First of all, I'd like to address the question, "What is Emotional Eating?"
Emotional eating occurs when there is a "trigger," usually a stressful situation, tragedy, or loss of some sort that causes us to crave fat-saturated, unhealthy foods. The reason this happens is because when our bodies are in a state of stress, they need more energy (sugar, carbs, fats) to cope with or "cover up" that stress.
Naturally, we'll begin to crave things that are high in sugar and far in order to compensate for the stress we are feeling. However, the problem is not that we are craving these things, the problem lies in what we are giving our bodies in order to satisfy that craving. Most people will turn to a fast source of energy such as candy, donuts, ice cream, cheese, pizza, and other junk foods for comfort. This then puts our bodies into a "food coma" where we experience a state of bliss. The aftermath however, is the hangover. After the sugar-high comes the crash, and our bodies experience fatigue, nausea, constipation, bloating, and heaviness. In addition, people who binge eat also experience a sense of guilt, asking themselves "Why did I do that" and battling with thoughts of "I shouldn't be eating this." So what's the solution to putting an end to emotional eating?
The next step would be to directly address the issue, and what I mean by this is choosing to reach for some delicious fruit, rather than a bag of Cheetos.
In addition to that, recognize and identify what "triggers" the emotional eating in the first place, and then have a healthy form of stress management to deal with it. Go for a walk or run, journal, talk to a trusted friend or family member, engage in an activity you enjoy, or just get some rest.
Do these things, and you'll be well on your way to ending the habit of emotional eating!
Have a great week everyone! :-)
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