People who used to eat emotionally - what did you do instead when you were stressed/sad?

kiela64

I'm in a terrible mood. All I want to do is put on my coat and go buy some candy and ice cream. But I know it's not healthy physically or mentally. I'm just sitting here feeling worse and worse, and I don't really know what else would help. I'm starting to give myself a headache from being upset. What do you do that helps?

Ninkyou

I went for a walk. It really helps clear the mind.

eamelone88

I used to be a huge emotional binge eater, there are websites available with tips on how to stop emotional eating. Just Google it, . I enjoy walking a lot, helps clear your mind. I also enjoy doing word searches! oh I also am learning how to crochet and started reading more. Those are just a few things you can do to keep your mind busy and active and not think about food. Also tell yourself every day that you're stronger than the urge to eat junk food. You have to remind yourself. You can do it!

yourhiddengem

Exercise.

Or go somewhere without food - like I wouldn't go to a grocery store or near my kitchen but I would go to a bookstore or outside or a library

LadyValacri

I honestly talk to my fiance. Talking to someone keeps me from going to the kitchen and stuffing my face with junk food. I am such an emotional eater and I have cracked more than once. It's okay to mess up and make mistakes. No one is perfect. We're humans. And honestly, as humans with greasy food on every corner, we're bound to cave. You have to strive to get better and pick yourself up after you fall down. If you do that, it makes it harder for you to cave next time!

RoxieDawn

What are you emotional about?

If you were going to put your coat on and go buy ice cream, put your coat on and go buy your self something you need or just go somewhere and stop getting so worked up over food.

I am not sure I would call this emotional eating? It just sounds like you are hangry for some reason.

emdeesea

It depends.

I would try to figure out why I was depressed or sad. If it was something I could take care of, I would do it. Problem solved.

If it wasn't something that was in my immediate control, then I would go do some vigorous exercise, like run a mile as fast as I could. It's amazing how much better you feel afterwards.

MarziDeThrall

Go window shopping. I love to do this. Focus on all the cool clothes you're going to get when you meet your goal.

This is going to sound silly, but also when I'm upset, I like to play Guns N Roses Appetite For Destruction at top volume in my car and sing/shout along with ol' Axl Rose. IDK why this helps, but it always makes me feel better.

jsdvasquez

I agree, if you can go for a walk or do some excercise that's the best immediate solution. But eventually try to get to the root of the problem and try to find ways to solve it.

upoffthemat

walks, video games, sleep, go to the gym, anything to keep me busy. I also keep remembering that the food didn't actually help. It has taken a LONG time to get through it and by no means do I feel cured, but I haven't had an emotional binge in a few months now. I have had a couple days I had a bit more of some treats than I would have liked, but I allowed for it and I really really enjoyed those treats when I didn't feel sick afterwards and didn't go over on my daily calorie log.
Just keep trying and each time you don't emotionally eat remember it is a victory. If you do give in, you aren't a failure, analyze why and ask if there is something else you could have done, forgive yourself, move on.

Rocknut53

I take my dog for a walk or hike (even in winter weather). That way she isn't affected by my negative energy and it really helps me emotionally. That's how I pulled myself out of a bout of depression this winter. Make it a habit and the rest will just fall into place. As you begin to feel better it is easier to get rid of self-condemnation.

amusedmonkey

Videogames. It keeps both my hands and my brain busy.

KnM0107

Painting keeps my mind occupied and my hands stay busy. I truly believe everyone needs a hobby that they enjoy.

CollieFit

I always had a pretty normal relationship with food, but when both my parents died after long chronic illness I became an emotional eater for a while and I became fat. Then I found myself some bereavement counselling and found a more appropriate way of managing my emotions. Now when I feel a bit frustrated I let it out during exercise.

kanakapride

I actually ended up getting into photography and what I would do is just go for a walk with my camera.

shadowfax_c11

It does help to get out and do something. I have a horse and enjoy spending time with her and riding really helps my mood, but winter months tend to put a damper on that. My depression tends to be worse in the winter. So I got a membership to the botanical garden that is luckily close to my home and when I need a good dose of green and growing things and flowers I go there and take a walk.I have found that my martial arts training helps a great deal to alleviate stress and provides a good outlet for tension. And of course talking is a huge help. Having someone you can talk to who will just listen is a valuable asset.

robot_potato

I take a bath with my music loud so I can't hear anyone else. Or I go for a long hike/bike ride (like several hours long), and have a treat afterwards since I generally dump 1000+ calories in the process.

frizbeemom

I always thought that people who said that they worked out to replace emotional eating were kind of hokey. My trainer was a huge help to me when I was frustrated with not making any progress because I was doing emotional eating, which offset any progress I made in the gym or the kitchen. He helped me come up with a plan for what to do when I was free to do what I wanted, and an alternate plan when I needed to stick in the house with my kid with mental illness and I wasn't comfortable leaving her. I stuck with it for a week or two, and my outlook is totally changed. Now I do very little emotional eating. If I can do what I want, I head to the gym for a hard workout, listening to music, to relieve my frustrations and then treat myself to the spa there afterwards. It is soooo relaxing. I am now at the point that it is my preferred method of stress relief and it is something I look forward to, and believe me, I never thought I would say that!!!

RodaRose

Yoga breathing

KathyApplebaum

I literally run away from my problems. The more upset I am, the faster I run/bike, and by the time I get back, I've forgotten all about emotional eating. I used to joke that I should send my previous boss a thank you card for all the weight he made me lose -- I was running an awful lot right before I quit.

JennieMaeK

Exercise definitely helps. I find that regular exercise helps keep my stress levels down and makes me less incline to eat emotionally. And if I'm having a bad day, exercise is a great mood booster. I like running, but I think anything that gets your heart pumping and kicks those endorphins in is good.

I also enjoy knitting. I find the repetitiveness relaxing, almost meditative. Keeps me occupied as well.

Rocknut53

KathyApplebaum wrote: »

I literally run away from my problems. The more upset I am, the faster I run/bike, and by the time I get back, I've forgotten all about emotional eating. I used to joke that I should send my previous boss a thank you card for all the weight he made me lose -- I was running an awful lot right before I quit.

This made me laugh and think of my boss from years ago. I liked archery so I would set up my target and envision his head on it.....worked every time and I got quite accurate!

100df

I like the idea of emotionally walking. Sometimes it really does help distract. Regular exercise seems to help me curb it in general. When I have the urge to overeat because of my emotions (all my emotions want food, not just stress) I try to picture myself a year from now. I want to be smaller. Not going to happen if I keep overeating.

allaboutthefood

Go for a walk and don't bring any money with you, exercise or clean something. I turn into a cleaning freak when I am upset.

samchez0

Go for a walk, go shopping (hard on the wallet though) , sip water, read a book

booksandchocolate12

yourhiddengem wrote: »

Exercise.

Or go somewhere without food - like I wouldn't go to a grocery store or near my kitchen but I would go to a bookstore or outside or a library

The bookstores I go to have cafes, as does my library.

SoulOfRusalka

Music and walking are mine, too. Also, be nice to yourself in every other way- get your coziest blanket and a cup of tea and curl up with your favorite book or show. Whatever distracts you and makes you feel calmer

Deadcat66

Going for a walk helps me. I think the physical activity helps mental strains from dominating your mind as it is a distraction. Try going a different route you've never been on every time, even just to the level of walking the other side or the street to normal and you see everything from a new point of view. Just this can help your mind sort itself out. Also take a few very deep breathe while out walking and sigh this releases tensions you are holding onto. hope that helps.

sndrd49

MarziDeThrall wrote: »

Go window shopping. I love to do this. Focus on all the cool clothes you're going to get when you meet your goal.

This is going to sound silly, but also when I'm upset, I like to play Guns N Roses Appetite For Destruction at top volume in my car and sing/shout along with ol' Axl Rose. IDK why this helps, but it always makes me feel better.

I get this! Also in the this is going to sound silly category......dance. whatever music you like but dance around your living room. It will make you smile, guaranteed. It will lighten your mood and burn some calories and that will take away your junk food cravings. Just try It, for even one song, and let us know how it goes.

my_cleanfit_journey

I'm an emotional eater who spent the better part of the last 10+ yrs using food as a way to feel "better" & those of us out there know how that goes. I decided to make a change 9mos ago & started running & I've got to agree that exercise is key for me. By the time I'm done doing my run/workout all my stress is gone

kiela64

Thank you all for your suggestions and your stories

I ended up not buying junk food yesterday. I did scream out loud and cry a little bit. Then I picked up my dumbbell and played Downtown by Macklemore on loop. Not a big amount of exercise, but enough that I felt more grounded.

What first deterred me from going to the store was that it was -25C degrees outside plus wind, so I did not end up going for a walk, but you're right that has been helpful in the past.

JennieMaeK wrote: »

Exercise definitely helps. I find that regular exercise helps keep my stress levels down and makes me less incline to eat emotionally. And if I'm having a bad day, exercise is a great mood booster. I like running, but I think anything that gets your heart pumping and kicks those endorphins in is good.

I also enjoy knitting. I find the repetitiveness relaxing, almost meditative. Keeps me occupied as well.

I 100% need to get back to knitting, I forgot how wonderful it is. My sweater has been sitting 3/4 finished for too long. I also miss running, but I can't do it yet because of my knees.

pbprincess wrote: »

I take a bath with my music loud so I can't hear anyone else. Or I go for a long hike/bike ride (like several hours long), and have a treat afterwards since I generally dump 1000+ calories in the process.

I had a bath yesterday as well (and today).

CollieFit wrote: »

I always had a pretty normal relationship with food, but when both my parents died after long chronic illness I became an emotional eater for a while and I became fat. Then I found myself some bereavement counselling and found a more appropriate way of managing my emotions. Now when I feel a bit frustrated I let it out during exercise.

I'm very sorry for your loss, that sounds rough. I did actually bring up my eating in therapy but my therapist said I would need to find someone else to work on it with because she did not specialize in EDs. I'm hoping to figure it out myself, but it would have been useful to have that support I agree.

gia07 wrote: »

What are you emotional about?

If you were going to put your coat on and go buy ice cream, put your coat on and go buy your self something you need or just go somewhere and stop getting so worked up over food.

I am not sure I would call this emotional eating? It just sounds like you are hangry for some reason.

I was having an overwhelming sensation of emotions, I don't really know if there was an "about" - I was not sleeping well for a number of nights because of anxiety and I kept having very weird/idiotic nightmares about social media. It's a mixture of feeling sad about valentines day (cliche, I know), being angry with myself for not being as on top of my homework as I'd like to be, reliving a number of social awkwardness moments over and over, and PMS hormonal Overreacting to Life. The emotions were present for a number of days before I felt compelled to eat - but I do know it was emotional eating because it does feel like a building of stress until I eat a lot of terrible junk food. But I know the eating doesn't help, and I feel more self loathing, but it still happens sometimes all the same. I also wasn't hungry, so it's not eating for hunger.

eamelone88 wrote: »

I used to be a huge emotional binge eater, there are websites available with tips on how to stop emotional eating. Just Google it, . I enjoy walking a lot, helps clear your mind. I also enjoy doing word searches! oh I also am learning how to crochet and started reading more. Those are just a few things you can do to keep your mind busy and active and not think about food. Also tell yourself every day that you're stronger than the urge to eat junk food. You have to remind yourself. You can do it!

Thank you! I will look them up. I've been reading a lot lately too, and I've found it helpful with my sleep. Thanks