battling emotional eating tendencies

Hi - I found that I have to prevent myself from feeling bad, so if I keep myself calm and relaxed and not let things upset me, I wont get into that emotional place where i have to use food to feel better. I try to do relaxing things like when i feel stressed, go to the swimming pool and sometimes not even swim, but just enjoy the relaxation of the water. Sometimes I go aimlessly sightseeing, that takes my mind off food and removes the stress.

So i think prevention is the key.

Make a plan! I like to plan the next day what I'll eat. I try to keep it flexible just in case I have to change up, but the I find myself having more self control.

I absolutely agree. If you can make yourself a menu for the week it really helps. Pre-cut veggies, weigh out nuts or popcorn and put in baggies so you can grab and go. Pre-make sandwiches you can eat as a snack. Sara Lee has the wheat bread that is 45 calories. Filling your fridge and pantry with the good healthy stuff will help big time. When you find yourself "losing it" brush your teeth. You won't eat and your teeth will be clean. LOL

I've been a food addict my whole life...the only way I've found it was possible to stop was just will power and ketogenic diet.

I cut out all the foods that I loved.

Bread..candy..pizza..pretty much any refined carbs...its been a great help in controlling myself. Refined carbs spike your insulant which signals more consumption. Foods that are processed are scientifically designed to be addictive and create cravings. Clean eating means not eating lean cuisines or sandwiches. You need to cook fresh foods which are protein, fat, and fiber. That's what the human body was designed to survive on. Sugars are not, neither is refined carbs, remember that stuff you put in the body is poison. Soda is probably the worst.


The other peice of advice is portion control. You need to pay attention to how much your consuming. Many people on here preach moderation. But if they were really paying attention to labels and weighing things. Well, it makes me wonder.

Granted, I haven't had any of that stuff in almost a year. There are days I'll droll at the prospect of eating a muffin or pizza. But its just not worth it.

You need to figure out what your x factor is. Mine is stress and boredom.

Right now I"m struggling since I need to drop another 10 lbs very fast for my meps test coming up. But weight loss and changing habits takes time. If you can stop for a week it will get easier. If you screw up, just let it go, and start over the next day.