Emotional Eating....

I'm new and looking for some help with my emotions-- what alternatives to food have you found helpful??

Thu. Jun 15, 11:38am

when i feel an "emotional eating" episode coming on, i write down the things i would like to eat-listing things that i may not even be able to eat, like wheat products-. sometimes, i put together, on paper, an ideal menu for whatever occassion...thinking about and writing about the foods i want to eat, and then reading the lists over again and deciding what the nutritional benefits of each item are takes away the urge to actually indulge (most of the time). other times, i read a cook book or go to the market with no money. this also seems to help. good luck!!

Thursday, June 15, 2006, 11:47 AM

There is a team called Emotional Eaters Unite, if you would like to join.

Thursday, June 15, 2006, 12:08 PM

I use to be a emotional eater but with the help of everyone here I'm proud to say I'm not. I think before I eat now. Alot of times I wasn't hungry so I would drink a glass of water or go for a short walk. Ask yourself next time you want to put that cookie in your mouth: Do I really need it, if I eat one can I stop there or am I going to eat the whole bag.

Good luck on your long journey.

Thursday, June 15, 2006, 1:21 PM

I run. That is keeping me more emotionally stable than anything else. So it's not so much that I substitute the emotional eating, but I rarely even get that emotional where i want to do something to make me feel better.

If Running isn't for you, I'd try something that really really pushes your cardio respiratory system HARD. I mean, I get my heart rate near my max for a while, and it feels SO good when I'm done.

If however, you find that you feel drained, and not envigorated, then maybe try yoga.

It is good to find out how to substitute or change emotional eating, but I think it's better, and possible instead to change the trigger, and not the response- being less emotional IS possible, and personally, as a woman, I find it liberating.

Thursday, June 15, 2006, 2:14 PM

take up knitting

do some dishes or cleaning... vaccume

give yourself a pedicure...

if you have a kiddo - go give them a hug and have a tickle or pillow fight or wrestle fest- spouses may be into this as well...

come on peertrainer and log your feelings and or look through lounge comments section

drink some water and make sure you are not really hungry.

think about what you are trying to avoid and just face it head on.

polish some shoes...

clean out your toothbrush holder (those auto ones can get really gross quick cause you just can't see the buildup until you take it apart)

wipe off all the switchplates in the house...

sort laundry, dirty or clean

and if the dirty laundry doesn't quell your appetiet, maybe taking a good whiff of garbage might... just thought of that, never done it on purpose myself though.

oh and brush your teeth so nothing will taste good or like it would if you were just going to go and eat. (you would then have a clean toothbrush holder..) :D

Thursday, June 15, 2006, 2:44 PM

Brushing your teeth is a good one. Buy yourself a giant teddy bear to snuggle with on the couch. And don't stock "munchie" junk food - only food that you actually have to make, and that takes awhile - you won't eat emotionally as much b/c you won't feel like making it!

Thursday, June 15, 2006, 5:22 PM

I second the 'don't stock munchie food'. I took up chewing gum for awhile and drink lots more water. I find having good structure to my day really helps me deal with the curves life throws me. Music is another one - I can really lose myself in putting together a good playlist to exercise to. I like to walk when I have something that needs working out or clean my house or garden (something about imposing order on chaos). If I can find an available friend to walk with that helps. We can both vent and get some fresh air at the same time. I highly recommend avoiding the TV at these times since that can really lead to mindless muching and even though you're distracted you're not really channeling your negative emotions into something positive - just putting them off for a bit longer. That's just my personal experience, but finding something positive to put yourself into uses up the energy and makes you feel better for it.

Best wishes!

Thursday, June 15, 2006, 5:53 PM

oooh, also, consider diarizing. Write about why you're feeling emotional and take some time to examine your feelings. I've found diarizing to help me stress level and keep me much more balanced.

Thursday, June 15, 2006, 9:03 PM

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