Break the Cycle of Emotional Eating!
Do you eat even when you are not hungry? You may be suffering from an emotional eating disorder.
Although this disorder may sometimes need the attention of a professional therapist, some of you may actually beat this with the right motivation and a little bit of help and support from your family and friends.
Eating as an answer to different emotions such as sadness, depression, anger, or even happiness is very unhealthy.
This is because you have learned to base your eating habits - a physical need - on feelings - which are psychological in nature.
In essence, this is wrong because physical needs should be responded to by physical actions, while emotional needs should be satisfied by psychological actions.
There are many explanations to the craving to eat whenever emotions are running high.
One such explanation is that some foods bring about a change in the hormonal levels in the body and triggers some form of relief from the current emotion being felt.
For instance, chocolates are easily a favorite when feeling sad or depressed; this is because of the endorphins that are stimulated by the chocolate.
Once in a while, we tend to give to cravings like this, but if you rely on foods to make you feel better, then you may be in trouble.
How do you avoid overeating when you are emotional? The first step to stop emotional overeating is to know yourself and to identify what triggers these binges.
Do you suddenly have the urge to eat before taking an important exam or next in line for that dreaded year-end performance assessment? Do you feel the need to eat after arguing with your partner? These are the most common triggers - stress, anxiety, anger, insecurity- and once you recognize what situations prompt you to overeat, then you can find ways to avoid being in those situations.
Or better yet, to find other ways of dealing with your emotions.
The next step you should take is to let yourself feel what real hunger is again.
This way, you will notice the physical cues of wanting food instead of emotional cues that lead to emotional overeating.
In the morning, you will most likely have the hunger pangs right after you step out of the bathroom.
Eat until you have satisfied your stomach.
Sometimes, because of the duration of time that you have depended on emotions as a signal to eat or not to eat, your meal schedules are now haywire.
Take time to fix your eating schedule.
The third step is to identify what your comfort foods are and then being adamant about not having any of those in your refrigerator or cupboards.
Hopefully, you can avoid eating these comfort foods because you would have a difficult time finding them.
Also, you may be able to curb the need to eat these foods because you do not see them so invitingly every day.
Finally, take time to relax and rejuvenate your spirit.
There are a lot of ways to do this; some choose a simple exercise program like taking walks or jogging.
Others like meditating or participating in Yoga classes.
Choose one for you and learn how to deal with emotions the right, and healthier, way.
Although this disorder may sometimes need the attention of a professional therapist, some of you may actually beat this with the right motivation and a little bit of help and support from your family and friends.
Eating as an answer to different emotions such as sadness, depression, anger, or even happiness is very unhealthy.
This is because you have learned to base your eating habits - a physical need - on feelings - which are psychological in nature.
In essence, this is wrong because physical needs should be responded to by physical actions, while emotional needs should be satisfied by psychological actions.
There are many explanations to the craving to eat whenever emotions are running high.
One such explanation is that some foods bring about a change in the hormonal levels in the body and triggers some form of relief from the current emotion being felt.
For instance, chocolates are easily a favorite when feeling sad or depressed; this is because of the endorphins that are stimulated by the chocolate.
Once in a while, we tend to give to cravings like this, but if you rely on foods to make you feel better, then you may be in trouble.
How do you avoid overeating when you are emotional? The first step to stop emotional overeating is to know yourself and to identify what triggers these binges.
Do you suddenly have the urge to eat before taking an important exam or next in line for that dreaded year-end performance assessment? Do you feel the need to eat after arguing with your partner? These are the most common triggers - stress, anxiety, anger, insecurity- and once you recognize what situations prompt you to overeat, then you can find ways to avoid being in those situations.
Or better yet, to find other ways of dealing with your emotions.
The next step you should take is to let yourself feel what real hunger is again.
This way, you will notice the physical cues of wanting food instead of emotional cues that lead to emotional overeating.
In the morning, you will most likely have the hunger pangs right after you step out of the bathroom.
Eat until you have satisfied your stomach.
Sometimes, because of the duration of time that you have depended on emotions as a signal to eat or not to eat, your meal schedules are now haywire.
Take time to fix your eating schedule.
The third step is to identify what your comfort foods are and then being adamant about not having any of those in your refrigerator or cupboards.
Hopefully, you can avoid eating these comfort foods because you would have a difficult time finding them.
Also, you may be able to curb the need to eat these foods because you do not see them so invitingly every day.
Finally, take time to relax and rejuvenate your spirit.
There are a lot of ways to do this; some choose a simple exercise program like taking walks or jogging.
Others like meditating or participating in Yoga classes.
Choose one for you and learn how to deal with emotions the right, and healthier, way.
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