This post was submitted by BarelyJen@xanga My name is Jen, and I’m an emotional eater. I’ve been dealing with emotional eating for almost ten years. Life transitions such as moving, parent’s divorce (hi mom and dad, this is not me blaming you for anything) going off to college, getting a job, and yes, even getting married (love you, sweetie) have contributed to my problem. Many fill the voids of depression, boredom, loneliness, anger, anxiety, frustration or stress by eating. Most of the time it's because they could, not necessarily because they needed to.
Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions. According to
theotherjournal.com, “emotional eating is a very distressing and common problem in America. It affects far more Americans than the more extensively researched eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia. Because of the social stigma Americans attach to being overweight and the highly-prized super-thin body, many are ashamed of their emotional eating behaviors and keep them secret. Others have engaged in such behaviors for so long that it begins to feel normal.”
I'm a part of those statistics and at one point, my erratic eating habits DID feel normal but now it takes all my will to NOT succumb to the pangs of emotional eating.
Have you or someone you know been affected by emotional eating?
What are they/you doing to combat this problem?
Comments (23)
Yes. That happened to me. When my dad died, I used food as my drug to get through my feelings of sadness/anger/etc.
I gained 50+ lbs.
Thankfully, with a lot of hard word and dedication (eating healthy diet/exercise at gym), I have lost every pound I gained from my emotionally eating.
I have found ways to deal with stress, sadness, anger, etc. without food - going to the gym, listening to music, talking to friends, writing, etc.
lol, i've come a loooooong way since then!
@BarelyJen@xanga - great post! Thanks for sharing
It's a problem with me too.
I find that I can get that emotion out other ways, that I enjoy... I like taking long walks, and so that's what I do when I feel the urge to nosh. When that doesn't work, I surround myself with people, and talk about what's bothering me. Usually all those people around will help me to realize that I'm really not hungry, and make me less likely to give in.
I have/had the opposite problem. I don't eat in response to stress, both are addictive behaviors. Like wait_by_moonlight (and others) said, the best way to do is get your emotions out in other ways. I used to have a big problem with avoiding things and procrastinating because I didn't feel like I could do it perfectly. Taking care of the things that stress me out, accepting the fact that there is no such thing as perfect, and knowing when I have really done all I can helped me out a lot.
Of course the urge is always going to be there but you have to not give in to it. Every time you don't give in the urge to do it gets weaker and weaker.
I'm emotionally eating chocolate covered pretzels as I type this...I'm combatting this problem by eating them out of an individually wrapped 100 calorie pack...one pack at a time.
thank you!
@jediwa72@xanga - lol!
Do what I do.....Drink beer instead.
A friend of mine is an emotional eater, but she's changed her ways(slowly), but it's progressing. You need to find something else that interests you. Hang out with friends or find a hobby for yourself. There's always professional help.
@Bricker59@xanga - drinking alcohol not only inhibits behavior, but it makes you gain weight. So if they do that all the time when they're emotional, I don't think it's going to help weight or health issues.
@XxNoLifeKing_AlucardxX@xanga - It's a joke man.
What else can I say except: Nice entry!
@Bricker59@xanga - heh, i was with you
As an emotional eater, I think admitting you have the problem is the first step and the second step is recognizing the urges when they arise and telling yourself "I'm not hungry, just depressed or bored." And then getting up and exercising or something else.
I think that finding things to comfort/distract yourself with BESIDES food is a good start. Yeah, that could just lead to another unhealthy addiction but it gets you out of the circle of "I feel fat so I need to put something in my mouth to feel better" which only makes you feel fatter and sadder.
Set weight loss goals and plan rewards at each milestone.
I've gained 25 pounds while running 30 miles a week because of this. I stash wrappers and recently started going to fast food places or the grocery store when I'm really stressed just to wolf down some chocolate bars.
I wan't to stop binging and I try really hard but it's like I just can't. Food is sometimes the only comfort, and I wish I could find another form of emotional comfort...
It takes its toll on me, not only physically, but emotionally.
i think at some point everyone does a little emotional eating, and they might not even realize it. i know i do it when im stressed... what is better than a nice big chocolate bar or a bag of chocolate chip cookies and milk or ice cream!?!?
I agree that we all go through emotional eating at one point or another. I feel like i'm starting to develop that issue, which i guess isn't a bad thing but i've been so stressed lately. My usual way of dealing with stress and other problems is to not eat. Either way isnt good.
My older sister was bulimic, but she did go on eating binges for whatever reason. My parents commited her! she got to live with people who eat tin cans and bottles of aspirin. She didn't have the eating problem after that, course she picked up hooking and doing drugs... I guess two evils for one. At least she's thin :)
I used to be an emotional eater. Then I joined the gym and I felt great =)
Sometimes I emotionally eat. I also over workout when I am emotionally low. Neither are good habits, so I'm trying to stop doing both.
I don't emotionally eat...
i am a binge eater and im not sure if its because of emotions.
i mean i dont like that im single and i really want to be with someone and i think that im too fat so no1 is going to want me until i lose weight (yyeah i know ppl are going to tell me all kinds of crap bc of that) but even though i think that it still doesnt stop me from eating. it like doesnt make any sense.... i know i need to lose weight and i think in my head that no1 will want me until i lose weight but yet i still eat and eat and eat. i am an late night binger especially. i take adderal and so it keeps me up at night... and i dont go to sleep til real late and i binge all night. its ridiculous. i really wish there was something i could do to stop this. and not taking my medicine isnt an option so i need some other advice if thats what yall were going to tell me sorry lol
thanks
I am definitely an emotional/compulsive eater. I have been on all sides of the spectrum, from 290 lbs, to 115 lbs. I find my eating disorder manifests in different forms also. Anorexia, Bulimia, etc. I find that if I'm not emotionally eating, then I'm restricting. It is an unhealthy cycle, but I am working on it. Emotional eating has affected me since I was very young. It is my comfort.