When you emotionally overeat, who are you feeding? What emotion are you feeding? Emotional overeating is not a response to physical hunger. It is feeding a scared little child, an uncomfortable strong emotion, or silencing a voice inside of us giving us a message in our lives that we may not want to acknowledge. The key to weight loss and maintenance is to ask yourself who or what are you feeding and listen for the answer that lies in you.
Whenever you eat when you aren't hungry, you are emotionally eating. Have you ever wondered who it is you're feeding? What is it inside you that is wanting to be fed? Many of us feed ourselves from an emotional need. The emotions can be uncomfortable or even positive. We emotionally eat when we are sad, bored, hurt, angry, or even happy.
When we are emotionally eating, it is usually something quick, easy, and pre-made, pre-packed or requires very little preparation other than opening a box or wrapper. Any food choice that is especially sugary, salty, or crunchy are the favorite fixes. We are feeding ourselves with quick fixes that usually have little or no nutrition, and we're eating when we are in a mode of emotional unbalance and hunger isn't the issue. We're caught in old patterns of mindless, compulsive emotional overeating. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "Who are you feeding?" or "What are you feeding?" This pause and awareness is important in overcoming mindless and compulsive emotional overeating. You've eaten your evening meal and are satisfied from dinner. Yet, before you know it, not hungry, you are walking into the kitchen to eat a piece of cake, ask yourself "Who am I feeding?" Maybe ask yourself how your body will feel after you've eaten the cake. You know that you'll be uncomfortable, overfull, and remorseful that you've eaten the cake. Not only will be you feel physically uncomfortable, but it sets off a cycle of remorse, frustration, disappointment and another jab toward lower self-esteem. Are the few moments of temporary satisfaction worth the physical discomfort to your body and the emotional downward spiral? Is it worth it?
It really isn't about the cake. It is never about the food. It is about awareness. The key is to be aware of your actions and acknowledge how a particular food choice will "feed" you. Stop and check in with yourself. Get in touch with who you need to feed, it is easier. Are you feeding an emotion or the scared part of yourself? You become more in touch with your emotions and what you really need and what emotion you're feeding. With practice, it becomes a habit to check in with yourself on a regular basis. If you make this a habit, you'll go a long way to feeding yourself in a nurturing, healthy way. You'll be headed toward losing weight and maintaining your weight loss healthfully. The next time you find yourself on your way to emotional eating, stop and ask yourself "Who am I feeding?" Wait for the honest answer that is inside you. If you ask yourself and then listen, the answer will come.
Being Perfect On Your Diet As Set Up For Failure
It's very important that you begin your healthier lifestyle with an understanding that there will be days when you will stray from healthy eating and exercising. You will not be perfect in your diet and exercise program, nor should you be. Success doesn't come from being perfect. Success comes to you from a balance and moderation of healthy habits.
It Is About Why You Eat, Not What You Eat
Your weight and body issues don't have anything to do with food. It isn't what you eat but why you eat. One of the problems with weight loss surgery and diet programs is our belief that they hold the answer. If only we can follow them, they will work for us. Unfortunately for many of us, we didn't experience long-term weight loss success. Did we fail? No. Absolutely not! The diets failed because they are not the answer.
Commitment List versus Wish List
Do you want to lose weight? Are you hoping for a way of life that includes losing weight, feeling good in your body, wearing a smaller size, and have strong sense of confidence? You can have it. To reach any goal, you need to be committed. To lose weight requires persistence and consistency. It requires saying no to food choices when you'd rather indulge. It requires a commitment to your diet and along with a promise to yourself.
