Ok, I’ll go first. My name is Felicia B. White and I am an emotional eater. Guess what, I just took the first step to getting my unhealthy eating habits under control. We’ve all heard that the first step to overcoming a problem is admitting that you have the problem. Well, I’m starting to believe this saying is true. Once I admitted why I gained weight, I was able to put a weight loss plan into action and I lost 39lbs. I still have a lot more weight to lose and I believe that realizing what type of eater I am and coming up with a new plan of action will get me to my goal weight.
The text book definition of an emotional eater is one who consumes large quantities of food, usually junk food or comfort food, in response to feelings instead of hunger. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is because of emotions. That’s why shows like the Biggest Loser are so successful because they help people deal with their eating habits and weight loss on an emotional level. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t eat every time I have an emotion. I’m more of a stress eater, meaning I eat when I feel overwhelmed or out of control. Some emotional eaters eat when they’re sad, depressed, or when they feel lonely or abused.
In my research I found several web sites, articles and tips for emotional eaters. The most helpful thing I found, talked about having a more positive outlook on life and putting yourself in the right mind set to control your eating. It makes perfect sense if you think about it. When you start to see yourself in a more positive light you tend to have good thoughts about yourself and those thoughts can have a calming effect on your body. Studies have shown that positive thoughts, meditation and focusing on the good things in your life can lower blood pressure and help you become more aware of your body and how you truly feel physically. Then you will be able to determine if you’re actually hungry or if you just want to eat as a result of some bad thing that just happened to you. Prayer and meditation can help you listen to your body. This will work no matter what type of eater you are.
Another good tip I found deals with what to eat when you feel emotional or stressed out. My junk food of choice was always potato chips and my comfort food was always a grilled stuffed burrito from my favorite fast food spot. I would run to my favorites and eat until I feel that I gained control of the situation and set my mind right, then I would head back to work or try to face the situation again. Well as it turns out, I would have lost a few pounds if I decided to eat some fat burning foods instead of food that was full of fat. Now I grab carrots instead of chips, make a salad or graze on some broccoli when I feel stressed out instead of grabbing a burrito. My trainer gave me a meal plan that has me eating every 3 hours and eating mostly protein and vegetables with a few good carbs at each meal.
To get a good meal plan designed for yourself you first have to determine what type of eater you are and then ask yourself why you eat this way. So what type of eater are you? Are you an All-day Nibbler, Chronic Dieter, Emotional Eater, Junk-food Junkie, Late-night Snacker, On-the-run Nosher, Portion Overloader or Sweet Tooth Sweetie? Be honest with yourself, admit that you need to change your bad eating habits and start losing weight today.
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