Overcoming Emotional Eating

As much as I gripe about it, what worked for me was P90X (classic version). It's a very "laid out" program with a finite stopping point.

When I work out at that level, I feel physically ill when I eat badly or too much.

The resistance training gives you a huge metabolic advantage, which is what you need to turn this ship around. At first you will gain a few pounds, but then it literally starts to melt off - especially if you watch your eating (not crazy dieting, but not going overboard with food either).

Personally I think mainstream food is so utterly stripped of nutrients that our bodies crave more and more food, trying to get what we need.

Good luck - my heart goes out to you. I've struggled with this myself but have managed to lose some significant weight (for me) doing P90X and watching my food a bit more carefully. Your post really "spoke" to me because I would do the same thing you're doing - start to make some headway and then let up. That's where the weight training really comes in handy.

PS: Therapy could definitely help too.

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No such thing as comfort food.

It only makes you MORE uncomfortable in the long run.

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I agree with the other suggestions. Do not buy any foods you don't want to be eating. Don't allow it in the house;-) I do that in my house. No candy, sugar, ice cream, sweets... I just don't have the self control, plus, it's not good for anyone, so why have it!

Good suggestions to replace it with something else. When you are feeling emotional and want to eat, is there anything else that comes to mind that could provide comfort? Maybe write in your journal - have a special journal to sit and write your feelings? Would chewing gum help while writing in your journal (still works on taste/chewing/etc...)?

Another thought is to give yourself ONE day a week where you can eat whatever you want. Maybe have it be Saturday. So, all week long, if you get cravings, tell yourself to wait until Saturday. Then don't limit yourself on Saturday. Eat whatever you want. My friend did this. He weighed over 400 lbs. He HAD to have a day where he wasn't controlled on his eating. And he lost over 200 lbs pretty fast. He also worked out a lot.

I hope that helps!

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Honestly, that may take therepy.

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I did it by following Bill Phillips (Body for Life) advice. He said just commit and stick with it for 12 weeks. If you do not like the results after that time then go back to what you were doing before. The truth was though after 12 and actually seeing results I no longer had the cravings I had before. I also liked the way I looked way more than eating ice cream, cake, candy, chips etc. Remember "a moment on the lips forever on the hips". Before I had this mindset however I would say I could have an ice cream cone BUT first I had to ride a mile on the exercise bike. Some times I would ride that mile but after that mile I did not feel like eating. Some time I didn't feel like riding so then I just couldn't eat it. Hope this makes sense:0)

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This may seem obvious when said but don't buy it. When you are at the grocery store just walk on by. If someone in your family likes the stuff tell them if they loved you just suck it up. You cannot eat what you do not have to eat.

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Yes. I've overcome emotional eating. As well as a full blown eating disorder. Its a really old book and the information may be a bid dated, but one thing that helped me leaps and bounds was a book called "how to be naturally thin by eating more."
http://www.naturally-thin.com/books/naturally-thin/
the main thing is recognizing real hunger from emotional hunger and then teaching yourself to only ever eat with real hunger.

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You aren 't alone! I think you will have to really find something else that provides that comfort. Tough to do, but if you can "fill" that void with something healthy you won't depend on food. Reading? Yoga? Do something you ENJOY and fills you up.

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maybe when you feel like eating you can get up and walk around the house/yard or do situps or something to get your mind off of it. i know its hard to want something and then it just sticks in your mind until you get it, but maybe these will help and start you on a healthier lifestyle? or if you are wanting chocolate (my downfall) than you can eat something healthy or drink water to fill yourself up?