As far back as I can remember, food has always been a struggle for me. If I felt anxious, it was a pint of ice cream. If I felt stressed, I would grab chips and dip or chocolate while I watched TV. Food was my way to cope, and after I ate the whole pint of ice cream, bag of chips, or bar of chocolate there was the guilt.
I am an emotional eater!
Notice I didn't use the past tense of that statement. When you struggle with food, it can be a daily battle. Changing your mindset and finding other ways to relieve stress or anxiety can help you overcome this challenge. It took a while to realize that I needed to make a change and then even longer to figure out how to actually do that. You have to find what healthy alternatives work for you, but these are just a few things that worked for me.
Exercise - Taking a simple walk or yoga has been a huge help in reducing my anxiety and helping me control my emotional eating. Exercising also releases endorphins which are the feel good hormones.
Meditation - This took time and practice. Now, I find sitting in silence and focusing on my breathing to be very calming. There are apps (I use the Calm app) and YouTube videos you can follow, but just sitting for even one minute in complete silence can be helpful. By doing this on a daily basis, you can start the day in a positive mindset.
Journal/Track your food - Journaling your thoughts along with tracking your food can help you identify when you are struggling. Review your journal for any triggers. Knowing what caused the emotional eating can help you find ways to work through your emotions in a healthier way. Here is an example of a food journal.
If you have tried options on your own and still struggle with emotional eating, there are groups and organizations that can help. You can look up local or online support groups. They may be able to offer assistance to anyone having problems with food.
Know someone who may benefit from this? Please feel to share!
