'Emotional' Eating?!?

Jordant107
Jordant107 Posts: 218 Member
edited December 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Is there such a thing, or is it just an excuse we use..........................?!?
(I've personally never binged/ over eaten because of my mood?!?)

Replies

  • BlueDahlia77
    BlueDahlia77 Posts: 77
    It's definitely real, although it doesn't have to necessarily be binge eating. From my own experience, emotional eating is eating when I'm sad or happy or stressed or feel the need for a "reward". And it could be eating anything from a candy bar to a whole pizza.

    Mindful eating is a technique some folks use to counteract their ingrained desire to emotionally eat.
  • saraht131
    saraht131 Posts: 86
    Boredom eating is classed as emotional eating too. When I quit smoking a year ago I did a lot of this!
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Is there such a thing, or is it just an excuse we use..........................?!?
    Yes, it's a real thing. Lots of people eat food specifically as a response to their emotions. It's a coping strategy. Some people use drugs to feel better, or drink alcohol, or gamble, or go shopping. Some people eat. Some people have healthier coping strategies, or are fortunate enough not to need them. Emotional eating isn't an "excuse" for anything, but yes, it exists.
    (I've personally never binged/ over eaten because of my mood?!?)
    I don't know the answer to this question.
  • Jordant107
    Jordant107 Posts: 218 Member
    [/quote]
    I don't know the answer to this question.
    [/quote]
    Sorry I hope it doesn't seem like I'm dismissing the idea of it existing!!! It's just that I've never experienced it, so I'm not 100% clear about what it is and how it works!! I'll take everyone's word for it that it exists!!
  • AlyssaWannabe
    AlyssaWannabe Posts: 13 Member
    Yes, it's real. I'm struggling with this so much that I just signed up for MFP to help me track all my eating, emotional or hunger-based. I'm hoping that by tracking it, I'll be able to notice the patterns and to eventually stop my emotional eating.

    Yes, sometimes my emotional eating turns into a binge, but most of the time it's just mindless, boredom or lonliness-based eating.

    "Comfort food" is called that for a reason.
  • CynthiasChoice
    CynthiasChoice Posts: 1,047 Member
    You are very fortunate to have a healthy brain chemistry that promotes natural, healthy eating habits. I think it's great that you put this question out there - it shows that you are open minded and compassionate. Many people who have natural, inborn strengths think highly of themselves and criticize others who don't share their strength.

    My belief is that people who struggle with overeating have abnormally high or low activity in one part of the brain or another. I'm sorry - that's so general it sounds lame. If you're curious about this, check out Dr. Daniel Amen's work with brain scans and various types of over-eaters.
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