Emotional eating is one of the biggest reasons that we have an obesity problem in this country. We eat to celebrate. We eat when we are sad. We eat when we are mad. We eat when we are bored, lonely and stressed. We also eat for about 100 other reasons when the only reason we should be eating is when we are hungry.
We live in a society where we can eat our problems away. The truth is we just create new problems and the old issues are still there. The mind is a very powerful thing when it comes to many things and that includes food. Eating emotionally gives us pleasure and is a form of instant gratification. And it is hard to break this cycle, but it can be done.
One of the best tools for accomplishing this is a food journal, but it should be detailed. It should not only include space for the normal items, such as; foods and serving sizes, but you want to be able document how you are feeling at the time, how hungry you are and what you are doing. These things are often things that can determine why we eat, what we eat and how much we eat. You should also document your feelings after you have eaten.
Not only will this documentation give you some insight into why you eat and what caused you to eat, but it will help you identify patterns in your eating. You may not be a nutritionist, but most people have some idea what foods are healthy and which ones are high in fat, sugar and calories. But unfortunately, many people eat things that they know are not benefiting them, just because it fills a void in their life.
Being healthy is more than just the physical things that we do, but it is also about what goes on in our heads. There are many good books that have great information on managing emotional eating. Overeaters Anonymous can also help people that have compulsive eating behaviors. I am no expert, but a person does not get to be many pounds overweight by eating a few extra potato chips once in a while. This happens by trying to solve problems in your life with food.
Losing weight is a process and it will require a healthy diet, regular exercise and a plan for dealing with stress in your life that does not include food.
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