whether I was hungry or not -- actually had a physical cause. Perhaps it's time to see a doctor?

In the meantime what does a normal day of eating look like? Do you eat balanced meals (primarily from whole foods) making sure to incorporate protein, fat and carbs? Does your diet have structure and set meal times that you adhere to? Are you getting enough sleep? Being active or exercising regularly?

All of these things can have a huge impact on your mood and appetite.

RosieFior

I'm an emotional eater too and I know how hard it is. Sometimes when I'm sad/mad/upset I go up to my room, put on some upbeat music and go through my clothes, put on some dresses that I love. I find this keeps me motivated to not eat. Sometimes even getting and a mani/pedi helps to. Basically anything that will make me feel pretty. I do agree that you need to work out what it is that is causing the emotion however I also know that in most cases it's a long process. Keep strong and love yourself.

Liftng4Lis

Talk to your therapist. They are best qualified to help you with this.

melodicraven

That's why they call it comfort food. Because it is. It is comforting to eat. It's possibly, along with sleep and water, the fundamental and most basic form of self-care. It's an affirmation of life. Everybody's gotta eat to live. And let's face it, sometimes feelings suck. They're messy, uncomfortable, and sometimes almost anything at all would feel better than having to deal with them.

That being said, and I am the voice of experience here, eating doesn't make the feelings go away. It just numbs them temporarily. It's a band-aid, but it doesn't do anything to help heal the wound you're covering up with it. But I think sometimes numb is ok, at least for a little while, until the funk passes and you can deal again. We do what we have to do to get through the day.

If you're anything like me, it's not just the food that you're into. It's the act of eating itself. You get the food, you get to look at the food, you get to anticipate the taste of the food, and then there's the actual mouth feel and pleasure of eating the food. Eating itself as an act, especially excessive amounts, is repetitive and soothing - like a really screwed up anti-meditation. There's all these little rituals and habits built into it. Like any other ultimately self-destructive habit, it feels good at the time or we wouldn't do it.

The trick is - to find things that make you feel better, or that help you cope, that are not as self-destructive as eating when you're not really hungry and eating until you're uncomfortably full. Lots of people are going to say exercise or things like that, and those things are great and they do help. But when you're depressed and having trouble getting through the day, working out can feel like pushing a boulder up a mountain.

But there are little things you can do that help. Hot tea, for example, can be prepared with as much care and attention to detail as any giant snack. And it's warm and comforting and a little sweet, and when you sip a cup that you've made, it's just as relaxing. You can't gulp it. You have to slow down and just be in the moment, even just for a little while. And it helps.

faurotann

That was a great post. Thank you

Leeleelahlah

I second that, great post.

This used to be a HUGE problem for me, and I'm still working on it. Besides therapy, the hot tea idea really helps. Get different flavors to choose from, depending on your mood/what you're craving--something spicy like ginger, sweet like vanilla, fruity, etc... Another thing that helps me stay occupied and feel better is coloring. You can download tons of adult coloring pages from Pinterest. Good luck!

drewlfitness

You could wait until you hit rock bottom like I did...once I was at the bottom, I told myself that I can either continue on gaining weight and being another obese American, or I can tackle it head on and transform my body via correct eating and including both lifting and cardio (girls and guys). Make that your #1 goal, and imagine the feeling of achieving it. You use that as motivation everyday, and it will happen. You will soon start to feel less depressed, or perhaps simply more capable, more confident to do new things, or things you didn't think you could do before thereby reducing those things that had been depressing you. Even if you "aren't fat", your goal would be to build some lean muscle, and feel GREAT.

That's why a lot of gym junkies are actually gym junkies, I think. Everyone has *kitten* in their lives, so may as well make myself the best I can be so that those life challenges are less harmful to your well being and motivation level (depression level).

At least that's me. I'm not only talking about physical appearances, more just the confidence and feeling of being capable that working out, watching my weight, has brought to me.

Or you can watch "My 800-lb life" on TLC...