Hi, my name is Lisa and I am a stress eater. When I am upset/sad/angry, I can literally eat an entire pizza and probably a full tray of brownies too. It’s as if I just pour the comfort food into a giant hole in my soul but it never gets filled. I never feel “full”.
Can you relate?
So, this year I’m working on my “stuff” and trying to remember this mantra:
“face your stuff, don’t stuff your face”
Here are 3 tips to help keep the emotional eating at bay:
- Acknowledge the problem. Usually I know I’m upset, but I try to ignore it and then end up binging. From now on, I’m going to write it down or tell a friend the specifics so I cannot avoid it. Maybe I’ll have to say it 10,000 times, but hopefully if I identify the issue, it won’t take over my emotions.
- Breathe and accept. Life is full of shitty situations, there is no way around that. However we choose how we REACT to those situations. If I choose to get upset over someone else’s actions, it gives them control over ME. I need to learn to just let stuff roll off my back and just worry about myself from now on. (translation: some people just plain suck) I can only control me–not others. (and especially not my kids! But that is for another post….)
- Workout. Some people call this an unhealthy obsession, I call it my therapy. It helps me release stress, anger, and just makes me feel good. I need to bundle up all my anger and sadness and work through it in my gym. Instead of reaching for candy late at night, I plan to reach for my running shoes and go exercise.