Emotional Eaters-How Do You Stop?

Virtually nothing here that a) I'd crave for a binge and b) could actually do much damage if I did binge on it.
I do something else. Especially something that keeps my hands and/or mouth busy. I can't snack and talk to my best friend on the phone because I have a mild hearing issue and have to really focus on her soft voice.
I keep a "skinny" outfit hanging on my closet door. A size smaller than I am now. It helps me restrain myself.
I go to the gym instead when I feel otherwise well (I have some chronic health issues that sometimes interfere with daily workouts).

I'm an emotional eater. I've found that when I don't eat sweets for a couple of weeks I stop craving them. I don't keep sweets in the house. I snack on protein. That helps to. It's less satisfying to gorge on protein making it easier to eat just a little bit. I've also learned to take time to assess my body and know when I'm hungry and stop myself from eating when I'm not. I think of something else to do. Getting on Mamapedia is one option.

I understand. We all cope in our own way. Some days are better than others! What do I do, I call a friend and literally I will say "hi there. Can you talk? I need to vent". Go for a walk, even if it is up and down the stairs. Sometimes, I write down my big frustration for the moment. Sometimes, I burn the paper afterward and no I am not a pyromaniac:) Sometimes I eat, something sweet and then something healthy. Just remember, be kind to your self. Self talk is destructive. Don't beat yourself up. Tomorrow is another day!

Start by reading 'Women Food and God' by Geneen Roth, or any of her books, really. The book is gently spiritual, by the way, not overtly any one religion. There are a lot of us on this journey! Much love, Caite

I am so with you, I have the sweet tooth of the century and I have always tended to turn to foodas a coping system. I recently was sitting at my kitchen table with my mom and my 3 yr old decided he would play photographer with my iPad, I had no idea, I just found the pics when I was going into the camera looking for something else. Wow, I knew I had put on weight, but it was a major reality check, it was crazy and it woke me up to the seriousness of the problem. So I decided to take a year to really focus on myself and getting healthy. I downloaded My Fitness Pal and I now use it to track my food. It's free and easy, the hard part is doing it! :D. The first couple weeks when I wanted to eat I would look at the picture, that's all it took, and when I hit a wall down the road, plan to go take a peek. I have been doing it for 3 weeks and I have lost 6.8 lbs. I am pleased with that but I still have a long way to go, so I have some short term and long term goals in my mind. I too want to have a back that doesn't ache! I also stopped drinking all soda, I do coffee, tea and mostly water. That was an issue for me. And I have massively reduced sugar intake. If I do have anything, I apply the three bite rule. They say the first and last bites are all you remember, so you just take one bit in the middle :). I don't feel deprived bc every time I deny myself unhealthy food, I reward myself with health. I have also been finding other ways to make myself happy. I just decorated the house for fall and bought yummy smelling pumpkin spice candles and room spray. I have been going to a local Goodwill looking for a nice top or pants to wear so I can feel good about how I look. I found some beautiful Coldwater Creek jeans and a cardigan I love, but I didn't spend much, just gave me a little boost. So as I said I only have 3 wks under my belt, but just like anything, it's one day at a time, not giving up and forgiving yourself if you mess up and starting again. Wish you the best!

I am so with you. My husband has no - I mean ZERO - interest in being intimate with me, and after years of this, I found I had replaced sex with sweets. Recently, I realized that I don't need to let him define me, and I don't need to carry his issues. This has helped me start making healthier choices for ME.

Are the stresses really yours? Or are you stressing because of someone or something else? If so, I'd say recognizing that you want to define you, and not let them do so, is the first step.

If these really ARE your stresses, then maybe try doing something healthy when you feel stressed - go for a walk if you have time, do some stretches, have some tea.

I was never a soda drinker, but diet Cherry Dr, Pepper has been my friend on the days I just can't handle it.

You can't eat it if you don't buy it. Also, try to keep your hands busy if you are a snacker while you watch tv. I have started to crochet which has really helped me. If you start thinking about eating, make a huge effort to focus on something else like drink a glass of water, walk or do some jumping jacks or get busy with something else until the urge leaves. All of these things are easier said than done, but you just have to start healthier habits. Good luck!

I find when I am feeling stressed and have that urge to chew I get a huge package of gum. I chew and chew and chew and chew. Until my face is so tired of chewing.

I haven't taken in a thousand calories and I've filled that urge to chew. (Repressing anger by pushing it down with food).

Do not get sugar free though. That's nasty plus artificial sweetener is poison to your body.

Me, too. I put on 10 lbs in the last month and a half and I feel awful. This whole year I just keep going up up up.
So, while I obviously have not conquered this, I wanted to suggest small, attainable goals. Too often, I have succumbed to the "all or nothing" approach, such as "cut out all flour and sugar!" or "Paleo all the way!" "detox for 2 weeks!" basically diets that promise fast results. I keep thinking that is the way to get rid of the sugar cravings, but I really think instead it has led to extreme yo-yoing and it is not working.
What I am trying now is to set a few lifestyle change goals each week and stick to them. I am thinking about goals I can actually stick to for the rest of my life. For instance,
drink a full glass of water before each meal
walk 30 minutes a day on the treadmill during my lunch break
Go to zumba class once this week
Go to yoga class once this week
turn on music after work and do a dance party or hula hoop with the kids
Walk to the park once a week
Do x amount of pushups this week

Etc.
Just 1-2 goals each week and then add on when you feel like you are in a routine.
I have been doing this for only 2 weeks. I have not lost weight yet. I DO feel more energetic. My muscles are sore and I can feel that they are actually there, underneath the excess weight. I no longer dread exercise like I did a few weeks ago. The most important thing is I no longer feel like I am spiraling out of control. Gain a little bit of control in even just one area and it is so much easier to say "no" to the binge eating.

Good luck!

Do something else with your stress.
Walk, clean, garden - do something physical.
Count your calories - don't go over 1200 per day.
You don't have to eliminate all sweets but a once in awhile treat is 1 dessert per week (or every other week) - not every day.
Drink lots of water - plain, lemon water, lime water, cucumber water with a little mint and lemon is very refreshing.
Deal with the emotion directly - don't go for the endorphin rush you get from eating to try to make yourself feel better - it doesn't work.
Try to get a little sunshine every day - a little light goes a long way to lifting your mood.
Try finding a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) group in your area and join it.
Talking with others is a great way to find ways to deal with emotional eating.

For motivations...watch some of those healthy food movies (Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, Supersize Me, Forks over Knives, Food Matters, etc). Walk every day. One mile. Two miles. Three miles. Keep increasing the miles every so often. Read some exercise magazines. Sometimes those are motivating. Go sign up for one exercise class. Or go sign up to do a session with a trainer. Don't buy the goodies! Try to snack on an apple, raw almonds, etc. Think of other ways to pamper yourself that feel good besides food. Buy a bike and ride every week. Go swim laps once a week (you can use a paddle board if you are not a strong swimmer). Make a big batch of something super healthy for lunches every Monday and then use this all week. Read some motivating books. 4 Hour Body comes to mind. I'm sure there are tons of them.

My doctor said to me that my cravings were habits. I too was eating all the time and put on weight. So I said to my doc, what do I do. He said whenever I get the need to eat out of emotional, he said go excercise or go do something to get your mind off food. It was a lot of hard work and effort , but I did it.

I was obese for 3 yrs when I was younger. I have to watch everything I eat!

I walk, walk, walk...
I have either a glass of water or a salad with raw veggies in it if I need a food fix.
No fattening dressing, either.
I allow myself to have a sweet treat every few days-but, I only buy a small portion of it.
I put on music and dance for 20 or 30 minutes.
I call a friend to walk.
I buy a bottle of Perrier every other week as a treat--It's my "soda"
I lift my 3 pound weights- bicep curls, etc...

Each pound is 3500 extra calories. So, the more u excercise, the more calories u will burn.

I eat sensibly and use excercise to keep my weight down or to lose.

I love: lentil soup, raw veggies, apple slices w/ cinnamon, veggie soups,
wild salmon, raw broccoli and vinegarette dip, a handful of nuts a day, veggie stir-frys...

Don't diet though because u will lose muscle.

Good luck

Do a 2 week sugar detox and join a gym.

Go see your doctor. Many times they can "scare" us into being more healthy. When my hubby found out his cholesterol was VERY high, he made the choice to do things differently. He made changes with his food intake and started exercising.

I would suggest getting a physical for sure. It's a good place to start.

I'm in the same boat. In June, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and pre-diabetes and yet I'm struggling to stick with a plan. It's a flat out food addiction. I've stuggled since my early teens when I started stuffing my face to feel better about the sudden death of my younger brother. I've been able to lose significant amount of weight and keep it off at various times in my life, but since my first pregnancy 12 years ago, I've been obese.

I'll be watching your answers for some good advice as well.

I don't really have any advice, just wanted to let you know, you are not alone with this struggle. I am an emotional eater as well. I am addicted to carbs, salt, and sweets. Over the last few years (after my 3rd child), my weight has really went up and down, but this last 16 months, have been the worst ever. In June 2012, I weighed 138. Yesterday I weighed myself at a Dr.'s office and am 178. I now have many issues relating to weight, such as acid indigestion/heart burn, aches and pains throughout my body, especially under my breast/rib cage, and skin rashes, which my Dr. thinks is from skin rubbing. My weight consumes my life now. Every time I see myself in a mirror, I hate what I see. I can't fit into anything anymore, but baggy dresses, and I've become depressed about it. I'm at my all time low. I know what I need to do, but I just can't seem to do it. I really feel for you. I hope you get some good answers.

Dear,

Sorry to hear that you're having a hard time to get over from stress.
I do also feel sorry that you keep saying linguistic playfulness between STRESSED and DESSERTS.

How about going back to basics?

I ordered big and wide mat to work out well.
I usually practice yoga and play with my baby in my house.

Anyway, hope my opinion would be helpful to you...