I've been researching stress eating. Why? Because I struggle with it. Yup, I'm a health and fitness coach and I do NOT have it together! When I feel like everything is out of control and I cannot control anything, I know I can control what I eat. I get caught up in a vicious cycle and really I'm just trying to fill voids. It's sad. But I know that I am not alone in this. |
Actually, experts estimate that 75% of overeating is due to our emotions. Food doesn't judge you. It doesn't let you down. Can you name a time that food hasn't been there (or at least wasn't easily accessible) when you needed it? Neither can I. Food is safe. It's dependable and always around. Food is the best friend some people will ever have because of those very reasons.
We learn at an early age that food makes us feel good.
We are rewarded with a trip to McDonalds after winning a big game.
We are comforted with a trip to McDonalds after losing a big game.
We are rewarded with candy for good grades in school.
We are comforted with ice cream after a bad first date.
And as we get older and our emotions become more complex, so does our love affair with food. The emotion-eat-emotion cycle becomes worse as we get older and our relationship with food keeps us from truly solving the problems causing us the emotions in the first place!
Today I encourage you to start keeping a PRIVATE journal that will help you face your excuses or "reasons."
Let's start with THREE DAYS but I challenge you to do it for SEVEN:
1. Time you eat (OR almost ate out of temptation)
2. What you eat (OR wanted to eat)
3. Why you are eating (OR why you chose not to give into temptation)
4. What's going on in your environment at the time
5. How you feel after you eat (OR how you felt having control)
6. Any revelations about this
Look at the patterns. We already know how it feels to sabotage our day. But how do you feel after you had a victory? How did it feel to walk away from a temptation? How did it feel waking up the next day knowing you accomplished taking ownership of your day? Focus on the wins!
We learn at an early age that food makes us feel good.
We are rewarded with a trip to McDonalds after winning a big game.
We are comforted with a trip to McDonalds after losing a big game.
We are rewarded with candy for good grades in school.
We are comforted with ice cream after a bad first date.
And as we get older and our emotions become more complex, so does our love affair with food. The emotion-eat-emotion cycle becomes worse as we get older and our relationship with food keeps us from truly solving the problems causing us the emotions in the first place!
Today I encourage you to start keeping a PRIVATE journal that will help you face your excuses or "reasons."
Let's start with THREE DAYS but I challenge you to do it for SEVEN:
1. Time you eat (OR almost ate out of temptation)
2. What you eat (OR wanted to eat)
3. Why you are eating (OR why you chose not to give into temptation)
4. What's going on in your environment at the time
5. How you feel after you eat (OR how you felt having control)
6. Any revelations about this
Look at the patterns. We already know how it feels to sabotage our day. But how do you feel after you had a victory? How did it feel to walk away from a temptation? How did it feel waking up the next day knowing you accomplished taking ownership of your day? Focus on the wins!