Navigate The Emotional Eating Red Zone
Emotional Eating can come upon you very quickly. One moment you’re going about your regular business and the next an event or even just a thought has you rushing off to grab an unhealthy little perk up.
There are many underlying reasons why you can feel driven to eat when you aren’t really hungry. When the urge strikes the most important thing is to stay in the driver’s seat and don’t allow a momentary impulse to derail your weight management efforts. Identify the reason for the craving and give yourself an opportunity to make a different decision before you indulge.
Cravings pass just as feelings do so distraction can be a good tool. Sidetrack yourself with an activity incompatible with eating such as putting on a load of washing or patting the cat. You can buy time by telling yourself you can indulge if you just drink two glasses of water and eat a carrot or apple first. By the time you’ve finished a healthy food that’s labour-intensive to chew the feeling may have passed. If it’s really dire clean your teeth. Sometimes you may need to physically leave the scene of where the food is available while you process the feelings that had you looking for that food. Every time you give in the neural pathway is strengthened, meaning the compulsion will become stronger next time.
If you fall off the wagon forgive yourself swiftly and move on quickly. The more time you spend linking food and guilt in your mind the stronger the neural pathways will be and the harder it will be to make changes. Don’t speak to yourself in a way you would not speak to a loved one. Be a friend to yourself.
Uncontrolled spending is often caused by and related to uncontrolled eating. As you succeed in breaking your negative patterns and gaining control of your choices you may also find yourself with a little extra cash. Reward yourself with non-food treats. You deserve to enjoy nice things as well as good foods and a healthy body. Buy yourself some new clothes, books or whatever makes you happy.
Emotional eating affects most people but it’s your choice to what degree it affects your habits and your weight. If you work to master the connection between mood and food you will find that good physical and emotional health will follow.
There are many underlying reasons why you can feel driven to eat when you aren’t really hungry. When the urge strikes the most important thing is to stay in the driver’s seat and don’t allow a momentary impulse to derail your weight management efforts. Identify the reason for the craving and give yourself an opportunity to make a different decision before you indulge.
Cravings pass just as feelings do so distraction can be a good tool. Sidetrack yourself with an activity incompatible with eating such as putting on a load of washing or patting the cat. You can buy time by telling yourself you can indulge if you just drink two glasses of water and eat a carrot or apple first. By the time you’ve finished a healthy food that’s labour-intensive to chew the feeling may have passed. If it’s really dire clean your teeth. Sometimes you may need to physically leave the scene of where the food is available while you process the feelings that had you looking for that food. Every time you give in the neural pathway is strengthened, meaning the compulsion will become stronger next time.
If you fall off the wagon forgive yourself swiftly and move on quickly. The more time you spend linking food and guilt in your mind the stronger the neural pathways will be and the harder it will be to make changes. Don’t speak to yourself in a way you would not speak to a loved one. Be a friend to yourself.
Uncontrolled spending is often caused by and related to uncontrolled eating. As you succeed in breaking your negative patterns and gaining control of your choices you may also find yourself with a little extra cash. Reward yourself with non-food treats. You deserve to enjoy nice things as well as good foods and a healthy body. Buy yourself some new clothes, books or whatever makes you happy.
Emotional eating affects most people but it’s your choice to what degree it affects your habits and your weight. If you work to master the connection between mood and food you will find that good physical and emotional health will follow.