Emotional eating, or eating for other reasons than being hungry, is something that we have all done at one point or another. This is a habit that we have all adopted, although temporarily, to a fill a void we feel in our lives.
Whether we are feeling depressed, lonely, stressed, angry or any other emotions that we are struggling with, food for some of us is comforting and soothing.
The problem is that eating to soothe your anxieties and disappointments isn’t healthy in the long run. The challenge here is trying to find a happy median between eating because we are hungry verses over eating due to stress or other emotions. There is nothing wrong with indulging occasionally in one’s cravings. It’s only normal to treat ourselves and not deprive ourselves of all foods; the problem is that food becomes a crutch, something to lean on, or something to make us feel better. But in reality, most time we feel guilty and frustrated in ourselves.
The key to a healthier you comes from understanding the relationship you have with yourself. Before you can begin to manifest positive changes, you need to identify the triggers. This will in turn break the destructive cycle of emotional eating.
There are several ways that we can try to manage our emotional eating in a healthier and more positive way. Here are a few suggestions:
- Reduce stress; try yoga or meditation to tackle feelings beneath
-Get Active & exercise; Regular physical activity improves mood
-Keep a food log; be accountable and write down what you consume. You will be surprised at how it will make you aware of the connection between your mood & food
- Fight boredom; distract yourself, go for a walk, listen to music, read a book
-Remove temptation; keep unhealthy foods out of the environment
-Snack healthy; Substitute chips for pre-cut readily available veggies such as carrots, cucumbers, celery and peppers.
Once you begin to probe beneath your behavior and analyze your feelings, it gets easier. Force yourself to dig deep for the answers. Revisit your habits and change your patterns and you will find a new awareness to a healthier you.
Lora welcomes you to PURE FX Fitness Studios and will be happy to work together with you towards your journey to health and wellness.
Please feel free to visit the studio for a tour and some additional information on the services we offer such as personal training and nutritional counselling.
Exercise alone is great, but when combined with good nutrition, it can accelerate the results and help one achieve a healthier lifestyle.
Lora Calabro, CPT
1-10557 Keele Street
Maple Ontario
L6A 0J5
T. 905-303-9900 F.905-303-9908
www.purefxfitness.com lora@purefxfitness.com “Experience Results”
