How can I overcome emotional eating?

Question

I eat when I am depressed. And this happens a lot. How can I overcome this? Don't say to just stop doing it. It isn't that easy.

Answer 1

I used to have a friend who drank when he got depressed. Of course, this turned him into an alcoholic. I got him interested in jogging, and at some point he and I ran a 5K race together. He so much enjoyed it that entering races became a life passion for him. I told him that since he got so much pleasure from it, he should go out for a jog instead of having a drink when he gets depressed. And it worked. He hasn't had a drink in 12 years.

You could do something similar with food. If you could find some form of physical exercise that you really enjoy, you could go out and do that instead of eating. What I'm suggesting is CREATE A NEW BEHAVIOR PATTERN. One possible scenario...you discover you love swimming laps at the nearby health club. So when you're depressed, you go to the pool instead of the refrigerator. If you do this often enough you could substitute the new pattern for the old one.

AND...exercise definitely will help you lose or control your weight, not to mention other health benefits.

I'm not saying this is easy. It's not. But it's smart. And you've done hard things before, so you can certainly do something like this. Wishing you success...

Answer 2

Emotional eating is caused by some underlying problems that you haven't dealt with . Please call your doctor right now and make an appointment. You would be amazed at how understanding they can be. They will either refer you to a psychologist or a psychiatrist (that would be my choice) who can sit down and discuss things that are going on in your life which cause this eating problem. They may also suggest putting you on an anti-depressant. This is probably a good idea. It's amazing how different your life feels and how well you can cope with problems when the chemistry of your brain is fixed with anti-depressants.

Answer 3

You recognize the trigger to this problem now you have to find something to replace the food your using as a crutch. We all have to find a way to make ourselves happy, we can not depend on others to do this for us. So to start with you have to find something you like to do. It could be reading, doing a craft, taking a nature walk, in-line skating, swimming, playing with a pet and many other things to numerous to list. Once you find something switch to that when you have that depressed feeling that sends you to the food. Try the old trick of putting a string on your finger to remind you of this and best of luck to you. This is a matter of will power. Once you have switched habits for a while it will get easier.

Answer 4

The same things happens to me but I try not to buy junk food so when I feel like eating and look for something there's nothing on the fridge or cabinets and I end up just closing the fridge and not eating...

Answer 5

You need to associate different thoughts with the food you are eating when you are eating it. Try getting a couple pounds of fat from the butcher and look at it whenever you eat for that reason. Or, come up with your own thought provoking system.

Answer 6

Try reading about people in captivity forced to eat exterminate. Alternatively, think about Monica Lewinsky giving Penis Clinton an annal lick. Alternatively, have a picture of Penis or Hitlery Clinton eating. Alternatively, think about Dracula having banquets among people impaled and on the process of dying (vomiting, bleeding, defecating), and impaling anyone who shows any sign of disgust.

Answer 7

try using that energy excercising 1st, could suprise ya how much better it makes ya feel after...clears yer head and ya feel good after

Answer 8

This will sound sarcastic but really its not -- try exercising -- it helps relieve stress and depression.