Emotional Eater

LoisSilva

I have a confession. I am an emotional eater. If I am stressed, sad, happy, whatever the emotion may be I reach for food. Just today I had all my snacks and food planned out for a successful day of healthy eating, and what happens. Everything! Stress up the wazoo! Top it off my 3-year old threw a record tantrum and I reached for the food! One package of Ramen later and all I feel is frustrated with myself.

Is anyone else out there or has anyone been an emotional eater? Have you overcome this terrible habit? What did you replace food with?

Suggestions Please!!!!

jeorwa

I also am an emotional eater (tho I have been known to eat out of boredom!)
I log my food before I eat it, and when I am feeling stressed I exercise. I'm starting to actually crave exercise as a stress reliever now! WHAT?!?!? Aweseome! I also am sleeping a LOT better! :-)

xTattooedDollx

I'm one too. I overcame it with exercise, but I fell off the wagon and am having problems getitng back on.

MayaPapaya64

I absolutely am, too. And a boredom eater. I definitely slip up sometimes, but I have a few tricks...

When it's comfort foods I crave and nothing else will do, I find that mashed cauliflower (easy on the skim milk and butter) is kind of like mashed potatoes, so is pretty satisfying. Especially if it's really hot! Or a baked sweet potato with a tiny bit of maple syrup. If I want crunch or carbs, a piece of really good multi grain baguette or seed-y bread with some hummus is nice.

If I can, I try to stop and ask myself why I'm eating - what is really going on. If I'm not actually hungry, I try to do something to keep busy (clean, go for a walk, go shopping, call a friend, write email). If I'm actually hungry, I try to go for something healthier like pre-cut veggies.

I also drink a lot of sparkling water and tea throughout the day. It helps more on the boredom eating front than the emotional eating front, though.

kltobin2010

Hi LoisSilva,

How about counting to 20 before you grab something to eat then ask yourself am I hungry or just emotional. Or try saying a phase like, "I will not eat because I'm happy/sad" or, "I'll only eat when I'm hungry". I'm not an emotional eater but I use to eat mindlessly. As I made myself become aware of when my body was actually hungry, I stopped mindlessly eating. There are still times that I want to eat because I think I'm hungry or I'm bored, I just drink a glass of water, wait and see if I'm still hungry or I exercise. By exercising, I'm no longer bored and now I'm actually getting a workout in as well.
Hope that helps...just know, you WILL succeed!

kelseyt17

I too am an emotional eater. I started at 160 pounds, I lost down to about 145. This August I lost my grandpa and I gained it all back. I got into one of those "I don't even care" moods. It took me awhile to get back on track and its still very hard to stay on track when I get stressed. But I have to stop and remind myself that I DO care about myself. I DO want to be happy. It DOES matter. And I NEED this.

One thing I've done is every time I get stressed and want to go for the junk food I make myself drink an entire water. I usually feel full after that and don't want the junk food & calm down before I start wanting the junk food again.

Or I give in. To a Really low calorie version. Find a snack that you love that's really low calorie. I have bad sweet tooth. And I eat sugary food 2-3 times a day. But I get the special K bars that are about 90 calories each. Or Jello mouse temptations that are only 60 calories. I love them!

Another thing is the saying. "If you don't buy it, you won't eat it." So make sure your stomach is full before you go shopping.

jennblack23

try gum..that's always a trick that bob tells the contestants on the biggest loser..you can get different flavored ones, and the sugar free ones are only like 5 calories..plus you get the chewing action, so you can kind of trick yourself into thinking you're eating..and i think if you're stressed it might feel good to bite down on the gum..lol..i have 3 kids, and my youngest, my son is 3 and he's autistic, so i know all about those stressful days with the kdis..lol..well i hope you find something that helps..oh, and i am SO an emotional eater, doesn't matter the emotion, but it's usually worse when i'm stressed or mad at my husband..lol

lilac67

I'm an emotional eater, too. I really did better after reading Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth. Things have been getting a little harder and I think I'm going to re-read it and use the "class" on Oprah.com that goes along w/ the book. I invite you to read it and take the class.

http://www.oprah.com/packages/women-food-god.html

Seasidedebbie

I am an emational eater big time. I am having problems getting back on track. I know I will it just takes a couple of good days.

Thanks for all the advice from everyone.

Debbie

Valtishia

I try to do the exercise thing to keep myself busy during times of stress and do something beneficial for my body rather than sabotaging myself.

Another trick I use is that Crystal Lite stuff or some variant of it, and make popsicles with it. It will take you some time to eat it and hopefully allow some time to calm down a little bit from whatever event just occured. It helps with hydration and it won't sabotage your weight loss efforts