I have a friend, who would always tell me, “I am not an emotional eater.” My response of course, as an emotional eater was, “Yes you are, I know the signs.” If you frequently eat in the absence of physiological hunger when you are happy, excited, upset, or angry, you are an emotional eater. The more intense the emotion, the more you tend to eat.

THE MOST INTENSE EMOTIONS FOR MANY PEOPLE

While some may say fear, I do not think most people are thinking about putting food in their mouths when they are in a fearful state. This is just my opinion of course, but I think the two most intense emotions that upset a person’s rhythm are anger and anxiousness. I was just angry or anxious a few minutes ago and I found myself thinking, hmm, “What can I put in my mouth?” Now, I was NOT hungry, but I was pondering the possibility of using food to neutralize my anger and calm my anxiety. How did I get off that roller coaster? I walked around my apartment. Then I asked 2 questions:

1. What was I thinking or believing that caused the anger or anxiousness? – I identified the cause of my emotional state. I also understand that I create my emotional state and feelings.
2. Is EATING going to solve the problem?

WHAT’S BEHIND THE ANGER/ANXIETY?

There is a belief behind every emotion and consequently behind every feeling. Often that belief causes you to think thoughts based on your core belief that generate these feelings that you do not want to feel, and you may struggle to cope with. Understand that YOU are the one creating these unpleasant feelings. Therefore, I propose that you ask yourself several questions:

1. What is your core belief(s)?
2. Why do you believe this?
3. Is this belief grounded in truth?
4. Is this belief an honest assessment of reality?
5. Why are you CHOOSING to hold on to this belief?
6. How IMPORTANT is the change you desire?

UPGRADE YOUR THINKING TO REALITY

Here is the reality that many people may not even realize, they are living their lives based on a set of rules and regulations they created when they were too young to realize they were impractical. Secondly, you cannot have your cake and eat it as well if you want TOTAL HEALTH. There is sacrifice required if you desire success. The question I pose is, “Are you willing and ready to make the sacrifice daily until it becomes your default choice of action?”

EXAMPLE: you cannot and will not lose weight if you are not willing to consistently do the healthy things. You may be surprised to realize that it is NOT BIG steps that are required for success, but rather consistency with the small healthy steps.

SOME THINGS THAT YOU MUST CONSISTENTLY DO

I will never tell you what to eat daily; however, I will tell you which foods are healthier for you. I am contrary to most coaches in that I believe you should be able to eat what you enjoy in moderation. My mother ate a bagel every day for breakfast as long I knew her, and she was never more than a size 10. Of course, I do recognize the quality of the foods we eat has deteriorated over the years and one needs to be mindful of what is being put into their bodies.

1. Eat healthier/whole foods [nix the highly processed foods]
2. Move more for at least 30 minutes per day
3. Drink your water [if no kidney or cardiac contraindications]
4. Get regular and quality sleep/rest
5. Practice some form of being still/meditation daily
6. Engage in work and play that you ENJOY