Eating Away
Why do some people overeat ? Many people may fall into unhealthy eating patterns including overeating after traumatic events like a breakup , death of a loved one , stress at work , or the loss of a job or home etc . However , common this response to stress may seem , overeating due to trauma can be a sign of a serious eating disorder for some know as Alexithymia . Emotional eaters try to use food to fill an aching hunger deep within them . However , food for the emotional eater will never relinquish that aching emptiness because it is not a physical emptiness - it is an emotional emptiness .The eat in response to feeling rather than hunger , which is usually a way to suppress or relieve negative emotions . Binge eaters are generally unable to identify and express emotions successfully therefore , their emotions determine their eating habits rather than their stomachs .Emotional eating can be overcome by focusing on self-care and a desire to improve health not through dieting and weight loss .
The first step with emotional or psychological issues with eating and weight control is to find the root of the issue . This can be very difficult because in many cases it is uncomfortable work and not so easy to uncover the issues that have been hidden for many years . These deep-rooted issues touch on one’s sense of identity and self-worth. Many of theses issues are related to body image , secual abuse , and emotional processing .
The second step in overcoming an emotional eating disorder is undoing old psychological patterns while forming healthy new ones. This step requires a great deal of repetition until it becomes natural . Professionals suggest that the emotional eater starts a food journal to understand how their eating affects their life. Being able to see the quantity and frequency of their eating will hold the emotional eater more accountable for his or her actions. Identifying the emotional and external triggers that lead to overeating can be extremely helpful in this process. A person with this disorder must pay close attention to his or her feelings right before an overeating episode and then write down those feelings . The overeater will likely uncover some surprising triggers based on this exercise and be able to avoid them in the future .
Next, the emotional eater needs to gauge their hunger and determine the intensity of it by using a scale of 1 to 5 , with 5 being extremely full and 1 being extremely hungry . Then, if their hunger is close to a 1 or 2 , they can allow themselves to eat.
Another technique that emotional eaters have found to be successful is called the 3-food interference. This method suggests that, before the emotional eater eats , he or she must eat at least three healthy foods first , like an apple , non-fat yogurt,vegetables, or clean protein like grilled chicken or lean steak. The overeater is likely to become physically full from consuming these foods and therefore is more able to resist overeating and eating unhealthy foods . in addition to these techniques , most experts agree that adequate sleep and sufficient exercise can help a person with an overeating issue overcome their disorder and live a overall more healthy life .
In addition , a support group or a trusted family member or friend can help an emotional eater . Outside support is key to an emotional eaters success because they often hide their comfort food and binge-eat in closets . When the emotional eater is held accountable to someone he or she trusts, it can be instrumental in his or her success .
Some people might think that this disorder is something that they cannot overcome. The may have doubts in their mind like “ what would i do without food as a support?” or “ What am i going to rely on when the going gets rough ?”. Although it is difficult , one can overcome an eating disorder through willpower, self-discipline, and support .
Through my research , I am happy to say that there is an end to the anguish of emotional eating . It is comforting for me to know this since i have personally struggled with an eating disorder as a young adult , I have learned that emotional eaters need to release some of their emotions that they buried as children . By keeping a food journal , having a support group, evaluating hunger before eating, and by understanding that food is something that one should eat to live healthy by and not to eat for emotional support one can overcome this disorder .
The first step with emotional or psychological issues with eating and weight control is to find the root of the issue . This can be very difficult because in many cases it is uncomfortable work and not so easy to uncover the issues that have been hidden for many years . These deep-rooted issues touch on one’s sense of identity and self-worth. Many of theses issues are related to body image , secual abuse , and emotional processing .
The second step in overcoming an emotional eating disorder is undoing old psychological patterns while forming healthy new ones. This step requires a great deal of repetition until it becomes natural . Professionals suggest that the emotional eater starts a food journal to understand how their eating affects their life. Being able to see the quantity and frequency of their eating will hold the emotional eater more accountable for his or her actions. Identifying the emotional and external triggers that lead to overeating can be extremely helpful in this process. A person with this disorder must pay close attention to his or her feelings right before an overeating episode and then write down those feelings . The overeater will likely uncover some surprising triggers based on this exercise and be able to avoid them in the future .
Next, the emotional eater needs to gauge their hunger and determine the intensity of it by using a scale of 1 to 5 , with 5 being extremely full and 1 being extremely hungry . Then, if their hunger is close to a 1 or 2 , they can allow themselves to eat.
Another technique that emotional eaters have found to be successful is called the 3-food interference. This method suggests that, before the emotional eater eats , he or she must eat at least three healthy foods first , like an apple , non-fat yogurt,vegetables, or clean protein like grilled chicken or lean steak. The overeater is likely to become physically full from consuming these foods and therefore is more able to resist overeating and eating unhealthy foods . in addition to these techniques , most experts agree that adequate sleep and sufficient exercise can help a person with an overeating issue overcome their disorder and live a overall more healthy life .
In addition , a support group or a trusted family member or friend can help an emotional eater . Outside support is key to an emotional eaters success because they often hide their comfort food and binge-eat in closets . When the emotional eater is held accountable to someone he or she trusts, it can be instrumental in his or her success .
Some people might think that this disorder is something that they cannot overcome. The may have doubts in their mind like “ what would i do without food as a support?” or “ What am i going to rely on when the going gets rough ?”. Although it is difficult , one can overcome an eating disorder through willpower, self-discipline, and support .
Through my research , I am happy to say that there is an end to the anguish of emotional eating . It is comforting for me to know this since i have personally struggled with an eating disorder as a young adult , I have learned that emotional eaters need to release some of their emotions that they buried as children . By keeping a food journal , having a support group, evaluating hunger before eating, and by understanding that food is something that one should eat to live healthy by and not to eat for emotional support one can overcome this disorder .