Home » Health and Fitness Articles » Emotional Eating Can Scuttle Weight-Loss Plans: Author of Upcoming Book Explains Why Eating to Feel Better Makes Things Worse
Emotional Eating Can Scuttle Weight-Loss Plans: Author of Upcoming Book Explains Why Eating to Feel Better Makes Things Worse
If you're eating to feel better, you may actually be making things worse. But I'm Hungry! coauthor and registered dietitian, Crystal Petrello, MS, RD, explains how to curb emotional eating and start eating healthy.
CITRUS SPRINGS, FL, July 27, 2011 /Health and Fitness PR News/ -- Let's say you are at work and you grab a donut from the conference room. You begin eating the tasty treat, even though you did not feel a sensation of hunger before you picked it up. At some point during the devouring, you ask yourself: Why am I eating this? This dialogue is where weight loss starts. Why are you craving a sweet tasty snack an hour after breakfast? Is it that you just found out the project you thought was due tomorrow is actually due today at noon? Are you feeling sad because your family pet just passed on? Or are you just feeling defeated because you have already given up on your morning workouts and think you're headed for The Biggest Loser?
Don't feel alone. It is estimated that 75 percent of overeating is caused by emotions! We ignore our hunger cues and try to bury the loneliness, sadness and negative feelings with food. To make ourselves feel better about life situations, we tell ourselves we NEED comfort food. Comfort food reminds us of happy memories or simply puts us in a state of ecstasy with the flavor and texture as we chew. I indulge in chocolate or macaroni and cheese myself. On the other hand, there are times we eat because we are happy. We eat to celebrate finishing that project, winning at the casino (especially when they give you a complimentary trip to the buffet) or as we usher in another year of our lives.
I am by no means implying that enjoying food is bad. It is human nature to enjoy food. It is when we use food as our main emotional outlet that we start to see the pounds pile on. I have seen people gain 20 pounds or more from a variety of situations that led to emotional eating.
The first step to controlling emotional eating and eating healthy is recognizing that you are not hungry. Then fess up, not necessarily to others, but definitely to yourself, and acknowledge what is causing these emotions. Once you know the cause, you can begin dealing with your emotions, stress or whatever it is driving you to seek solace with food in a way that is positive. Cope with and work through your emotions in a way that does not involve food. You can try going for a walk, reading a book, journaling or maybe by starting to plan a vacation.
Just don't cry over your chocolate cake!
(This information above has been excerpted Chapter Two of the upcoming e-book, But I'm Hungry! The Satisfaction Solution That Beats the Beast: Hunger. Co-written by experienced health writer Marie Suszynski and registered dietitian Crystal Petrello, the book is scheduled to launch on September 15. Advance sales are available at www.butimhungry.net. Not a diet plan, the book presents a comprehensive and sustainable life plan to help people lose weight and keep it off. It includes healthy recipes and tips for eating healthy and cooking light.)
Visit us on Facebook at But I'm Hungry!
Tweet This: But I'm Hungry! helps avoid emotional eating.
About But I'm Hungry!
But I'm Hungry! is a collaborative effort by a health writer, registered dietitian and editor who have joined forces to help people beat the one thing that often stands in the way of living healthy: hunger. It is a blueprint for understanding and controlling hunger and taking back your life. The e-book includes analyses of hunger, meal plans and weight-loss recipes, and tons of strategies for beating the beast. For more information and advance sales go to www.butimhungry.net. It is published by Satisfaction Solutions Press.
Contact: Sue Mellen, sue@butimhungry.net
352-897-4158
---
Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com |
|
|
Press Release Contact Information:
Susan Mellen
Satisfaction Solutions Press
Editor
10140 North Cigtrus Springs Blvd
Citrus Springs, FL
USA 34434
Voice: 352-897-4158
Website: Visit Our Website |
|
|
|
|
| HEALTH AND FITNESS ARCHIVE SEARCH |
|
|
| |
| SUBMIT HEALTH AND FITNESS NEWS |
|
|
| |
|
|
Advertise With Us |
About Us |
Contact Us