Emotional eater

cameogem
cameogem Posts: 1
in Introduce Yourself
So many triggers. Ideas on things that someone has tried that has been successful. Especially for the evening time

Replies

  • focusedonfitness2015
    focusedonfitness2015 Posts: 240 Member
    I'm an emotional eater too and found if I hit the gym instead of the kitchen, I win all around! good luck!
  • Laurenloveswaffles
    Laurenloveswaffles Posts: 535 Member
    Here is a group to join on binge eating: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/726-binge-eating-support-group

    As a binge eater myself (trying to work on it), I started doing IIFYM (if it fits your macros) so that I can enjoy my favorite food in moderation. I also do intermittent fasting with an eating window between 12-6pm. This allows me to eat most of my calories in the evening so I don't binge. I struggled in the evening time too.

    I still have bad days, but it has gotten a lot easier. Just take it day by day.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    What are your triggers?
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    I'm an emotional eater too and found if I hit the gym instead of the kitchen, I win all around! good luck!

    This kind of works for me. Sometimes I rather just talk about what is stressing me out and figure out a solution.
  • NatJ522
    NatJ522 Posts: 16 Member
    I'm with you! I am awful at emotionally eating. When I am really stressed which seems to happen ALL the time, I reach for junk food :( Hate it and trying to get away from it but it's hard. Try to get help with it (i.e. dietician, mental health) and although I am learning what is good for you and what isn't I actually have NO help with emotional eating. No support system, no one I can talk to, nothing. it's hard. I'm here if you ever wanna talk about it!
  • doctorregenerated
    doctorregenerated Posts: 188 Member
    Plan your meals. Log everything you eat.
    In particular, plan your snacks - good snacks that you enjoy. Prepackage them into good portions.
    Look forward to them all day. Eat them slow.
    Come on here and partake in the community. Don't do it alone.
    Come up with some creative ideas of how to spend your evening time. Clean, get involved in an interesting project, ect.
    Face those triggers head on. If its family or stress, make an action plan and follow through.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    i recommend recording your binges. that way you can look back and reflect.
  • LosingExtraKristy
    LosingExtraKristy Posts: 164 Member
    Me too!! Someone had told me about Over Eaters Annon and how I probably needed help and support to develope a healthy relationship with food. I was scared at the thought of going to meetings, and tough with having to find someone to look after the kids. Since then, I've been more aware of when I started eating over emotions. I have been trying to remind myself that food isn't going to make it better, it's going to make things worse. So far, it's worked for me. I haven't gone crazy eating for quite a while. Not real tricks, just talking myself out of it. Good luck!! :smile:
  • Evelynnn2014
    Evelynnn2014 Posts: 42
    Those are my worst times, too. When I'm stressed, say I just had a fight with a family member for example, I eat differently. I just chomp quickly through everything, instead of enjoying the food. I can only think that recognizing the problem may help. Chomp on gum or something low cal and make yourself take a walk to pound it out on the pavement. Maybe that will help relax you. As for night time, I've learned that staying up late = munchies. Better to get in bed before that starts. Best of luck!
  • Glossysweets
    Glossysweets Posts: 69
    I struggle from this as well. I have actually dealt with this very recently and have tried to find a solution.

    For me I find that emotional eating and boredom sometimes go hand in hand. If I am busy there is no way I can emotionally eat. I do not have the ability to just leave my house and go to the gym at night when I am emotionally eating as my child is asleep an I obviously have to stay home.

    So,
    1. If you are emotional - do something you like - that keeps you fully occupied. No TV. Perhaps read a really good book that keeps you fully engaged. Better yet if you can do the gym thing - definitely do that. If not then do something like play video games - they keep you engaged and occupied.

    2. Keeping healthy types of snacks/foods in your house is good. Don't overdue the healthy thing though. If you are a sweets person and that's what you go to then maybe get some dark chocolate in the house that you enjoy that won't feel as bad as other things. If you like chips then consider getting some air popped popcorn and even adding in some good nuts if you want. If it helps consider doing what someone else suggested like weighing out your snacks.

    3. Definitely reach out and talk to others about it. If you are having a hard time maybe you can have a support system. Feel free to add me as a friend as I have dealt and do deal with this stuff from time to time. I am determined to break this cycle as it is embarrassing for me (not because I'm fat or anything, just because I love myself and that is counterintuitive).

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