For some people, cravings for unhealthy food can hit them hardest when they are at their emotionally weakest point. If you find yourself turning to food for comfort after a negative emotional trigger, you might be an emotional eater. Emotional eating can be the number one factor sabotaging your weight loss goals. The good news is if you are an emotional eater, there are efforts you can take to get your emotional eating under control.
- Track Your Food: Keeping a food diary can help put into perspective on how many calories your favorite foods have. Also, monitor how the food you eat makes you feel, when you eat and how you feel when you eat. Over time, patterns associated with your eating habits will start to appear.
- Remove Tempting Foods: If you are prone to bingeing on sweets or other junk food, remove those comfort food temptations from your pantry. If you are stressed or sad, try to postpone your grocery trip until the feeling has passed.
- Manage Your Stress: When you find yourself reaching maximum stress levels, try other methods of stress management like meditation, yoga, or other activity that relaxes you.
- Curb Boredom: Do you notice you are always snacking when you are bored? Find ways to fight your boredom eating by doing another activity instead. Commit to working on that activity whenever you find yourself reaching for the bag of chips. Consider purchasing an adult coloring book and a pack of colored pencils. Studies have shown that these books can help alleviate free-floating anxiety and stress.
- Commit to Small Changes: When trying to lose weight, making a small change can make a whole lot of difference. Consider making one small change every two weeks. For example, maybe swap out a healthy fruit instead of a sweet, sugary candy for dessert. At the end of the two weeks, celebrate your small victory!
Changing your habits and adjusting your life can be difficult, but very rewarding. If you would like more information on how you can lead a healthy lifestyle and lose weight, contact our Covington weight loss clinic for details.