Emotional Eating

Every now and then I come by to post this post, there is always someone struggling with emotional eating, and sometimes just being able to identify what is going on, can be the first step.

Are you attending regular support group meetings?
This is from one of our Support Group Meetings. I just have to post this, as soooooo many of us are Emotional Eaters!!!!I keep this posted at work, in areas I can get a glance of it, especially where I keep my emergency food stash.

                              Eight Signs of Emotional Eating

A lot of people ask, "How do I know if I am over eating for emotional reasons?" If any of the following statements sound like they could apply to you, then it's likely you are struggling with emotional eating.


1. My hunger comes on suddenly. Physical hunger comes on slowly. Hunger from emotional eating often comes on quickly and suddenly.

 

2. I crave specific foods-generally not carrot sticks or steamed broccoli.Cravings for specific foods usually unhealthy foods are signs of emotional eating. Often people like the rush they get from satisfying their cravings. The rush is fulfilling emotional hunger.　

3. My hunger feels urgent- I need a particular food right away and I am willing to walk out of my way, or get in your car late at night, or raid my kids Halloween candy to get it.  Physical hunger, unless you haven’t eaten for a long time, is usually pretty patient. It will wait for food. Emotional hunger demands to be satisfied immediately.

4. My hunger is often paired with an upsetting emotion- if I backtrack a few hours or a few days I’ll usually find an upsetting event and feeling that triggered the urge. Hunger thats comnnected to an upsetting emotion or situation is definately emotional hunger. Physical hunger is not typically triggered by emotions.

5. My eating habits involve unconscious eating-all of a sudden I’m eating ice cream and I find the whole contianer is gone.

6. I don’t stop eating in response to being full- I keep wanting more of the taste of the food. Physical hunger doesn’t need to be stuffed in order to be satisfied. Emotional hunger on the other hand often demands more and more food to feel satisfied.

7. My hunger isn’t located in he belly- I crave the taste of a certain food in my mouth or I can’t stop thinking of a certan food.  Feeling hungry in this way is usually a sign of emotional hunger or binging. Physical hunger is happy to get what it can, while emotional hunger usually focuses on specific tastes and textures.

8. After I satisfy my hunger, I am often filled with a sense of regret or guilt.  Feeding your body what it needs is not something to feel guilty about. If you feel guilty after you eat, it’s likely because part of you knows you’re not eating just to satisfy physical hunger.

When you’re eating for phyiscal reasons, you are usually mindful of what you’re doing. If you catch yourself eating, “just because", then its likely you’re eating for emotional reasons..

Long time, no see!

Thanks for this excellent post.  That all applies to me, although I've been finding lately that my physical hunger can jump up out of nowhere very fast.

Jean

Hi Jean!
I feel bad, I should come around here more often. So many get focused on getting procedure done and forget there is soooooo much more to our BANDS compared to other WLS, (some of the dr. offices aren't doing a good job either to promote support group meetings). But as we all know, it always comes back to our "HEADS.

I just had a LBL (lower body lift) 2 weeks ago, so I have been hanging around PS boards, and since I am still more homebound healing, I thought I'd come out and see whats going on."!

So glad that you are around here to guide them!!! You have more patience than I.

Great post. Do u mind if I repost it on my blog?

I needed that post righgt now because that all I being douing lately is emotional eating and I went to stop!!!

Great rules, going to print and post themj by PC. thtas where I eat 99% of the time.  I wish support meeting were more often. I need once a week of something-

Great post ! Thank YOu!