Emotional eating can be a problem when you are trying to eat healthy. It can throw you off track and back to your unhealthy eating and lifestyle choices. Here are the three things I’ve done to help me keep emotional eating from making me gain weight or fall completely off the wagon.
This past few years has given me plenty to stir up my emotions. There have been many times when I’ve been feeling angry or lonely and looking for comfort and turned to food. At the same time I am determined to not let these times ruin all the work I’ve done to keep myself healthy and strong. I know some folks like crunchy, salty things like chips. For me it’s mostly sweets that I want.
Of course there is much that can be done to minimize the emotional triggers to begin with. Like having a network of friends or family that I enjoy spending time with and talking to. Like getting involved in activities that are enriching. Like getting back to hobbies I used to enjoy.
But STILL…Sometimes I just want the comfort of food!
So, here are the three things that I talk more about in the video that have helped me deal with my emotional eating in those times.
#1 Don’t Beat Yourself Up About It!
At first I felt bad about myself for not being able to resist eating the cookies or chips etc. I didn’t always make the best choices. But I refused to make it worse by telling myself I was weak, bad, or whatever for my emotional eating.
#2 Make Healthier Choices
Ok, I’m going to want something sweet. Especially in the evening. That’s when the need arises. I try to make sure I have healthier options of what I crave available. I’ve made my own oatmeal cookies and used dates instead of sugar. With the abundance of bananas I usually have around I can easily make sugar free banana bread. (Here’s my recipe.) And lately I’ve been making it with oat flour and buckwheat flower.
#3 Keep doing the emotional/spiritual healing work
I know that the root of my emotional eating/issues are related to the emotional wounds I have. We all have them. By continuing to do the work to heal and release the wounds that are at the root of why I’m feeling triggered and needing comfort I’ve found my emotional eating cravings have been greatly reduced. It’s helped me be able to do #1 and #2 even more. I’m more loving with my self. I’m choosing more things like fresh fruit to satisfy my sweet tooth.
What is it that triggers you that causes you to crave certain foods? What is it you crave? Leave a comment below.
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