I just realised I’m an emotional eater

Finding another outlet is definitely the key. Exercise is great but it’s not your only option. What works for everyone is different. Various things I do when I’m stressed/upset:

- Take a bath
- Watch my favorite show
- Color
- Journal
- Read a favorite book
- Add a glass of wine to any of the above
- Go for a walk

Well, idk about some of the other advice, but I’m def an emotional eater. I know for myself, half the reason I got here in the first place is because of that. Especially with a grandmother that seemingly endeavored to no end to fill me with sweets and cakes and cookies (she was very diabetic and it cost her life).

When it comes to the emotional eating side of it, i decided that A) nothing was off limits and to plan ahead. So for A:

Don’t “fetishize” any of the foods you’re craving. Simply put, if you tell yourself “no that’s bad!” it will inevitably be the thing you crave most. Good news is between a variety of diets and plans, there is actually a lot of great recipes out there for those cravings while keeping calories low and macros good. Check out YouTube and I promise you’ll find some good comfort foods for those moments.

B: planning ahead was important to me, and that simply meant that if I knew, absolutely knew, I was having a *kitten* day or whatever the case may be, I worked doubly hard on my meals, so that I could indulge in snacks later. That was a key for me, because slowly but surely, I realized it wasn’t worth it. I would rather have nice big hefty filling meals, and before I knew it, I was looking at all my food as fuel, and not comfort. I should add, I eat like a king, so I’m not left wanting lol.

At the end of the day, how you approach stress is entirely a personal matter, and I hope you find some ways to control that aspect. It can suck tying those emotions to food, because I know for myself, it’s never “D*mn I’m having a bad day. Oh I know what will help! A handful of carrots and nuts! That will help!”

Worst comes to worst, I have my handy dandy starting photo of me saved on an alarm for all the days that I have to hit the gym, and that motivates me when I really don’t feel like it. Reminding myself why I started this always reinvigorates me.

yes I am an emotional eater, like others I have had to find healthy ways to cope, drinking water, walking, calling a friend, writing it out, telling myself I can be mad or mad and fat. Yes food numbs me just like an alcoholic.

Mrsindepenant1 wrote: »

Then I get mad at myself for doing it. I’ll tell myself who cares if I don’t loose weight what’s the point.

Who cares? YOU DO. Make changes, do what you do... for YOU.
I have times where I have the same thing going through my head. Instead of “who cares?” The voice in my head asks, “What’s the point?”

You have to make the change for yourself, and some days (and sometimes a lot of days) it doesn’t feel worth the struggle.

I use a quote I found I found on Instagram as the lock screen on my phone so that I see it all the time:

“It’s easier to wake up early and work out than it is to look in the mirror every day and not like what you see.”

Some stresses make me want to eat a whole cake, and others have made me turn away from my food. For me, I try really hard to view my food as fuel: I struggle to fit going to the gym in my life, so why do I want to derail that effort by binging? It works most of the time. And when I really want to, i build that 800 calorie piece of cake into my calorie allotment for the day and then move on. I’ve had more than one doctor recommend anti-depressants, but I find lifting weights and being more active gives me a mood boost - that mood boost is what gets me to the gym most days.

I think I’ve probably gone off track here, but I think my point is that you have to find what works for you, and you have to remember that this is a lifelong process. We all have our pitfalls and weak spots, or our injuries or whatever. I put a small piece of cake or small bowl of kettle corn into my calorie allotment almost every day, so that I don’t feel deprived. There was a point in my life where I’d eat a whole batch of kettle corn (with extra butter!) in one sitting. And then potato chips or fries. I don’t ever want to be there again, but some days it is really hard. Just know you aren’t alone in your struggle.