Hey everyone. Mauvais suggested I start a new thread on this, and I know I'm not the only one who deals with it. So here's a thread where we can talk about emotional eating and hopefully help each other to overcome it.

For me, I eat most when I'm bored. Which is a lot. To make a long story short, a lot of my friends decided they didn't want to be my friends anymore about the time that I had to move back in with my parents, which was also about the same time that my partner of two and a half years moved halfway across the country trying to find a job. So I've had a lot of change going on, and since I have fewer friends I don't go out as much.

I've been stressed and bored at the same time and since I've very little to comfort me I turn to food. Mostly pizza, but also macaroni and cheese.

So what are your emotional eating triggers? What do you do when you're overwhelmed, friendless, partnerless, and in need of comfort? How do you avoid turning to food?

Boy, I wish I had answers. I have a hard time too. My triggers seem to be fights with my husband, work frustration, and boredom (especially sitting in front of the Tv!).
I don't go out very often, haven't really got any friends that live near me, and am prone to depression and anxiety about being social. It makes it kind of hard to want to go do things. Besides, I've found most of the time going out with friends means drinking or eating something you shouldn't be anyway...

I think the key is to be aware that it is happening. A food journal might help, keeping track of what you're eating and why you're eating it, or how you feel might help some? There are times though when I have to just give in and let myself have whatever it is. The key is knowing the difference between a food craving that won't go away and an emotional need that isn't being met...

It's so hard, I really think this is the part of losing weight that is the hardest.

Another emotional eater checking in.

I swing from not wanting to eat anything to eating everything not nailed down. I am currently somewhere in there. Not sure where yet. It's still early today. I know logically that this is bad for me. Though that doesn't stop me.

I tend to eat when I am sad, mad, bored or freaking out. I am currently mad/sad/freaking out. It is all coming out of a good decision I made, which makes it even harder. I am trying to find a new job so I can go live with my best friend - turned boyfriend. We have known each other for 7 years, and have been kinda sorta seeing each other off and on for almost 5 years. The big problem is we live on opposite coasts. I am currently trying to find a job so I can move. I don't deal well with the "finding a new job" stress, not to mention the "move across the country" stress, and "leave my family behind" stress. I also know that adjusting to living together will take sometime. I have lived alone for 5 years, and have never had a serious relationship before.
I am currently waiting (not so) patiently to hear if I did get a job. If I didn't, it looks like I may end up moving without a job, because it may be easier to find a job if I am already there. That idea also scares me, because I don't want him to have to support the both of us. (I am a tad independent and stubborn). But with all of that, I have never questioned my decision to be with him. (It actually never occurred to me to question it, until someone I was talking to asked). I just hate everything that surrounds it.

So this past weekend contained: chips & dip, ice cream, cinnamon rolls, chicken nuggets, garlic bread, and pancakes. Though not all at once

I am glad to see I am not the only bordom eater. Generally anger is not a trigger. In fact when I get really ticked off, I have no appetite at all. Depression is also not a trigger since I have been there too. Bordom gives me the munchies - especially right after a grocery stock up. It is worse when DH is out of town since no one here to make me concious of my snacking. I find myself having to remind myself that I am not hungry and only want to eat that because it is there.

Have some gum or water I say. Where the argument falls apart is when I havent had much to eat so i have calories to spare and figure cheetos as good a choice as anything.

My only way around eating from boredom is to either plan for my evening munchies and just make it a part of my meall plan or keep so busy that I just pass out from exaustion and no time to eat. I try to only have goodies in the house that arent too bad for me but some things I buy for DH lunch - then I have to remind myself that it has to last until next shopping and dont want to short his lunch.

Basically - constantly being aware of what I am eating - allows me to make it part of my plan - and if I know how often I have snacked on less than good food I can talk myself out of eating it again untill later - at least wait until really hungry so it isnt extra calories.

I usually turn to chocolates and biscuits when Im bored, but also sometimes when Im very stressed. My doctor has diagnosed me with binge eating disorder, and I am going to see an ED specialist on 27th of this month

Kali - have you researched the treatment for Binge Eating? Is there one? Like some kind of appetite suppressant that makes you ill at the mear mention of food or is it more counseling? Just wondering - hopefully the doctors in London are more innovative than the ones here in the US.

But then I have had so many negative experiences with the whole medical arena that I have basically told everyone I know to let me die rather than take me to the ER if I am unconcious and cant say NO.

Anyway I wish you luck and hopefully you will get so much love and support from all of us - you wont need the doctors anymore.

My partner's halfway across the country trying to get a job. I sent him a care package a week or so ago, and today it was returned because the office of the apartment he was staying at didn't know who he was. So not only did he never get it-- he and his roomie are getting in trouble for not subletting properly. And it's my fault.

*sighhhhh*

On top of that work called me in on my day off, and I have to go because I'm the only one who can.

I've been crying a lot and I tried journalling but it didn't work. I still made a frozen pizza. I ate most of it and I had a pop to go with it.

Now I feel sad AND guilty.

Maybe tomorrow when I'm feeling better I'll be able to come up with a plan to deal with the emotional eating.

hey Squeaker, where are you moving to? I'm headed toward the Bay Area, as soon as things fall into place. Which at this pace will be never, but... I'm hoping to be there eventually.

I am heading to the other half of CA - one of the many suburbs of LA. And I know the feeling of never. *sigh* My other half already lives there with a good job. So now it is just a matter of finding me one.

I came home to no phone call about my interview, so now I am fighting the urge to eat the Chubby Hubby I have for dinner.

Hey everyone.

I've been MIA for, what... a couple, few weeks now? I've let the emotional eating and the comfort food and the being lazy and not exercising get to me. It's just I've had so much going on... at this rate it's looking like my sweetie isn't going to get any job at all where he's at, and so we probably won't be moving... so by the time this is over he'll have been away for over two months for absolutely nothing. This whole thing is very discouraging and while I hate to admit it... broccoli just doesn't soothe disappointment as well as cheese. And, not surprisingly, I've gained back a few pounds as a result.

So I rationalized and made a lot of excuses as to why I wasn't being healthy... and then I thought about it some more and realized that I actually felt a lot better when I ate right and took my vitamins and exercised. I was a lot more resilient and a lot less depressed and with seasonal affective disorder season coming soon, well... it's about time to get back on track.

The kitchen floor is being replaced right now, though, so I kind of don't have a kitchen to cook in. The "starting over" is going to have to begin on Monday. Which coincides with another challenge I'm doing on Livejournal, where we dedicate twenty one days to establishing the habit of eating your fruits and veggies.

So hopefully this time I'll do better. You gals are so wonderful and supportive and I'm glad I found you. I just hope everyone's doing better than I am right now.