I’ve started a series called Confessions of a Nutritionist . Today is all about Emotional eating!
What is emotional eating?
Its’ the tendency to turn for high carbohydrate food, high calorie, and often low nutrition density, when ever you feel lonely, frustrated, depressed anxious, or angry. and that’s because ones is looking for some relief.
So have I did that before?
Unfortunately yes! I wasn’t a huge fan a chocolate until recently. I don’t know why? Is it because insanely good? Is it emotional eating?
As I consider myself as optimistic person, why did I turn for food to seek relief?
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Feeling of insecurity, home sickness
Since I got married, and left my family house, I’ve visited them once, or twice a year. Every time I go to vacation, I lose weight. Even there are lots of indulgences, and relaxing moments. And hours talking, and talking with my sister, mom, and friends.
Is it the depression of leaving my family behind? Didn’t I have a little family on my own now?
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Social issues
I wasn’t unsocial before, I used to gout whenever one said lets go out. I’ve visited people with my mom that I barley knew, or just to attend a small party or even just going to have walk. So what’s changed?
I lived in Doha before, and I was somewhat social as before. Its just the weather is unbearable for almost 6 month. It’s the high heat and humidity, literally you can’t stand in the street more than 5 minutes! So we went a lot to the malls, and visiting friends at home, which in many cases, means more indulgences and less movement. But after 2 years I got a yearly gym membership and had some friends there. It’s nice to have friends that encourage you to workout!
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Is it winter blues?
Is it the cold weather, that we feel the need to be protected? Even though we have heated systems everywhere, so is it the feeling in our inner systems?
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Is it because I have access to grocery store, a good budget that let me buy what I want?
My husband is not a fan of grocery shopping, so I usually do it by myself alone. Even I do fill my cart two third of a fresh produce, But I always feel tempted to buy unhealthy treats, or snacks.
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Is it food craving ?
Sometimes it is, but I believe its not in my case.
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Anemia
Anemia and Anxiety have similar symptoms. Anemia can cause anxiety, and stress on the body, which can be resulted in emotional eating. But do anxiety leads to anemia? It’s possible that it might cause mild anemia, but further studies needed to know the role of anxiety on vitamins, minerals, and metabolism.
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Getting board
I believe this happens in my my cases, and most cases of emotional eating. Food is interesting, good meals, salty chips and chocolate helps a lot of feeling that i’m doing something now, I’m not bored!
I always thought I’m emotional stable, and I know when, and what to eat. So why I do over eat, Why I tend to eat potato chips, and chocolate?
how can I miss hunger signals?
Another thing I’m trying to understand, it may not be exactly about emotional eating, But can it be just a love for food? That I always want more, that I’m thinking of the next meal while I’m still having one? That I love mornings because of a great breakfast? Whether it’s salad, or some comforting meal like bamya (okra stew) that I love so much.
Is filling stomach to the maximum, kind of emotional eating? I believe that
It’s hard to admit, that most of my eating is emotional. Even though many are healthy meals, but the doesn’t change the fact that is energy that I don’t need since my life style is sedentary {aka I don’t move enough}.
The first step I do to improve my habits of eating and life style, is writing this series. It feels great when I’m being heard and encouraged by my readers, and it’s kind of admitting things when you write it down.
This is cool test created by psychologists. It makes you understand if you do emotional eating, why you do it, and how can you overcome it. Free yourself for 40 minutes, clear you mind, have cup of coffee and enjoy this test!
What about you? Did you experience emotional eating? How did you get out of it?
