Emotional Overeating


Emotional overeating is most prevalent in any overweight condition.It usually is a result of a complex blend of emotional, physical and yes, even spiritual hunger.


Stress, boredom, craving for love, are emotions that very often make us reach for food. And unfortunately carrots are not amongst the ‘make us feel good’ foods. So, is there an explanation for choosing a chocolate over a celery stick? There certainly is.

The reason for using chocolate as our emotional crutch is now scientifically explained. Every food we eat affects the body in one way or another, and chocolate ranks high in the hierarchy of those influences. It triggers the release of endorphins in the body - hormones produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Their effects resemble that of opiates - generating a state of happiness.

But it doesn’t stop there. Chocolate has plenty of mood-altering phenylethylmine – which imitates the feeling of ‘being in love’, and serotonin - another compound that is a natural anti-depressant. No wonder we can’t resist it! Chocolate is an ideal companion in emotional overeating.

For those who don’t fancy chocolate there are other foods they can lean on in times of need, and usually these are the foods that trigger happy memories either from childhood, or happier times in their lives.

Now that you know how sneaky chocolate can be by making us feel so good and fat at the same time, we can choose something else. It’s the cacao in the chocolate that makes it so irresistible, so a cup of hot cacao would make a great substitute.

a cup of hot cacao makes you feel good There is also habitual overeating. That is the easiest pattern to change, as all it takes is resolution and commitment. Once the mindset is changed, the rest follows.

Recognizing the pattern is the first step to breaking free from emotional eating. This makes it easier to break it, so the next time you feel blue or bored, instead of reaching for that extra helping of chocolate, you can make a conscious decision to go for a walk, swim or just call a friend for a heart to heart talk. Or you might consider running. Running to lose weight not only can make you slimmer but also fitter.


How Do You Deal With Emotional Eating?


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