how can i deal with emotional eating?

Question

it's getting out of hand, i have to deal with it. what can you suggest.
sometimes i doubt it's because of my emotional state as much as it is out of boredom, but i can't bring myself to get out of the house because i'm embarassed by all the weight i've put on. i want to lose the weight - and i'm willing to do that the healthy way but every time i start a healthy regime, i ruin it by binging and it gets out of control, for days even.
it's ridiculous i hate it and i hate myself right now.
what can you suggest

Answer 1

Self destruction, matey boy. The curse of the modern male.

Self esteem is the way to go...its not easy but focus on what you want to achieve. Easy for me to say but keep going. use this thing to keep from getting too bored.

Answer 2

I know just how you feel. I struggle all the time with a weight problem. The best thing to do is to get out and move. Go for a walk, join a volunteer group, get with friends. Never shop for food when you are hungry. We read all the labels before we buy anything, and we never buy junk food. One of the biggest reasons people eat all the time is, as you said, boredom. I was doing that myself. Now I get outside and walk three times a day, and I eat three times a day. Once a week I have something "sweet", like a couple of cookies or a candy bar. We used to have all kinds of junk food in the house but we stopped buying it. I sing in my church choir and we have practice every week, something to look forward to. I have a group of friends here where we live that walk every evening, we walk at least an hour. I walk first thing in the morning, and this is my fast walk. Then I go again right after lunch. Maybe you should find a support group. My daughter has joined T.O.P.S., and she finds that this works well for her. I believe it is a free program, check it out in your area. My daughter is slowly losing her weight, and she feels a lot better. It is not easy. Sometimes, when you see how you look, you tell yourself oh, well, what is the use. But, once you change your eating habits and your lifestyle, it does get easier. I know, because I have been there. When you feel bored, get up and do something, when you want to "snack", eat an apple, or an orange, or, drink a cup of green or white tea. It gives you something to do without adding extra calories. You can buy green or white tea in any supermarket, and if you don't like the taste of them, you can get them with peach, lemon, honey flavor. They have 0 calories and they are loaded with antioxidents, so are good for your body. I also take One A Day Weight Control Vitamin. I wish you the best of luck, and you hang in there.

Answer 3

I exercise my willpower in the grocery store. I won't eat it if it doesn't make it into my house. Get rid of ALL the junk food and don't keep ANY of it around for anyone else in the house because it's not good for them either. I'm home with a baby all day and it's alot harder to keep from munching.....I do find myself doing it out of boredom.

Start an exercise routine. Start with an easy goal like walking. Walk as far as you can and then increase it after about a week. the next week take it up a notch. Before you know it you'll be walking a mile, then 2...you get the picture. You have to be patient because results are not quick. They take time.

Good luck to you!

Answer 4

You are a special person so don't hate yourself. Drink lots of water, it can help make you feel full. If you must have something to eat snack on healthy foods like carrots, grapes, apples etc.
Think to yourself that you need to slow down your eating, keep telling yourself that you are stronger than the food. You can overcome it. Talk to yourself-- silently though-- and tell yourself that you aren't hungry you are bored and find something else to do. Exercise as much as you can. You could also try to get a diet buddy to help you out. Just get a time table of calling so you don't wake them up in the middle of the night.
I know that is usually when the cravings get the worse but try the afore mentioned foods to eat. Or a bowl of whole grain cereal. Whole grains and proteins help with cravings. Buy those diet types of bars.

I hope this helps. Take care and start liking yourself more.

Answer 5

As this is personally an issue I deal with as well, the method I've tried most often is substitution. Instead of eating I'll say to myself, well I'll go do this instead. And whatever I do is something I enjoy, so I know it'll give me a little emotional boost, and without all the calories of binging. Also sometimes I can't honestly control it that much, and I'll allow myself to binge, but I'll pick something like popcorn that I know I can sit there and mindlessly eat and feel like I'm binging, but I'm really only eating 35 calories per cup or so.

Something else I find that helps is tracking everything I eat. I use sparkpeople.com, and it's free, but it really helps me stay accountable for what I'm eating. So when I'm standing in the kitchen sometimes looking for something to binge on, I know I'll have to write it down later, and if I don't, the only person I'm really lying to is me. But they also have loads of articles and resources on emotional eating.

Hope that helps a little, and good luck to you.

Answer 6

so you eat because you're embarrased to go out and u're embarrased to go out because u're fat and u'r fat because u're fat and u're fat because you're too embarrased to go out and...do you recognize this pattern? it's called a CIECLE, buddy, a viscous circle, and u're caught in it bad.
now, all u need to do is to BREAK this circle, and u're on ur way. think which of the following activities is the least difficult- going out for exercise and getting embarrased or
eating and getting fat and feeling guilty.
i would suggest u buy a home treadmill and whenever you feel bored, instead of eating, place ur treadmill in front of the tv and start walking on it. do it everytime u feel bored.
soon, as you begin to lose some weight and feel confident about ur looks a little, start going out for some real exercise and i would suggest go to a gym and get urself a personal trainer who can guide you well.
remember, the problem is not that u're hungry, but that u're bored. there are many ways to counter that. pick up a hobby-say, gardening. read cheerful stuff whenever u feel depressed. don't let ur food eat you, buddy, and best of luck!

Answer 7

Try your best to distract yourself or spend the time you would have spent eating on solving what is making you emotional, thus solving two problems at once.

Answer 8

Drink more coffee . .make 2 lists; one of things you like/love, and one of things you hate (and if you want to, reasons why for each one), and try to think of one positive thing each day that you have seen, felt, experienced .. .this website is good for keeping track of your positive things, and for working on goals, which helps you to not hate yourself. 43things.com
It has helped me to see that other people have problems, too and that their lives arent perfect like I imagine them to be