Comments on Cranky Fitness: Want Fries With That Mood?

Really good post. I think it's important to note ...

2009-12-03T18:59:44.314-05:00

Really good post.
I think it's important to note that emotional eating doesn't just stem from negative emotions. A lot of people do it when they are happy too.
I know when I'm happy and just accomplished something major, I just want to keep eating until I'm in food coma status.

Thanks for this post, I'm so with you here. I just...

2009-11-20T16:50:26.716-05:00

Thanks for this post, I'm so with you here. I just started the Beck Diet Solution on Sunday which hits this problem head on. I'm really stressing at the thought of not being able to go out and have a cheeseburger and fries and beer (it's REALLY not on her plan). I love the idea of eating uncontrollably, even though when I'm doing it I feel like crap. So it's almost like I'm addicted to the IDEA of eating too much. (Dang, maybe I need therapy!)

Very well put. The cravings thing was a new idea t...

2009-11-20T12:15:22.778-05:00

Very well put. The cravings thing was a new idea to me—but it's totally true. If I'm really hungry, I can eat just about anything. If I'm emotionally eating, I get fixated on one food and am not satisfied until I've had it.

I think boredom eating is a big part of emotional ...

2009-11-20T11:38:52.736-05:00

I think boredom eating is a big part of emotional eating. Sure, plenty of people try to eat their sadness, but my issue has always been boredom.

If I can't think of anything I want to do, my brain automatically thinks of the food I could eat in the house. For that 5 or ten minutes, I now have something to do and my brain is stimulated.

Really I just think I need a hobby. I mean, sitting for 10 minutes is a good tip, but if I'm already bored, this doesn't solve much. I just sit there and my mind goes back to the fact that I have nothing to do and the cycle starts all over again.

My hubby and I both eat in the evening when we are...

2009-11-20T09:28:45.706-05:00

My hubby and I both eat in the evening when we are bored ot stressed. My solution when I am really trying to "behave" is to do counted cross stitch - I have to concentrate on it and my hands have to be clean so no eating! If I am not eating hubby is less likely to as well

Eating can be an addicition and like all addiction...

2009-11-19T17:55:59.919-05:00

Eating can be an addicition and like all addictions you have to find an subsitute. Such as if you are a chain smoker they say chew gum. Here is a food for thought. Whenever I am hungry I find a project and say to myself I can not eat anything until I finish this project. Sice I am a woman I usually find another project before I even finish the first one and then 3 hrs have passed and it is time to eat. So many times we eat becuase we are bored or habit. Find a new HOBBY!!!

Oh yeah. I have had a major issue with emotional e...

2009-11-19T16:06:18.824-05:00

Oh yeah. I have had a major issue with emotional eating. To counter it I make myself sit and FEEL the feelings. It's a battle some days but I am getting better.

I am completely an emotional eater. I will eat to ...

2009-11-19T13:01:43.441-05:00

I am completely an emotional eater. I will eat to placate myself, when I'm full...even bored.
It's a constant issue with me.

I'll have to look this up...

how true! my emotional eating is so predictable. c...

2009-11-19T11:22:16.890-05:00

how true! my emotional eating is so predictable. certain moods are even connected with specific foods. i've been able to suppress hunger with these meal replacement shakes that tastes like the foods i crave - chocolate! http://www.janaklauermd.com/weightlossproductsdietproteinshakeswithOmega3.aspx

It's hard sometimes to separate the "emotion" from...

2009-11-19T11:21:13.957-05:00

It's hard sometimes to separate the "emotion" from the physical need. Our tastebuds are so sensitive to certain types of food. They're hardwired to the brain, stimulating the pleasure spots. I bet the pleasure signals can be so strong as to override any hunger signals that the brain is also supposed to process. It's physiological.

Great post and book recommendation!

Great advice Gigi! It's such a common and frustra...

2009-11-19T10:00:14.728-05:00

Great advice Gigi! It's such a common and frustrating issue for so many.

I sometimes eat when not truly hungry, if I'm tempted by some handy treat, but for me it's not a chronic issue (thank god). In fact, if I'm feeling upset about something, it makes me less hungry, not more. Never realized how fortunate I was!

I think it's such great advice to buy yourself 10 minutes or so to figure out what's really going on before succumbing to sudden cravings. If it's truly hunger, it will still be there in 10 minutes!

Emotional eating was my main form of coping back w...

2009-11-19T09:57:53.228-05:00

Emotional eating was my main form of coping back when I was obese. To change that I started to actually open up to my loved ones instead of bottling up everything that bothered or stressed me out. I also have learned to identify when I am truly hungry. It has not been an easy road and I do have moments where I give in to emotional eating but for the most part I have in managed. Once I got it managed I was able to reclaim my physical body and get healthy.

This post really spoke to me. I have been en emoti...

2009-11-19T09:46:47.533-05:00

This post really spoke to me. I have been en emotional eater for as long as I can remember. I experienced every single one of the symptoms you mentioned. My fix? I recently stopped taking birth control and it was like hitting a wall. The emotional cravings are gone. I still want to eat crappy foods but it's easier to tell myself "no" and wait for a real meal.

The worst thing is (and very few people cover this...

2009-11-19T08:59:50.360-05:00

The worst thing is (and very few people cover this) is emotional eating overload...

I've been told I emotionally overeat SO OFTEN that I'm no longer able to recognize real hunger; I'm no longer ever NOT GUILTY when I eat (regardless of how healthy it is).

I spend entirely too much time saying to myself "am I hungry? really? Yes, no?" to worry about whether or not I AM hungry.

When I stress out because I ate 1/3 a package of hummus and some carrots after dinner, seriously, it's taking this WAAAAY too far.

I am very aware of my emotional eating... pissed o...

2009-11-19T08:24:16.186-05:00

I am very aware of my emotional eating... pissed off, upset, hormones.. I know it. Luckily with years on this, I have learned the coping mechanisms that work for me. I always tell myself to take 10-15 minutes to think it thru & why.. I know already. If I make the decision to have the cookie anyway, I do it & stop there but I know what I am doing & I know how to stop at 1 or 2. It is a long process to get to this point though. I also distract myself by doing something else as you mentioned.

Hold me...I feel vulnerable after reading that! T...

2009-11-19T08:19:24.542-05:00

Hold me...I feel vulnerable after reading that!

Thanks so much for the insight.

I've struggled with emotional eating for a very lo...

2009-11-19T08:16:14.464-05:00

I've struggled with emotional eating for a very long time. It's something that I've had to really work at, and not "give in" to my cravings. Most of the time I want pop and sugar, though there are times I want the burger and fries.

Lillian's Mom - I've read "When Food is Love" whic...

2009-11-19T08:09:38.957-05:00

Lillian's Mom - I've read "When Food is Love" which goes back a few years. A more current title which I haven't read is "Breaking Free from Emotional Eating". Amazon.com should have a complete listing of all her books. I hope that helps.

I've read all of Roth's books. She's great, very d...

2009-11-19T08:07:03.846-05:00

I've read all of Roth's books. She's great, very down to earth. Thanks for your post. It's obvious you struggle with this type of eating and then ten minute wait is a good tip.

I'm the opposite of the normal emotional eater; I ...

2009-11-19T07:47:29.671-05:00

I'm the opposite of the normal emotional eater; I only eat when I'm happy. Otherwise it's candy for dinner.

oh goodness Gigi I love you! I'm awful about emot...

2009-11-19T06:51:07.888-05:00

oh goodness Gigi I love you! I'm awful about emotional/scheduled eating.. maybe i should go on a field trip with the Wee One (and i don't eat in the car!) and find that book... what's the title?