Emotional eating becomes a conditioned response

Hi everyone!

Our last post we discussed habits--how these long standing behaviors come to be and how gingerly we need to address and adjust them.

Today lets look at how emotional eating and habits are connected.

What happened in your day today...did you feel stressed? Perhaps you were at a softball game, a dance recital and changing a diaper all at the same time!.... or did you have a long difficult day at work and couldn't wait to get home, crash on the couch and rip open a bag of chips. Deadlines, paperwork, bosses and bills... what did you use as a coping tool?.... was it food?

Perhaps something amazing happened in your life today! --  you got a raise, you passed a test, your baby didn't spit up on your second set of clothes... you have reason to celebrate!....did you turn to food?
You may have felt sad, depressed, alone, or just bored....was food the antidote?

Each day we all experience a myriad of emotions, and over time we condition ourselves to respond in certain ways, and turn to certain foods that medicate. These responses have become so ingrained in our behavior that we don't even have to think it through. We feel an emotion... our mouths open and we insert food!
A HABIT IS BORN.

Remember, it has become a habit because we have conditioned ourselves over the years. We have used this pattern to cope, or stuff away feelings, or perhaps to " feel good" for a moment. We've all been there, but when the supernal moment has passed we plummet to a new low, and so the ride continues.

The first step to living a life without being a slave to food is being aware that we are! Awareness and acceptance is the key to freeing the pattern of emotional eating. Whether we use food as a pain killer, punishment, or escape, recognizing these patterns of mindless eating is the first step in coaxing a bad habit down the stairs and out the front door.

So your first assignment this week is merely to be aware. Instead of mindlessly cramming those doughnuts down, think first....why am wanting to inhale this food? What emotion am I feeling? Once you have an answer, (here is your second assignment)....write it down. Take a moment this week to keep a feeling journal. It doesn't need to be a long and arduous task (but don't be surprised if you  find it therapeutic and want to write more), just write what you are feeling at that moment. This act alone will help you to slow down the process and be aware of your actions. This process may open up some emotions, emotions that can be worked through and dealt with in an a new and healthy way.

For the next several posts we will learn about the many facets of emotional eating and how to work through them. Stress is of course one of the big ones. Next week we are going to discuss stress, how it effects our cravings and overall health, and what we can do to calm the storm. I'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment on your experiences with this exercise. We can journey together, to a new way of life.