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naysgirl View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 April 2009
Location: Christchurch
Points: 417 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote naysgirl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Emotional Eating
    Posted: 10 September 2010 at 1:46pm
Is anyone else an emotional eater? I'm a bit of an emotional eater and I am really struggling at the moment with it. I could do with losing a few kilos but my weight isn't really the issue. Its my lack of control with food. And I want to be able to set a good example for my son as he grows up.

So has anyone got any tips/suggestions/experiences about emotional eating? I have struggled for most of my life with my relationship with food and really would like to make some positive changes. Things have gotten worse since I have become a SAHM since I have access to food anytime I like and I find that when I am bored I end up in the kitchen, even when I am not hungry.

Also need some healthy lunch ideas? I am so over eating the same things and I eat too many sugary things during the day which is not good and its not something that I want my son to eventually do!
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Jacobsmumma View Drop Down
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Joined: 03 October 2008
Location: Aussie in Auckland
Points: 555 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jacobsmumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 September 2010 at 2:55pm

Hi Naysgirl, I think I am in the same boat as you, although I have a problem with my weight, not just with food. 

I find that keeping the foods that I binge on out of the house helps.  Only works half the time tho as I live close to a supermarket and servo so tend to cave easily.  Need to work on this. 

For lunches I usually fill a mountain bread wrap with cold meat and salad or have some brown rice, mixed veg with either chop chop chicken or tuna.  Or make a big green salads and top with tuna, just watch what tuna you choose tho (I was happily enjoying one particular flavour for a while until I saw the fat content, ekk)!! 

Do you have any hobbies?  Maybe you could create a new one so that you are occupied with that instead of thinking about food. 

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jazzy View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 January 2009
Points: 8858 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jazzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 September 2010 at 3:58pm
I think I started off an emotional eater & then it turned into habit. I also worked nights for a few yrs which got me into really bad habits.

I got out of it when I got with DH but he is a bit of a foodie so I got addicted to a lot of stuff I would not of normally.

I think if you are an emotional eater you need to identify why that is & try & put something else in place like Jacobsmumma said a hobby.

I now find I absent-mindlessly snack...kids plates....getting stuff for kids...& so on.

I am starting a food dairy next week with my "new start" & was told to "write before you bite"...guilt is a wonderful thing...sometimes
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oscarboo View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 July 2008
Location: Feilding
Points: 2403 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oscarboo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 September 2010 at 8:22pm
I am definetly an emotional eater and also tend to eat more crap when I am tired or sitting doing computer work. Haven't really found any ways around it yet (used to go out walking as a distraction but can't do this when I am working) but this afternoon when I was tempted to dip into the gingernuts I found some gum instead and chewed on that. Didn't eat up in the biscuit tin at all. Like the others have said, it is finding something to do instead.
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james View Drop Down
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
Points: 7255 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote james Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2010 at 9:51am
yep same here find it hard but i will win
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ElfsMum View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 June 2007
Location: Christchurch
Points: 11701 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ElfsMum Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2010 at 7:39pm
Originally posted by naysgirl naysgirl wrote:

Is anyone else an emotional eater? I'm a bit of an emotional eater and I am really struggling at the moment with it. I could do with losing a few kilos but my weight isn't really the issue. Its my lack of control with food. And I want to be able to set a good example for my son as he grows up.

So has anyone got any tips/suggestions/experiences about emotional eating? I have struggled for most of my life with my relationship with food and really would like to make some positive changes. Things have gotten worse since I have become a SAHM since I have access to food anytime I like and I find that when I am bored I end up in the kitchen, even when I am not hungry.

Also need some healthy lunch ideas? I am so over eating the same things and I eat too many sugary things during the day which is not good and its not something that I want my son to eventually do!


I am most definitely an emotional eater.. i have changed the junk food to crackers and fat free marshmallows..but also discovered I am a snacker..so rather than try not to i just go with it and make better choices..i still dont eat enough veges but being on WW has really helped me.. as you are sorta forced to make good choices if you want to eat all day:) for lunch i often have rice and tuna..or boring old sandwiches:)
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lisa85 View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 September 2008
Location: Christchurch
Points: 2465 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lisa85 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 September 2010 at 7:58am
Me too! It's my biggest struggle. Especially with the girls going through a bad case of terrible twos they have me running to the pantry every 5mins lol. At the moment I'm trying to change my eating habits. I'm not on a diet (although I could stand to lose 10kg) but I want to change my lifestyle. I'm like you I don't want my kids to pick up my habits. So I am eating healthy (and introducing breakfast lol) and makng sure I get a 30min run in at least 5 times a week or if I can't run I do an hour or more of walking.
And if I get stressed I have a small container of chocolate gelato which is a low fat and incredibly delicious version of icecream in the freezer. I have about 5 teaspoons then put it back and that usually does the trick. The real trick is stopping after 5 and only using it in times of real stress.

I am totally amazed at how much healthier & more upbeat I feel after only a few weeks of this. But I'm actually enjoying the exersize as it gets me out of the house with my Ipod and when I get home around 6.30pm I feel so energized and happy I don't feel like eating. So that's my best tips, exersize after dinner and keeping gelato on hand for times of stress :)
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jazzy View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 January 2009
Points: 8858 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jazzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 September 2010 at 12:23pm
I think my main reason to do a "lifestyle change" is to make it the normal for my kids as they now expect treats all the time like chips & sweets so it is no longer a treat. I don't want them to be little fatties because I have the problem.

I packed their lunch boxes with grapes, oranges, banana, apples, 1 biscuit plain & a sandwich & they came home empty.

My fussy 5yr old who hates veg & will find them if hidden, lol, scoffed 2 serves of salad with no dressing.

So my little changes are working & DH no longer wants things in the house. I caught him searching in the pantry the other night ....& since there was nothing he wanted (crap) he walked away with a piece of fruit & a water....
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