Eating my emotions ...

I eat my emotions as well. I had a tough day at work and finally sit down last night to relax and all I wanted was junk food...ugh I need self control.

sounds more like an excuse to eat junk food....now i dont want to come accross as been harsh in that statement so hear me out.............if you eat junk your metabolic rate is low and you feel sluggish and DOWN...which in your situation is not nice for you and can also lead to bad places........but if you still eat right your attitude will be more positive and therefore the nob jocky that is your ex wont get you down so much........anyway i wish you all the very very best....stu (stormy)

Congratulations on doing so well! I am an emotional eater too (stressed, happy, sad, bored, frustrated).

It might sound weird, but if you feel a binge coming on imagine your ex is there watching you. Use this as motivation to do something healthy instead. Sometimes brushing your teeth helps to get rid of the chocolate cravings, or even better do for a walk or run and kill two birds with one stone. Or call a friend, or come on here! Anything but eat!

Concentrate on how great it will feel when you are looking damn good and moving on with your life without him.
Keep up your great work!

What you need to do is find ways to channel your feelings. This is very induvidual, but I try to exercise and keep busy when I feel like I'm close to falling back on food.
I also make sure than I'm not hungry and thirsty, since that makes it easier for me to turn to food. And if I'm close I try water or a fruit instead of chocolate and bread.

Try to eliminate the stress in your life that you can.
Meditating and yoga had helped me to find a better balance in life too and it helps.

It has been a struggle for me and it took a long time for me to realise that I was an emotional eater, but knowing is the first step. Stop and think instead of eating directly. Talk to people about your emotions instead of holding them inside of you. You will probably have some set backs on the way, but that's okay. If you do: Use it! Make sure you put everything in your food diary and ask yourself why you ate it and what you can do differently the next time.

Never use food as a punishment or a treat for yourself (at least until you've gotten full control over your eating).

And always remember that we are all here for you if you need help on the way! Good luck!

Emotional eating has always been my issue. I even had an ex-boyfreind tell me that he didn't understand why I was overweight because I eat NORMALLY...but he never saw the binges. The moments when things get a little hectic, stressful, or even just boring I would stuff my face.

I think the first step is realizing that you have this issue. I didn't really realize that my only downfall was emotional eating. I finally realized it and it has helped. If you are conscious (sp) of it you can control it. Just try to stop yourself when you start eating and ask yourself why you are eating?...If it is because you just had a stressful moment then stop, if its because you are hungry then enjoy your meal.

I think that realizing you have this issue will help you control it. Just take it a day at a time and most of all I hope you finally get rid of that stressful ex once and for all :flowerforyou:

If you feel that eating is your emotional crutch, then you will have to make sure all of the things you like to eat are out of the house.
Your kids don't need that junk either. If you need a sweet fix buy sugar free cool whip, your favorite fruit, and some plain greek yogurt. mix the coolwhip in the yogurt and top with berries. Cook better things when you want to eat instead.

Cooking can help slow down your need to eat it all, your hands are busy, your mind is on the recipe, and you smell your food.

Here are things I find that calm me down before I emotional eat.
cleaning and marinating meat for the meals for the next few days.
cutting up fruits and veggies for snacks
banding my spaghetti
baking things like banana bread/ (cookie flats for the kids add dark chocolate chips)
making chocolate cupcakes (look up libby's pumpkin recipe)

Something else that is odd for me that helps is:
I pick a part of my house that is quite and clean it. Strange I know, But I like to think I am scrubbing away my ex's face

And if you do slip, just burn a few more cals for the next week. remember it is the average of a few days that can make all the difference.

I have just realised that I am an emotional eater!! and had never realised it, I can see myself in everything you are all saying, recently ive taken up craft projects and find that helps me stop eating (sewing, ragging, anything that keeps my hands and mind busy) and believe it or not looking at pictures of food and planning meals stops me from actually getting up and making it!

I eat when im tired, bored, hungover, sad, lonely, unhappy, I eat to socialise and any combination of any other emotions. For me its about learning to eat to live not live to eat! but that is hard........

And when I do get the urge, I tell myself to drink a cup of water first, and normally that helps me lose the urge, or if it still persist, I eat less because I already feel fuller.

Understanding that you have an emotional crutch in food is important. We need to admit it before we can cure it. I think finding other ways to deal with emotional ups and downs is very hard; maybe the hardest part of my journey thus far.

You are doing well. Just stay focused.

Good luck
:flowerforyou:

This isn't to sound rude, so please don't take it that way, but see a therapist.

I started seeing a counselor about a year ago, not because I have any major psychological issues, but just because I thought it would be good to have somebody to talk to. And it has really helped me get to the root of the real issue when it comes to emotional eating. It's not about the food, it's about something else inside. Once you can get to that problem and learn how to manage and cope with the internal issues you have, you will be able to look at food in a different way.

I realize it can be really expensive to see a therapist, but there are many counselors who work on a sliding scale or take insurance, and many counseling centers have "junior counselors" who are basically graduate students getting their masters (or sometimes phds) in psychology, behavioral counseling, etc. They don't have to be the greatest therapist in the world, but having an objective person who can help you gain some insight is totally worth it.

Although I struggle with my weight, I can honestly say I am completely happy with who I am as a person and no longer feel that emotional attachment to food. Good luck!!!