Putting the Brakes on Emotional Eating

Last Tuesday, I defined emotional eating and asked you to do some homework in your journal or online Fitness Diary. Today you'll tie it all together by learning how to deal with your emotions — without food. Yes, it requires more homework — but you want to break the self-destructive cycle of emotional eating, right? Of course you do. So let's get started.

First, let's revisit the exercise from last week. I gave you two questions to ask yourself before you ate anything: Are you hungry? And are you depressed or anxious? For the next week, continue to answer these same questions, and add the following question:
Can you find a way to address whatever emotions you've uncovered in appropriate ways rather than by suppressing the emotions?

For example, if you had an argument with your mother, can you call her and talk it through? If you are feeling anxious about a work- or school-related deadline, can you break down the work into manageable pieces, so each time you finish one you'll feel more on top of it? If you can rectify the issue in the moment by acting on it directly and positively, seize the opportunity to do so.
Using food as an anesthetic is easy. Looking problems in the eye is difficult. Once you begin to look beneath your behavior and analyze your feelings, it gets easier and easier.

It's important to record the emotions that trigger your appetite, and it's important to do it quickly. If you wait even a half day to record them, you may forget exactly what was bothering you in the moment you wanted that chocolate bar. Or worse yet, you might fool yourself into thinking whatever was bugging you really isn't that big of a deal after all. Finally, writing down your emotions immediately means that you can't push them to the back of your mind. They are there in print, waiting for you to deal with them right then.

JILLIAN'S TIP OF THE DAY
This Week's Challenge: Psych Yourself Up

Each day this week I'll give you an example of a negative thought and a positive thought that can replace it. Here's today's: "I've tried working out, but I don't see any results, so I quit!" Instead, think "It's a new week, and I will achieve my goals if I stick with this." There's no going back if you believe what you say.

Go to: www.jillianmichaels.com for more information.