"Emotional eating is eating for reasons other than hunger."
Emotional eating is an issue for me. No matter what I do, exercise or eat right, the issue is still the issue. If I don't resolve why I overeat, there will never be true weight loss success (for me personally). Most people who lose weight will gain most, if not all of it back over time. It seems as Americans we want a quick fix. Oooh what's the newest diet plan or weight loss program I can try? Excitement gains attention. And why some of these plans are well and good (like our lovely Weight Watchers), most of them will not last over time when the underlying problem is emotional. Personally, sometimes I think I avoid losing weight all together knowing that real work is HARD and most times I'm not ready to go there....hence the writing of this post.
So God and I had a good talk this weekend. A deep talk. We've had many over the years but this one was different. I felt like God was saying, "girl you've got this food thing all wrong, it's become more of a focus in your life than me at times." It hit me differently this time. Having dealt with being overweight my entire adult life, I've had these conversations with God before. But I think you come to a point when it's like, now is the time. I think you eventually just come to a realization that no matter what you do (diet wise) or who's along the journey with you, it's all about you and God and no one else. I'm at that point. Although, I do love my weight loss partners.
I'm thankful for how God is working in my life by stretching me...challenging me. It's going to be hard but I think I'm up for it. I'm 34, now is the time. Not tomorrow or next year. Now. With God's grace I will reach my goals. With His help I will overcome these emotional matters of my heart.
Psalm 42:1
How to Tell the Difference
There are several differences between emotional hunger and physical hunger, according to the University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center web site:
1. Emotional hunger comes on suddenly; physical hunger occurs gradually.
2. When you are eating to fill a void that isn't related to an empty stomach, you crave a specific food, such as pizza or ice cream, and only that food will meet your need. When you eat because you are actually hungry, you're open to options.
3. Emotional hunger feels like it needs to be satisfied instantly with the food you crave; physical hunger can wait.
4. Even when you are full, if you're eating to satisfy an emotional need, you're more likely to keep eating. When you're eating because you're hungry, you're more likely to stop when you're full.
5. Emotional eating can leave behind feelings of guilt; eating when you are physically hungry does not.
Emotional eating is a coping mechanism for dealing with negative emotions. Instead of facing the causes of stress, anger, sadness or anxiety directly, you soothe or comfort yourself with food. But after the initial pleasure from eating dissipates, the emotions that triggered the craving still remain. Nothing has been done to rectify or remedy the emotional state, and you often feel worse than before.
