Stop stuffing your face and start facing your stuff...

I am the poster child for emotional eating. I'm so used to turning to food when I am stressed, upset, angry, lonely, exhausted, bored...the list goes on. Food may ease how I feel at that moment, but it's not very helpful in the long run. If I run to the freezer for ice cream because I am stressed, an hour later I will still be stressed and I will also be feeling guilty for eating a pint of ice cream and then I will just want more ice cream. It's a vicious cycle. As part of my journey to a healthier life I have been looking for ways to sever my emotional ties with food.

How can you differentiate between emotional hunger and physical hunger? Well emotional hunger comes on very suddenly. It hits you in an instant and feels very urgent. Physical hunger is gradual. The urge to eat doesn't feel as dire. Emotional hunger usually craves certain foods. These are typically what you might think of when you refer to "comfort" foods. When you are physically hungry anything sounds appealing. However with emotional eating you are more likely to turn to "junk" food. You will feel like you NEED a pizza. Emotional hunger isn't satisfied when you are full. You keep wanting more and more. You will feel like a bottomless pit. With physical hunger, on the other hand, you will feel satisfied when your stomach is full.

If you're used to turning to food when you feel a certain way, you'll naturally want to eat whenever you feel that way. The key is to replace the habit of emotional eating with a healthier habit that also eases your mood. Over time you can make turning to a non-food activity second nature when the emotions hit.

What can do instead of running to the pantry when emotions are running high? Here are just a few ideas but I want to hear your ideas too!

- Sing aloud to your favorite song

-Go for a bike ride, jog or walk

-Tackle a long delayed to-do list

- Hug a friend or family member

- Practice mindful breathing

- Call or text a friend

- Plan your next vacation

- Start blogging! (This is what has been keeping me away from the pantry!)

- Make something! (Handmade craft, drawing, a greeting card for someone you love)

- Color! Coloring is so relaxing!

Let's commit to making October a month of making healthy habits.

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