Weight loss and emotional eating

         Emotional Overeating ?

April is Emotional Overeating Awarness month and WebMd defines emotional overating as, " the practice of consuming large quanites of food - usually comfort or junk foods - in response to feelings instead of hunger". Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by an individuals emotions.

Remember comfort foods as a child? Milk and cookies,candy, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, french fries, cake and ice cream, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, hot dogs and baked beans, after school doughnut treats and basically any kind of yummy dessert. Eating these foods often translate into safety, security and being loved.

Emotional eating is one way to cope with stress and unpleasant issues. Not a good way, but never the less one of the biggest culprits when it comes to over eating. Andrea Wenger Hess, a nutritionist at the University of Maryland's Joslin Diabetes Center says," Food never solves the problem, and usually it just contributes to a cycle of guilt, low self-esteem and overeating. Get to the root of the problem. Face the situation head on. Food is meant for physical nourishment, not for emotional comfort, reward or punishment."

WebMd provides 5 emotions and situations that are triggers for emotional eaters:

Emotional - eating due to loneliness, anger, anxiety, boredom, stress, depression, fatique or tension

Social - Eating to fit in because other encourage you to eat, low self esteem, family gatherings were you are expected to eat, eating in response to stress, anger, tension, etc.

Pysiological - Eating due to increased hunger, because meals were skipped, or to soothe headaches, and other physical pains.
Situational - Eating because it's available. Also connected with events such as eating out, watching TV, or sporting event.

The triggers are the key to identifying excessive emotional eating, however documentaion will help to pinpoint when and why one over eats. A food diary is a great tool that can help to record specific emotions, stressors, thoughts and any patterns. Amazon.com offers a handy paper and pencil food diary. There are also free online journal/diaries that allow tracking and recording at my-calorie-counter.com and myfitnesspal.com .

Identifying bad habits and emotional eating triggers are an excellent start to eliminating, or at least, reducing patterns that lead to emotional over eating. Find a relaxing alternative to eating. Meditation, reading, listening to music, a bubble bath, walking or jogging, playing a game or talking to a friend...anything that stops you from eating when you are not hungry.

For more info:  Read the entire article at : http://www.webmd.com/diet/emotional-eating