Anyone struggling not to eat away our anxiety, fear or boredom? Sometimes the strongest food cravings hit when we are at our weakest point emotionally. You may turn to food for comfort — consciously or unconsciously — when facing a difficult problem, feeling stressed, worried or bored. Like, for example, now.
Here are some ideas to help you deal with emotional eating. Identifying the emotion you’re feeling in the moment can help:
- Feeling depressed or lonely? Call/text/email someone who always makes you feel better.
- Feeling anxious? Expend your nervous energy by dancing to your favorite song, squeezing a stress ball, or taking a brisk walk.
- Feeling tired or exhausted? Treat yourself with a hot cup of tea, take a bath, light some scented candles, or wrap yourself in a warm blanket.
- Feeling bored? Read a good book, watch a comedy show, explore the outdoors, or turn to an activity you enjoy (woodworking, playing the guitar, shooting hoops, scrapbooking, etc.).
In addition, some other tips include:
- Drink water. Try this first, before you eat when you’re not really hungry. Add some lemon or cucumber, if you like.
- Can you put off eating for five minutes? Or just start with one minute. Don’t tell yourself you can’t give in to the craving; remember, the forbidden is extremely tempting. Just tell yourself to wait.
- While you’re waiting, check in with yourself. How are you feeling? What’s going on emotionally? Even if you end up eating, you’ll have a better understanding of why you did it. This can help you set yourself up for a different response next time.
Your Beacon Health & Fitness Wellness Coaches are here for you. Drop us an email if we can help you!
Kris Ohlson – kohlson@beaconhealthsystem.org
Bridget Hardy – BHardy@beaconhealthsystem.org
