Change This Eating Habit to Lose Weight
Do you usually feel like munching on something while watching a movie or reading a book? When you are in a grievous mood, do you get the urge of reaching out for chocolate? Do you sometimes open the fridge and look for “something” because, well, you are bored? Happens all the time, right? This is one eating habit that is not letting you get healthy.
Emotional eating is a common habit that’s a part of our lives even without us acknowledging its existence. Most of us eat not responding to our physical hunger but an emotional one.
The habit, probably, became a part of you right in your childhood. It was when your parents took you out for an ice-cream when you got hurt or when they ordered a pizza when you scored well in school. That is when most of us started linking food to our moods. Heartbreaks made indulging in a tub of ice-cream legit, and any small or big joy became the reason for gorging on junk meals.
But, hey, let’s not blame it all on parents! Most cultures, perhaps all of them, also link food to celebrations as well as means to cope with loss. And as we went along, we embraced this habit so perfectly that now we don’t know any other way than to associate our moods with food.
“It’s raining. How about a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows or maybe some
pakoda /samosa (Indian fried snacks)?” That’s mindless emotional eating too.
Emotional Eating: Reasons You Have This Habit
To change a habit that’s not letting you lose weight, you need to find the reason behind it being a part of your routine. Here are some reasons why you might be eating without physical hunger, and tips to change it to get healthy.
- You’re not aware of it: Unawareness is the biggest cause of why you can’t stop this habit. While many would say it’s your lack of discipline, that might not entirely be the case. Because of the reasons stated above, you probably do not see anything wrong with eating biscuits or peanuts because you “just feel like munching”.
Health Tip: Now that you are reading this and nodding your head affirmatively (aren’t you? ;)), accept it and train your mind to respond to physical hunger only through food.
2. Food is equal to a reward for you: This is a common mistake all of us make. “When I lose 5 kgs, I am going to enjoy a pizza or butter chicken guilt-free.” See the irony, rather, ridiculousness of the statement? Even when we come out of a stressful time, we indulge in our favorite meal thinking we deserve it. Just recently, Abhinav and I had a fight; both of us craved for unhealthy stuff to get over our emotions.
Health Tip: Replace food with other ways to reward yourself. May be a spa, new clothes, or a small trip? Okay, fine these might not seem as rewarding or satisfactory as your favorite junk food. But, tell me, how’s that been helping you become healthy? And yes, it requires practice and time to stop seeing food as the ultimate source of gratification.
PS: I listened to some music while Abhinav watched his favorite videos to forget about butter croissant and noodles both of us wanted to indulge in separately.
3. Lack of Support: Without support, you are likely to keep indluging in unhealthy eating habits.
Health tip: Get your family or friends to join in. We have a support group on Facebook aiming to provide support to those who are on a health journey.
4. You think you’re too busy or tired
You are likely to eat something unhealthy when you’re either too hungry or too tired. You would probably go for ready-to-eat processed food in your kitchen (which brings me to the next point) rather than cook something healthy when you are just too tired to cook. And of course, when you are emotionally vulnerable.
Health Tip: Prepare your meals in advance. Have small meals through the day. You don’t have time, you say? Well, make time for a healthy lifestyle or you’ll have to make time for doctors. Sorry, not sorry, for being blunt.
5. Too many temptations
Is your pantry full of chips, colas, cookies, namkeen, and fried nuts? Well, if you have them around you, you are going to eat it.
Health Tip: Do not get those items from the store! Skip the aisles with processed foods and hop over to the vegetables and fruits section. “But I don’t feel like having fruits when I get those hunger pangs.”? Exactly. Those are not hunger pangs in your stomach; they are in your mind. When you’re really hungry, you’d happily eat even Brussel sprouts or
I’m not saying you must completely stop indulging in pizza, burger, or ice creams. But keep it occasional. Don’t let food dominate your existence. You can still be a ‘foodie’ by enjoying good food that nourishes your body, mind, and/or soul. Don’t rush into it. Practice and you will slowly be able to master the art.
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Purva Bhatia
Purva is the co-founder of Blue Sky Dreamers. A journalist with 11 years of experience, she also freelances as a content writer & editor.
18 Comments
aisasami
I don’t emotional eat, actually I am the opposite: I will not eat if I am depressed or tired.
forkwardthinkingfoodinista
I completely get this. I can be a snacker. However, it is all about snacking on fruit etc rather than crisps – which i love xx
Nihal Shetty
Loved the blog, it was so damn helpful too many temptations is something that I really want to work on for dure!
shubhadabhide
Such a wonderful post! I think I do this. Emotional eating can really hurt the weighing scale and need to be so careful about it. Thanks for the alert.
Courtney
I struggle with temptations! I eat so good when I’m not around other people. Once I spot the yumminess others are eating. Game over lol
Msddah
I am so guilty of emotional/stress eating. Especially ice cream and junk food. The best way to avoid it is to not have access to it.
Gunjan Upadhyay
SO true, we end up eating too much for emotional reasons or just rewarding yourself. Glad to you know could change this habit
Neely
This rings so true to me. I for sure eat more when I am down or sad.
Karen Monica
There are times I do eat even when I am not hungry. Munching on some snacks seems to help me get ideas… Lol
Purva Bhatia
Haha happens with most of us 😁
Bree L.
I always say I’m going to do better, but I don’t lol. But these tips are great – I need to stop emotional eating and reward eating!
Flossie
Hahahahaha I totally emotional-eat. But I am aware of it, so it’s a lot less than I used to. I’ve also been trying to substitute healthier choices, like a (zero calorie) flavored seltzer instead of a piece of chocolate lol.
Stephanie
I am bad about emotional eating. I don’t connect it with reward or lack of support. But I know I eat when I am bored and I like having a small bowl of chips in the evening. We have been trying to not buy the junk because if it isn’t here, I can’t eat it!
chelf
hahha are you really hungry or do you need a hug? may I please have both? lol very insightful post, it’s true most people just eat out of habit not because they are hungry..
Daisha Green
I have been an emotional eater my whole life. Last year I had a gastric sleeve surgery preformed and it really forced me to reevaluate how I see food. Great post. Thank you.
Purva Bhatia
Oh my! It’s good you’ve changed your ways now. Wish you a healthy life 🙂
thatssodarling
I so needed to read this today. So many great tips on eating healthy. I feel like Ill get on track for a couple days then fall off the healthy wagon haha. So much great advice here, thanks!
Snehal
Woah… so even a tiny unhealthy eating habits does affect us. Well must watch what I eat now. 🙂