stoppingthecycle's Journal, 24 July 2014

I have the emotional eating problem too. I can be happy, angry, sad, excited, whatever the emotion is, I'm ready to eat a cake. The best therapy that I've found is exercise. After a good workout, where my heart is pounding, I'm sweating, and I just feel drained, mentally I feel amazing. I tend to do better with my eating on days that I exercise and if I go without exercise for a long stretch then I start my bad eating habits again. Another thing that helps me is to talk to someone when I'm feeling overwhelmed and like I'm going to binge. I've told my hubby "I'm so frustrated, I just want to eat!" and he'll talk out my frustrations with me and then I start letting go of that need to feed the emotion because I've started working it out of my system. You just have to find what works for you and makes you feel good mentally, whether that's exercise, crafting, volunteering, whatever just find that thing and make it part of your routine. Good luck!! :) 

I am with Mar, when I am particularly frustrated I talk with my husband or post it on here and you guys put it into perspective. We are here for you. 

I cook up all of my lunch and supper proteins for the week on Saturday/Sunday, and some of my veggies. Usually four pounds of fish, two pounds of chicken and a couple of big vegetable casseroles... I let it cool and slip portion sizes into zipper bags. Each morning I get up, let the dogs out and, while I wait for them. I make my six egg-white scramble with a little cheese and a TBSP of real bacon bits. I carry two or three of these meals with me to work in a little cooler, and I eat breakfast at my first break around 9:30 am... This way my meals are all planned out and that's what I eat, my emotions don't get to vote... and... I've "self controlled" it days in advance, when I'm not feeling emotional... Does that make sense? This is the first diet that's really worked for me in years. LOTS of protein, low carb veggies and a little rice/oatmeal/potato every other or every third day. I'm not hungry and I don't feel like I'm denying myself anything. Once in a while I have a slice of pizza or an ice cream cone and it doesn't seem to mess me up... Good Luck! 

Thanks Ladies. 

I agree with Mars2kids! I have suffered from depression in the past, and when I make myself just take a little walk (I promise myself, only 15 minutes and you can quit, but I usually would end up walking 30-40 minutes) I say to myself, why can't I remember when I'm feeling so low that this helps so much more than ice cream or a bag of chips or a fast food meal????? 

When you feel stress coming on, grab your cell phone and hit the door. Call someone you can talk to who can take your mind off your cravings. Are you living in a state that has the Affordable Care Act? If so, sign up it will most likely cost you $0. Feel better and know that we here at Fatsecret are here to cheer you on. 

I think the important thing is to do something (phone someone, go out for a walk) when you see one coming. I find that drinking lots of water on a regular basis between meals helps. Controlling emotional eating is not easy or immediate: my therapist got me to do a diary: write down what you feel every time you emotionally eat. It helps you identify your triggers, so that you can see when they arise and prevent the eating!! 

Barb I think you need to start posting on the group again. That way we can support you on a daily basis and we miss you.