[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So how do you know if you are guilty of emotional eating? I am pretty sure we have all succumbed to this at some point but the pressing question is if it’s harming you? Ask yourself:

• Is the scale constantly a yo-yo with you gaining and losing weight after trying diet after diet?
• Do you find that you eat more than you had planned to?
• Do you eat until you feel uncomfortably full?

At this point you probably concerned that there is something wrong with you and that you are doomed to struggle with food and your weight forever. We can certainly take measures to rectify this situation. By handling your relationship with food, you can put food in its place as nourishment only. The key is to recognize how your emotions are playing a part in your overeating. Dieting and limiting food is not going to help the emotional component of this. On the contrary, you could end up eating even more by trying to limit food when you are eating for emotional reasons.

So, is emotional eating something that bothers you?

Managing emotions through eating poses a challenge for many people as it can lead to weight issues which are then linked to many other problems. Food can be a way to harm yourself when its actual purpose is to nourish your body. If we look to food to satisfy our feelings, this will result in an endless cycle of diet-binge-guilt.

Just to make sure that it is actually a problem for you, ask yourself the following questions. Do you:

• Eat larger portions even when you are not hungry?
• Eat till you feel stuffed?
• Eat alone to avoid feeling embarrassed?
• Eat more quickly than others?
• Eat to make you feel better?
• Feel guilty, depressed or upset after eating?

Emotional eating is difficult because an aspect of it actually makes you feel good! However, the positive feelings of calmness and relief are only temporary. There will be a turning point where it becomes negative and you may find yourself feeling angry and guilty that causes you to overeat (again).

The crux of this is that emotional eating does not work. It does not satisfy your feelings and can actually hurt you.

Instead of overeating, deal with your emotions by:

• Noticing when you are eating for emotional reasons, for reasons other than hunger
• Acknowledging it to yourself. You cannot deal with a problem if you do not recognize and acknowledge it
• Giving yourself praise that you are now “getting it” and willing to do something different

Once you notice and acknowledge your emotional eating you can start to figure out what to do next. Here are some ideas:

• Start to identify the feelings that are leading you to eat: sad, mad, anxious, bored or lonely
• Once you pinpoint these feelings, you can then address them: try coping mechanisms such as journaling, taking a walk, talking to a friend, meditating or working out (this is definitely my one)
• Be mindful about your relationship to your emotions by doing a physical check-in. Try taking a deep breath and feeling a connection to your body and ask yourself how are you feeling and what do you really need. This can just help you be in touch with your feelings and find a positive way to address them.

The main thing you need to be careful about is self-loathing for over eating “for so long”. This negative thought process will only cause a return to overeating for being angry with yourself for it. Now is the time for self-compassion. Acknowledge that you have done the best you can and now is the time to change. [/vc_column][/vc_row]