Emotional Eating

So, if many of our weight problems have to do with Emotional Eating and/or overeating then it would make sense that the solution is NOT to be found in finding new diets or figuring out which foods are slimming or fattenning etc...

- We must go to the source and tackle the problem there or else:

We'll ALWAYS be spinning our wheels, going in circle after viscious circle getting more and more desperate, gullible and FRUSTRATED.

But it is not an easy thing to do. To go to the source. To face our emotions. To even acknowledge them. This is HARD and it is why losing weight is HARD. It is an emotional behavior that helps us cope. Alcoholism and drug addictions are similar, they just have more dire consequences. The tough part though about this behavior - emotional eating - is that you can't just stop eating - quit cold turkey like you can with smoking. You NEED to eat enough to be healthy and be slim but not too much! An imbalance on either side result in slower metabolisms = weight gain.

So what can we do?

First increase your awareness of self. Of your thoughts when you do overeat or binge, of your feelings especially. What are they?

Second, pay attention to your body and listen to what it is saying. It is communicating to you all the time asking you if you really do want that piece of cake or if you are satisfied. By just doing these 2 things for at least 4 weeks you will begin to see what's really going on and have a firmer grasp on the force that is driving you to behave in such a way that was totally unconcious before. Realize this, and you'll stop beating yourself up for not getting the results you want time after time.

Next is to find a way to deal with it. I am not a therapist so I can't give you any specific tasks to do but I can point you in the right direction.

First you need some Tools to help you manage your diet. Second, try reading books that deal with emotinal behavior. I recommend, "The Feeling Good Handbook" which is one of the best books on bibliotherapy and a cheap way of getting therapy too. A better option would be to actually GO to therapy. Not just because you have an eating problem but because you have some emotional issues that you need some help sorting out. Don't be embarrased, we ALL have issues of one type or another and can all benefit from occasional therapy.

I know this chapter is not giving you simple, easy strategies like the previous ones and I am sorry I could not offer more but the reality is is that if you are eating for emotional reasons then only dealing with them will solve your problem. READ the book and DO the exercises and if you do, you'll get alot more than a slim body. Remember we want long-term change and:

In order for a ANYTHING (diet) to work in the LONG-RUN it MUST satisfy 2 criteria:

1- It must be a diet that is healthy for you.

2- It must be a diet that can be reasonably sustained for the REST of YOUR LIFE! Don't forget this!