I put constant work into actively curbing cravings and really considering if I'm hungry before I eat. This has lead to a huge boost in energy for me, a new appreciation for my job, loved ones, myself, and it has lead to an easier time in saying no to 'rewarding' myself with food.

Donuts in the office? Don't need it. Pizza for dinner? I'll order a salad and have 1 slice. The more you learn to say no, the more empowered you feel and the easier it becomes as time goes on.

When it comes to the emotions themselves, you're going to feel them. Life is a roller coaster so prepare by having good form, saying no to yourself in the every-day. When you can't control the emotions, you can control your habits. If I get super worked up on a day or have been feeling in a slump, I get a PT from my gym to let me blow off some steam. This is typically an intense HIIT workout followed by a 10-minute cooldown where we do some breathing exercises and yoga. $20 is nothing compared to feeling reinvigorated to tackle your life proactively, and this works wonders for me. Since getting into a healthy routine, I've only had to do this a handful of times, as my personal perception of myself is somewhat linked to my emotional status (i.e. the better I feel about myself, the less I tend to become aggravated or emotionally drained).

Lastly I'll say to anybody reading this, emotional eating is a form of coping. Really stop and think about what you're worth, think about life, and think about how you can make yourself happy in it. Find exercise you enjoy, find food that you love that won't make you crave, and find people you can confide in. The less you stress the happier you will be, and the more determined you will feel to give your mind and body the love it deserves.