You are not alone! I think it's safe to say that most of us out there who are trying to lose weight find themselves eating for emotional reasons now and again.
For me, when it happens, I sit with the guilt for a bit. I let my mind wander, and try to clarify what I was feeling before the over-eating--- was I anxious? Bored? Feeling sad and yucky?
The challenge is to acknowledge that tomorrow is a fresh start to handle these emotions in a new way... you can't undo your actions, but you can promise yourself to make every effort to change your behavior next time.
When the time comes, and you feel the urge to distract yourself from whatever is happening with mindless eating, take a minute and think-- what do I feel? What do I really need?
Sometimes, I have to leave the house... I literally have to go outside and shut the door. If that's what it takes to break the cycle, I'm willing to take a brisk walk in the cold every now and then. Then I come home, have hot tea, and hope that I can hold out on eating until I am truly hungry for fuel, not comfort.
MUCH easier said than done.... but, that's the real work we're doing here. Calories are one thing, but the mind is another.
Treat yourself like you would your best friend-- would you ever tell her to feel guilty for a bad day?
first binge
