How To Stop Emotional Eating

Eating is more than something we do to nourish our bodies with vital nutrients. It's also an activity we do out of habit, like nail biting, hair twirling, or finger tapping.

And sometimes, we habitually turn to food in response to certain emotions.

Whether you feel angry, sad, bored - even excited - food can act as a buffer against these emotions, something 82 percent of us know all too well.

Emotional eaters have learned to "stuff down" their feelings with food - The fleeting "high" that comes from food blocks the pain or discomfort of negative emotions.

Although we know better; that knowledge isn't enough to stop what often feels like an addiction to food and an unhealthy association to eating.

So where do you start if you want to stop eating emotionally? It may be cliché, but the first step is awareness.

In this simple 3 step method below, I'll outline the exact process I've use to free several dozen of my clients from their compulsive habit of over-eating.

NOTE: While the resources (action exercises) I've included here are incredibly effective, I always have my coaching clients keep a journal to maximize the tracking and measuring of progress towards replacing their negative habits enroute to designing their ideal lifestyle. I strongly suggest you do the same! 

STEP 1. - AWARENESS: IDENTIFY THE EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS

While emotional eaters soothe themselves with food to avoid feeling and examining uncomfortable emotions, that gratification is temporary - and still painful, just like the emotions they're trying to avoid feeling.

But if we learn to recognize the emotional triggers that lead to binging or compulsive eating  we can also learn to stop emotional eating before it starts by consciously creating healthier ways to deal with our feelings.

STEP 2. - PLAN AHEAD: REMOVE THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE

Much of emotional eating is so unconscious that it happens automatically or below your awareness, so the best way to stop compulsive or emotional over-eating is to remove the element of surprise that unhealthy cravings use to "get you".

1. Use this meal planner to plan out your healthy meals a week in advance. 

2. Print this out, put it on your fridge as a constant reminder that your inner Goddess is in full control!

STEP 3. - REPLACE: CREATE HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES

Stop Compulsive/Emotional Over-eating, Part 3: Create Healthy Alternatives to stay a step ahead of sudden cravings. A Goddess knows that she doesn't "break" or "get rid of" negative habits ... she transforms and replaces them by consciously and deliberately redirecting the frenetic energy (emotional overwhelm) that fuels compulsive behavior into the healthy habits that support her highest self.

There are many ways to calm yourself without calories, and in our next MG preview, we'll be filling your day planner with all the fun stuff you used to love (activities, hobbies, spa days and massages) to make pampering your senses the fun and guilt-free pleasure it should be!

Remember: The best way to stop compulsive and emotional eating is to stop it before it starts! Using our proven 3 step method along with the free resources above will help you end the habit of emotional eating .

Get more: Hit the like/recommend button & leave a comment below to get notified when we post more free Modern Goddess previews and resources.

Resources for this video: 

1. IDENTIFY EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS (right click to download)

2. PLAN YOUR HEALTHY MEALS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD (right click to download)

3. REPLACE OLD HABITS WITH HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES (right click to download)

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What's your experience been with emotional eating? Add your wisdom in the comment box below, and remember to share this resource if you found it helpful.