Tips and advice on emotional/stress eating?

Dayniie

I started my weightloss journey and have been doing great. I log everything I eat and work out 5 days a week.

Ive been having a tough time lately, and with knowing my past I am a huge emotional eater. Stressed, anxious, sad, I wont just go eat some junk food, but I will sit and eat half a loaf of plain bread... And only then start on junk food.

Is there any tips or advice anyone has which helped them? Ive tried exercising when I feel that urge, but I lose all motivation until I eat then just feel worse which spirals for that day.

I also have an extreme of doing the opposite and not eating anything for a day or so, but thats not as often.

Thanks in advance, I really want to kick the habit or find an alternative

georgie505

I always do this too! Like, I used to eat until I felt like I physically couldn't fit any more in. Maybe try 5HTP? it's available at myprotein, natural seratonin boostsr, hope this helped! Let me know if anything else works!

kommodevaran

I find it easier to not "abuse" food when I plan for and aim to stick to regular, appealing meals. I almost always want to eat something, so I still have to use discipline sometimes and talk myself out of eating outside plan. Like
"I'm no longer a person who routinely overeats"
"Yes, I know I can eat more, but I'm just a little old lady, I don't need any more food"
"Do I want to use food as entertainment?"
"Yes, that's an urge, but I don't have to follow every urge. I'll be fine"

I don't really exercise. Do you enjoy that much exercise?

rispeechteach

The eating is what always gets me - unless I eat perfectly for the day, I feel like I’m a failure. Then I quit. I’ll be turning 50 this year atom motivated to get healthy. Getting past the cravings - grab a better choice of food- something filling but not high in calories (like vegetable soup or cottage cheese with crackers). Portion your snack- don’t ever just grab the box or bag or stand at the table or counter, walk into another room. Another thing that works for me is a routine after dinner to get my mind off of food - having a cup of tea and reading something motivational or looking at pictures of clothes I want to fit into. For me, the worst thing I can do is look at commercials of delicious foods so I don’t watch tv at night (unless it’s commercial free!). The last thing I can suggest is putting a list in your kitchen of healthy snacks to substitute for your craving- make yourself choose something on that list and eat it instead. Even if you eat 2-3 of those items, it’s better than the junk you will consume! Good luck, I’ll need it too!