Emotional eating is a type of eating that most if not all of us have done at one time or another. This is basically using food a way to deal with the emotional upheaval in our lives. For example, dealing with out of control stress or other negative type feelings. if not taken care of properly it can lead to weight gain and in some cases a habit that will be hard for a person to break. So, for those who want to know how to stop emotional eating, here are some tips that can help get you on the right track toward doing so.
Become Aware of the Triggers
Emotional eating can be one of the most mindless type eating we do. Sometimes we do this at a certain time of day, or when we feel like we just need a pick me up. Let’s face it one of the main things we associate with cheering ourselves up or rewarding ourselves with is food, especially junk food. Being aware of this is the first step toward dealing with the emotional eating problem, ask yourself do you really need that food item, and ask yourself if you are really hungry. Taking the time to really think about this is the first step toward most mindful eating, not emotional eating.
Keep a Food Journal
This one is an ideal way to help you become aware of what you are eating. It helps a person to see the food choices they are making and how the triggers of emotional eating could be taking place. This can be done using a standard notebook or even using a computer, it is what a person is most comfortable doing. But just having all the food jotted down for you to see helps you to learn there is a problem and how to start dealing with it.
Make Better Choices When Shopping and From Vending
There is a saying if you don’t have the food in your home then you can’t eat it. This holds true to those junk food items that are associated with emotional eating. If you don’t buy the chips, the candy or the cookies you don’t feel tempted to eat them. That’s not to say over time you can’t have them in moderation but while trying to kick the emotional eating habit best not to even buy these. Same with vending machines if necessary avoid them till you get your eating under control.
Find Methods to Cope with Stress
This is another key factor to combating emotional eating, dealing with the problems that began the eating habit. There are several positive techniques that can be utilized to help combat stress, for example, meditation, being active such as taking a walk while communing with nature, listening to music and even taking a hot relaxing bath.
Bottom line is emotional eating is something that shouldn’t be ignored. It can lead to other problems, such as becoming a serious eating disorder. If you find that it is too difficult to combat the issue on your own, it could be time to consult a doctor to get their help in getting the emotional eating under control.
