Post Tagged with: "emotional eating"

“Emotional eating” is a commonly-used phrase in conversations about weight loss. But what exactly does it mean? Here are five questions and answers about emotional eating.

1. How do you know if you are an emotional eater?

If you’re eating outside of being hungry, it’s emotional. Keep a journal of what you eat and the emotion you felt before you ate it. You could write, “I was feeling lonely and ate a chocolate chip cookie,” which is very revealing. After you identify your emotion, substitute eating with a healthy behavior whenever you feel that emotion again. Write down a few things you can do instead of eating. You could go for a walk or call a friend. Whenever negative emotions come up, automatically refer to this list.

2. What is the difference between real hunger versus emotional eating?

This weekend likely will bring many reminders of 9/11–on TV, in the newspaper, online. Remembering a grave event, particularly if you have a personal connection to it, can bring up difficult emotions. The same is true of other stressful situations, such as moving, relationship struggles, or challenges at work.

Whether you use this weekend as a time to decompress or as an opportunity to get things done, being mindful of your feelings will help you cope with them in a way that’s healthy and that won’t undermine your diet. One thing to watch out for is the urge to overeat. By recognizing it, you give yourself the chance to choose a better method of coping with the root cause.