Are you an Emotional Eater?
Many people suffer from the same eating problems, but among those eating issues, there is one that stands out.
Many people suffer from a lot of the same eating problems. There is one eating issue that stands above the rest because it is the easiest to place totally under your control.
Emotional eating.
For most people, it is the leading cause of abnormal weight gain.
With emotional eating, you begin compensating for any emotional distress by consuming large “snacks.” Now, sometimes this is fine.
I Am talking about the “habit” of having large snacks.
When you do this behavior often, you will find it harder and harder to get to, or maintain, any of your weight goals.
One of the solutions to begin breaking this habit is to create a Food Journal.
This is easier than you think!
No, we are not going to begin the arduous task of counting calories, weighing food, or the like.
You are simply going to get paper and pencil and write down your state of mind while you eat.
Notice.
I did not ask you to write down what you eat!!
Nope, we must get to the feelings associated with the snack.
Make a list of frequent emotions that you experience for the next 7 days.
Everybody will have different lists.
You are creating a list that is right for you.
Here are some questions to help you get started:
I Am feeling:
tired,
upset,
Sad
Fearful
Depressed,
Happy
Joyous
Full of energy
Just writing a few words about how you felt at the time you decided to eat can make a huge difference.
We are looking at your eating behavior, not the food, you.
Your state of mind is directly connected to your body and the actions that you put the body through.
In the case of emotional eating, this is what you do when your mind is in a certain state.
The Benefit of Keeping this Journal
Your Emotions are a good starting point.
This journal will put you in immediate control of this type of eating so, make the effort to write.
Now if you want to keep control, make an extra note at the end of the day about what happened that day. What events led you to eat more or less than you normally do? You are now able to examine your emotions and your level of hunger, how often you snack, and why.
Your journal notes will let you see a pattern. You can now use this pattern to further control your snacking habit. And, some thoughts and emotions will become crystal clear to you, which will also place your specific thoughts and emotions in your control, daily.
You may find that you eat more when you are happy and things are going well.
You may find that you eat more when you are depressed and things are not going well.
Whatever pattern you find, know that it is now yours to control.
You are now uncovering the source of your emotional eating.
Since you are in control, you can now change it all.
This journal will facilitate any weight goals you have in a lasting way. This is the place to start.
Before you begin charting: what you eat, how much does it weigh, how many calories does it have, and when you ate it.
Get in touch with your mind/body connection first.
Notice how you feel when you can control something regarding your eating habits.
It will now be much simpler and easier to put all other aspects of eating under your control.
Your body will do whatever your mind wills once your emotions are under your control.
To your Healing,
Doc Raheem