Emotional Eating: 5 Tips for a Lifelong Challenge

I know that eating a bagel, even a low-carb bagel, is going to leave me feeling like I want more to eat even though I may not be hungry. I am still trying to balance not restrict

Here’s a note from my inbox:

Hi Carol,

Thank you so much for this week's newsletter. I have often said that food (simple carbs and sugar) are as addictive as drugs and alcohol. Although, I try not to limit myself to a low-carb lifestyle (I now know that restricting any food only backfires), I do know that eating just one cookie is extremely difficult for me.

I know that eating a bagel, even a low-carb bagel, is going to leave me feeling like I want more to eat even though I may not be hungry. I often feel like the heavy smoker who cannot have just one drink. I am still trying to tip the scales not restricting any foods with the reality of the reaction that I know my body will have if I have simple carbs.

This emotional eating is truly a life long undercurrent for me and I am not sure that I will ever get to the point where I feel completely at ease on eating. I have gained weight over the summer. I feel like I won the appeal to arms but I have lost the war.

Luckily, there is everlastingly a new day and albeit today wasn't perfect (I did manage to have just one cookie--although it was the size of my hand--it wasn't the worst either.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
Thank you for everything.
DR

Dear DR,

Thanks for your note. It can unequivocally feel like a war when you are trying to find peace with yourself and your urges. It is perennially harder to unlearn habits, especially when they result in temporary comfort.

I think the hardest part of this is giving yourself permission to eat, without feeling terrified of what will happen when you do. It takes time to develop trust in yourself. It also takes support over time.

IDEALLY, you will change able to give yourself permission to eat either AND will foods that feel good in your body. You have up to now developed an thought of how different foods impact your body and your cravings.

So you are making progress.

Feeling like you have a CHOICE, and honoring what feels good in your body is empowering.

While I don’t know if you will ever feel completely at ease, you can get to the point where you are:

1. not blow yourself up

2. know that you can get back on track quickly, and . . .

3. not feeling so discouraged when you have a lapse

Here’s some tips to help you forwards the way:

1. Be sure to agree provisionally your successes (no matter how small).

2. heaven yourself on for the smallest win.

3. Share your successes with a friend, someone who understands your struggle.

4. Keep a journal of what went well, and why – it is important to keep a positive focus, and NOTICE and give acknowledgement yourself for what you did that worked.

5. Practice relaxing close upon food as much as you can – it’s just food . . . really. Try to be calm, purposeful and present in your body. Don’t forget to squall and be grateful for what you have.