Day 10 of my detox, and I feel like giving up. Not because I feel deprived or hungry or anything, but because I have this huge need for some emotional eating. I have to find a way to stop it in its tracks!
Yes, I am an emotional eater! I bring joy and comfort to my life by eating primarily sweets. I’ve had a sweet tooth for as long as I can remember, which is probably the reason I have always struggled with my weight.
“Eating, and, in particular, indulgence in sweets, raises levels of the natural feel-good hormone serotonin while lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol, giving the mood a temporary lift.” –SkinnyMs
I am feeling depressed today, and I just want to do something nice for myself. Yet, I am stuck behind the desk with lots of work to do. That means going for a walk, or taking a nap are not an option.
The good news is, that I followed the plan and removed all the foods not allowed during this detox from my fridge and pantry. From my desk, the foods I can see are apples, tangerines, and walnuts. Funny thing, though, I am not hungry. Hmm…
See how it can be tough to make these huge lifestyle changes on your own? Everybody struggles! So, please, will you join me on this journey? Click here to get started today!
Now, let’s look at some advice out there to stop emotional eating:
How to Stop Emotional Eating
Step 1 – Becoming Aware of Your Emotional Eating
The first step is to become aware of your emotional eating, and differentiate the cravings you may be experiencing from hunger.
“When you walk to the refrigerator, pantry or snack machine, ask a simple question: “Am I really hungry?” It’s too easy to just dive into mindless eating. By asking yourself this question, you at least recognize your motivation. In the best cases, you may decide, “No, I’m not really hungry,” and walk away. At other times, being more aware may help you make better food choices.” –Cleveland Clinic
Step 2 – Finding the Cause and Triggers for Your Emotional Eating
Chronic stress, depression, or simply a rough patch in your life can all be cause for your cravings, and what needs to happen is to deal with those underlying causes. How can you reduce stress? Do you suffer from serious depression requiring medical help? Is the current situation really as bad as you think. Will you still remember it tomorrow?
Notice what your triggers are. Does it happen every time you had a stressful day at work? Or maybe every time you and your best friend end up in a fight, you end up craving a huge piece of chocolate cake? When you learn about your triggers, you will be able to prevent emotional eating. You will already know that you will feel like a huge piece of chocolate, and can get working on preventing that.
Step 3 – Find Healthy Alternatives to Your Emotional Eating
Healthy snacks – fruit, green tea with lemon juice, baby carrots dipped in guacamole, eggs with salsa, nuts, etc.
Activities – walking, dancing, singing, taking a bath or a nap, listening to music, meditating, cuddling up with a good book, etc.
Let yourself feel your emotions – cry, scream, slam that door, etc.
I would love to know if you are experiencing emotional eating too, and what ways you have found to deal with it. Please let me know in the comments below!
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