Tip of the Week: Emotional Eating: Part 1

Food not only satisfies our stomach, it can also satisfy our feelings, and that’s when the cycle of emotional eating takes over. Emotional eating can lead to eating too much food, especially high-calorie, fatty foods. Eating to suppress negative feelings can sabotage your efforts to lose weight.

Out of the various feelings you experience when you turn to food, here are the top five emotional eating triggers:

• Anger
• Hopelessness
• Lack of Control
• Feeling Unappreciated
• Boredom

How do you regain control of your eating habits?

Keep a food journal and rank your hunger from 1-10 every time you begin eating something. By keeping this journal, you will be aware of how often you are eating, and how hungry you feel when you begin eating. Similarly, getting to know your triggers will help combat your feelings associated with foods. In your food journal, write what you are thinking about. It may help determine what your mood is and make you more aware of your emotional eating habits.

Make a list of things you enjoy doing and carry the list with you. When you feel the urge to eat, take out the list and begin doing an enjoyable activity instead.

Stay away from your normal comfort foods and instead indulge in a pickle, celery sticks or a cup of bouillon. The clue is to keep healthy snacks around the house for when you have trouble overcoming your trigger points.

Learn more about weight loss and developing healthier eating habits by calling one of our Medifast Weight Control Centers today! San Ramon (925)574-3278 or Walnut Creek (925)954-8398