Emotional eating

[Evosbev]

Anyone got some idea on how on earth I am conquer emotional eating? My stress levels have been through the roof this morning and evening and all I want to do is stuff myself silly on anything I can! Anyone ever beaten emotional eating? Thanks

[IndiGirl]

I have been an emotional eater but I'm in a fairly stressfree environment right now. No help I know. A couple of things come to mind though, punching a pillow or if you can get access, a punching ball/bag and one of those stress toys you hold and squeeze the living daylights out of. There's also putting load music on and dancing as though you are having a fit, or if you can going outside and screaming. Stay inside and scream into a pillow. Take up a physical activity like swimming, running, even going ten pin bowling is great for getting that anger out :)

Stress is usually frustration over a situation you can't change and a big part of that is anger. It's a really powerful emotion and full of lots of energy. It's the energy that needs to be used. Women tend to get the message in society that it's unladylike to XYZ. One of those is to express anger or displeasure. Bugger that! Take it out on the pillow instead of the body I say :)

Not sure if any of this has been helpful, but I wish you as much luck as you need to find a way to deal with this.

[Evosbev]

Thanks :) you're spot on in that I need to find a release for my frustrations! I have no idea what though as I also tend to emotionally eat when I am happy to celebrate as well as frustrated, does that make sense? I had a coke zero instead of 'bad' food so I guess that's a start lol

[dannielle89]

I just posted this in another thread but there is an amazing book about emotional eating called "Food: The Good Girl's Drug - How to Stop Using Food to Control Your Feelings" :)

[Calli]

I would say write a list of things you like to do, and remember that you are CONSCIOUSLY REWIRING your brain. This is hard work, but it's totally worth it, and remember you are going against the industrial food complex. You have all the power you need for this.

Things I try and do instead... make sure I don't have any medical conditions that will make me eat or overeat! ie, candida, hypoglycaemia, or anything else. Then, make sure you're drinking lots of water. Lastly, make sure you are eating properly nutritious food.

Now the important stuff - what can you do instead of eat?

Celebrate: ring a friend or family member and burble happily at them! Shout for joy! Run around and tell three people near you how happy you are about something. Write it on a whiteboard in huge letters and as many colours as you can find.

Stress: take physical action. Also, regular excercize will help your body to handle the stress levels. Make sure there's no unwanted food in the house. Find a TV show you really like, and save episodes to make yourself feel better. Or find some fanfiction set in that universe that makes you feel like the show is still on/you enjoy. Ring up and complain to some one (after you have made them promise not to try and solve the problems until you say "ok, I'm ready now".) Create a comfortable safe spot to read quietly, or to sit and meditate or think, and plan out the consequences of what has happened and how that will affect the other person(s) that caused stress.

Good luck, I hope I was more helpful than rambly!
:)

Sarah

[Kristy79]

Great Thread!!

[monkey*moo]

I very much relate to this, as I used to constantly emotionally eat. I find meditation and 'my time' to be the best thing for me. I listen to visualisation and hypnotherapy CD's on weight lose daily, convincing my subconscious that I don't want to eat for the sake of eating and I definitely do not want to eat fatty foods. The best one I have found is The Gabriel Method visualisation CD.

In my 'My time' I relax in a hot bath, listening to calm music or reading. Sometime's I'll do some pampering like a home facial or something. I might only do this once every two weeks or once a month (honestly I would love to do it more lol), but when stress surrounds my life, I find the best thing is to revive myself mentally, to attack the issues head on.

I wish I could be more active with my frustration, but I have never been able to physically show my aggression.

Hope you find your vice.

[Robyn2569]

Hi,
One of the girls at my work has devised her own method on this. She has an emotional piggy bank .
Since my office has decided to join me in low card she has struggled with emotional eating. Seems she didn't realize she did until she decided to join me in LC.

She has decided that every time she wants to cave she adds up the cost of what she intends to eat and puts that money into the money box. The money box is in the fridge ! she also has one at work lol

He theory is that by the time she adds the cost gets the money puts it in the box she is past the need to eat and it makes her stop and think if she is really hungry or eating for eating sake.
apparently her desire for a fancy pair of boots is now stronger then her need for stress food .

[jahwilyah]

wow i love that method and the one with visualisation cds etc... this is a great thread. So does she have the money on her in easy change all the time?

[Robyn2569]

wow i love that method and the one with visualisation cds etc... this is a great thread. So does she have the money on her in easy change all the time?

Hi , I asked that too. No she just puts in the closest amount . So if it's $12 she will put in $10 if that's all she has .

[jahwilyah]

that is so brilliant! i used to do something with cigarettes like that but i didnt think to do it with food. I will use the idea if I need it, everything is still relatively new at only 9 weeks in lol and i havent really been bad yet or tempted to me

[Robyn2569]

that is so brilliant! i used to do something with cigarettes like that but i didnt think to do it with food. I will use the idea if I need it, everything is still relatively new at only 9 weeks in lol and i havent really been bad yet or tempted to me

Yes I thought so too. It literally is her " piggy bank " when she feels like being a food pig she banks it rather then eats it !

[nessie bears]

[QUOTE=monkey*moo;262741]In my 'My time' I relax in a hot bath, listening to calm music or reading. Sometime's I'll do some pampering like a home facial or something. I might only do this once every two weeks or once a month (honestly I would love to do it more lol), but when stress surrounds my life, I find the best thing is to revive myself mentally, to attack the issues head on.

I find that me time helps me I have mud mask read a book or I put on emo music and jump up and down like I’m at a rock concert or I go for a long walk with my headphones in and I find that if I remove myself from the bad food that I want to eat than eventually the want goes away.