10 Signs of Emotional Eating

Happy Friday!

Most people don't even realize they're emotionally eating. Awareness is critical. The first step to overcoming any challenge is to acknowledge it's there in the first place.

Emotional eating is one of the hardest things to conquer. In fact, I'd argue that if we didn't have emotions sticking with anything would be a breeze!

(We'd also be dead and wouldn't get to enjoy the benefits of being a human being!)

So if any of the following sound familiar to you, then you're emotional eating:

1. My hunger comes on suddenly

Physical hunger comes on gradually. Emotional hunger comes on suddenly.

2. I crave specific foods

Cravings for specific, typically unhealthy foods, is a sign of emotional hunger. The rush we get from satisfying a craving is pleasurable, however, it's emotional hunger.

3. My hunger feels urgent

In this case we're willing to walk out of our way, or get in the car or even eat candy that's not ours. Physical hunger doesn't need to be satisfied urgently. Physical hunger is a lot more patient.

4. I have an upsetting emotion

If you take a look at the last few hours or days, I'll bet you'll find an upsetting event that caused a feeling that triggered the urge to eat.

5. I don't stop eating after I feel full

Emotional hunger usually demands more and more food to feel satisfied. When we're physically hungry, we don't need to be stuffed.

6. It's not located in my stomach

When we're physically hungry, we'll take what we can get. When we're emotionally hungry, we crave the taste of a certain food in our mouth or we can't stop thinking of a particular food or taste or texture.

7. I didn't even realize how much I just ate

When we're physically hungry our body is alerting us: feed me! So we're alert. But when we're emotionally hungry, we find ourselves just eating to eat.

8. I feel terrible after I eat

Food is good! Feeding your body what it needs is nothing to feel guilty about. If you feel guilty after you eat, though, it's likely because your rational brain knows you're eating for the wrong reasons.

9. If I can't be perfect why bother?

Many times if we eat something we know we shouldn't, we figure, "What the heck! I might as well just give in and eat everything?!?" But there's no such thing as perfection!

Whoops! I even titled this '10 signs of Emotional Eating'. That's okay!

Watch out for these today and this weekend! Awareness is critical.

:)

-Adam