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Are you an emotional eater?

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Do you turn to food as a source of comfort?  Is it something you’ve been doing for a long time or a recent, new habit?  This behavior pattern is pretty pervasive particularly during these very stressful times, and most people would tell you that at some point in their lives they have used food for comfort.  Here are some of the most common emotions that seem to encourage a comfort food fest

  • Anxiety
  • Fear
  • Anger
  • Frustration
  • Sadness
  • Insecurity
  • Rivalry
  • Boredom
  • Stress
  • Other emotion - you fill in the blank!

 

You may not believe it, but there are people who really view food as tasty fuel and who are able to use other behaviors to manage their emotions.  Just being aware that you are an emotional eater can go a long way to help you curb this behavior.  It may then require vigilance and substituting a new behavior to break the pattern of eating when you’re emotional.  Chewing gum, using your hands for a hobby other than eating, exercising, stepping outside to shake off the temptation to eat can all be substitute behaviors.