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Through our lifetime, we have many choices to make. It is the same with eating. We all have an emotional connection with food.
If you are overweight and struggling with overeating, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. The strongest food cravings hit when we are at our weakest point. This is when we may turn to food to comfort ourselves. When facing a difficult problem, or just normal stressors in our lives. Sometimes this happens even when we are bored.
Relationship conflicts, work, financial pressures, and health problems are all trigger points.
Emotional eating can sabotage your weight loss efforts. This often leads to eating too much. This is called “mindless eating”, when you just eat, and do not have the feeling of being hungry.
During these emotional times of eating, we tend to crave high-calorie foods, sweets and fatty foods. Weight gain can happen quickly! You can quickly gain 3-5 lbs. in a week!
Although some people eat less in the face of strong emotions, if you are emotionally distressed, this could also turn to binge eating, quickly consuming food because of convenience without enjoyment.
Emotions and eating habits are tied together. Food serves as comfort and also a distraction when dealing with painful situations.
Whatever emotions drive you to overeat, the end result is always the same result. The emotional return for this behavior is guilt and weight gain! This can also lead to an unhealthy cycle. You emotions trigger you to overeat, then you feel bad and beat yourself up, then you overeat eat again. Its a never ending process.
Here are some tips on getting breaking the cycle of Emotional Eating:
Start with keeping a calendar and food diary. On the calendar, write your emotions. In your food diary, write what you are eating at that specific time. This will help you detect patterns and cravings.
Next thing is to recognize your stressors, and try to calm them. Exercise is the best. Walking, Yoga, Meditating, are excellent.
Before you eat, have a reality check with yourself. Are you really hungry, or is this emotional?
When eating meals, chose high protein, lean meats. Carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruits (berries only) and whole grain breads. Fats such as avocados, olive oils, and nuts. Eat healthy snacks to satisfy cravings throughout the day.
Focus on the Positive! If we don’t have our health, we have worries and stress.
“make a memory everyday and don’t apologize for who you are….Rebecca
Walnuts & Wallpaper 