Emotional Eating.
Have you ever come home from a stressful day, grabbed a bag of chips, plopped down on the couch, and later wondered where half the chips went? Stress, sadness, boredom, or other negative feelings can trigger emotional eating for many. But food can’t get issues off your mind or resolve problems — in fact, you’re likely to feel worse after binge eating. If you’re dealing with emotional eating, you’re not alone; it’s estimated to cause 75% of overeating.
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Maybe if you feel this is you, you should keep an eye on your eating habits and jot them down — making sure to note how you were feeling when you reached for food. You may start to notice a pattern. Once you pinpoint the reasons you tend to overeat, it’s easier to find healthy solutions. Here are some ideas for managing emotional eating:
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•Don’t buy foods you tend to overindulge in
•Call a friend, go do something with someone, something to take your mind off eating
•Exercise when you feel stressed or upset (but don’t over do it)
•Tackle the source of your stress head on (for example, talk to the person who’s causing you anxiety or rearrange your schedule if you’re overloaded)
•Keep healthy snacks (cut veggies, unbuttered popcorn, fruit) on hand for when you need something to munch on.
•Eat the foods you body needs. Vs. what your most mind wants.
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