Stop Emotional Eating

Do you need emotional eating help? Are you ready to stop emotional eating?

Good! That is a very important step; the desire to stop and the desire to heal. Without these desires nothing will happen. It is just like the popular saying: you can't help anyone who doesn't want to help themselves.

The desire is required.

One of the first things that helped me stop emotional overeating is journal writing.

Journal Writing

Get out a pen and paper anytime you feel the urge to eat in response to emotions... just write. You will begin to figure out what is driving your destructive behavior. Take those emotions you feel and express them with words on paper.

The reason you eat emotionally is because of feelings that surface and feel uncomfortable. Eating food can literally stuff those feelings back down and give you a sense of relief.

But the important thing to remember is that when you do this, those emotions and deeper issues are still there. They will resurface again. Instead of staying in this rut; get out your pen and paper when those urges come.

Write...

• Emotions
• Feelings
• Thoughts
• Situations you're in
• Do not censor your writing.
• Write everything that is going on in your mind.
• Vent it out with the pen and paper!

Soon you'll find that this activity of writing becomes euphoric, releasing, and freeing. It is a supportive activity that outweighs eating a quart of ice cream and feeling like a failure after wards. Journal writing is a way to nurture yourself and to stop emotional eating.

Learn more about Journal Writing.

You will be able to learn a lot about yourself; more than you are consciously aware of. Through all the writing that you've done, you'll be able to see patterns, thoughts and beliefs that you hold at a very deep level.

Identify your Negative Thoughts and Beliefs

After writing, you can go back and see the emotions you've felt and the issues that need addressed.

If you want to dig deeper with something you find; then write more.

If you cannot easily identify your negative thoughts by skimming your journal; you can take a "short cut".

• Keep a pen and paper handy for 1-3 days.
• Write all your negative thoughts that play in your mind

Either path you choose; gather a list of your negative thoughts you would like to address. Have them ready for the next step.

Create Positive Thoughts and Beliefs

After you have the negative thoughts and/or beliefs in a tangible form; you are ready to create new ones that will support you.

For example; you may have realized that you hold the belief of:

• "If I'm slender and fit, people will hate me".

Take those negative thoughts and beliefs and create the ones you do want for yourself. You can take exact opposites of your thoughts.

You could take the above belief and change it to:

• "Having a slender and fit body enables me to live a happy active lifestyle".

Go through your list of negative thoughts and beliefs and create ones you'd rather have.
Click here for more assistance with creating new positive beliefs and thoughts.

Make sure you keep your new thoughts in a place where you can access them anytime. Here are some suggestions:

• Say them out loud to yourself.
• In front of the mirror.
• In the shower.
• Write them.
• Read them.
• Make a little card and put them in your purse or wallet.
• Anything to keep them fresh in your mind!

But don't stop here. Continue writing in your journal. Use it as a drawing board for the things you want; and focus on them daily.

• Write out and describe your perfect day
• or what makes you happy.

Use your journal as a catalyst to create the life you truly want and deserve!

Being able to stop emotional eating is all about "reprogramming" your mind with the thoughts and beliefs that will support a lifestyle of being free and creating happiness. Remember that you've accumulated all your negative thought patterns over your entire life; this a process that takes times, consistency, and patience.

Just believe that you are capable to stop emotional eating. You can do this!

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