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After a rough meeting at the office, your day ends with an empty carton of ice cream and then a stomach ache.
At a party where you don't know anyone, you stand by the buffet table and graze.
The kids have been a handful all day, so you have a second helping of pasta and a big glass of wine (or two) once they're in bed.
Forget physical hunger -- sometimes we reach for food to soothe our emotional cravings. When we're anxious, angry, fatigued, overwhelmed or otherwise under stress, a seemingly hard-wired desire to overeat can take over.
Emotional eating -- if you eat when you're not hungry, for a variety of reasons -- is a very real, and under-recognized problem. It affects many more of us to varying degrees than you might have guessed. The solutions often must go far beyond merely identifying the problem, because many emotional eaters do realize what they are doing and they do it anyway. Beyond identifying the problem and its causes, we must learn to replace the mindless eating with healthier habits. Easier said than done, but when recognizing this behavior, try to replace it with exercise, calling a friend, reading, meditating, drinking some water or making a mindful decision to nurture yourself in another healthy way.
5 hours ago (10:56 PM)
I eat when I’m not hungry because, these days, I’m not sure there’ll be food around tomorrow.
3 hours ago (12:29 AM)
I would imagine, to varying degrees, many clinical disorders are fallaciously diagnosed.
3 hours ago (12:06 AM)
I agree. It’s kind of like the somewhat common theory that back pain can be in your head.
4 hours ago (11:06 PM)
The "emotional eating" hypothesis is one of those things that catches on in spite of a complete lack of empirical evidence that such a thing actually exists, because we can all think of times when we experience a negative emotion or some other stressor, then ate something. (This is the "confirmation bias". We forget the times when we had the same emotion or stressor and didn’t eat a damn thing.)
In fact there will likely never be any evidence for "emotional eating", for this reason: Just because something happens after something else, doesn’t mean that the second thing was caused by the first thing. (This is the "post hoc, ergo propter hoc" logical fallacy.)
Cheryl will probably keep her job, though.
37 minutes ago (2:50 AM)
There is a simple reason that most people overeat. Our mega-corporations push over processed, chemical non-foods full of empty calories. Many people are both overstuffed and malnourished. Their bodies are crying out for nutrition, which is why they feel hungry even when full.
17 hours ago (10:44 AM)
if i don’t watch myself, i would nibble / snack constantly. and if i do get something to eat, i just bring a little back to the table. if i want more, i have to get up again. it takes some of the ”mindless" aspect out of the equation.
18 hours ago (9:26 AM)
You use the phrase "Mindless Eating". Unfortunately, we have moved far beyond mindless eating. I call it: Unconscious Consumption.
We have become accustomed to food being everywhere that we’re like the chicken who crossed the road … we overeat … because we can.
Ken Leebow
http://www.LifeWithoutLipitor.com
7 hours ago (8:32 PM)
Thanks for the info Randy. I have heard of it and saw some info a while back. Much of it is based on a psychotherpy model we call Cognitive Behavior Therapy, a major force in psychotherapy today. It is one of the therapeutic approaches used in my eclectic program. I have maintained my 140 lb weight loss for over 25 years and The Anderson Method has been incredibly successful with thousands who have read my book or worked with one of the therapists I’ve trained. I think I’ll stick with what I do. It works like a charm.
11 hours ago (5:13 PM)
Consider http://www.smartrecovery.org/ (I use the tools…I am not associated)
SMART Recovery® is the leading self-empowering addiction recovery support group. Our participants learn tools for addiction recovery based on the latest scientific research and participate in a world-wide community which includes free, self-empowering, secular and science-based, mutual-help support groups.
SMART Recovery® helps people recover from all types of addiction and addictive behaviors, including: alcoholism, drug abuse, drug addiction, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, cocaine addiction, and addiction to other substances and activities.
SMART Recovery® currently sponsors more than 600+ face-to-face meetings around the world, and 18+ online meetings per week. In addition, our online message board is an excellent forum to learn about SMART Recovery® and obtain addiction recovery support.
7 hours ago (9:00 PM)
A couple of happenings in our field you might like to look into, in case they are new to you:
Dr. David Katz, who also blogs for HuffPost, has created the NEWLR, the National Exchange for Weight Loss Resistance, to assemble people who believe they have conditions that make it harder for them to lose and control their weight than other people. I believe I’m one of them and have corresponded with him and become a member. He is a brilliant mover and shaker in medicine, politics, academia and the media.
The NWCR, National Weight Control Registry, is the largest and oldest longitudinal study in successful weight loss in the world as far as I know, and continually produces a volume of good information. Having lost 140 lbs. 25 years ago after 25 years of obesity and failure, I’m happy to say I’m one of the people they have been studying.
Dr. Robert Pretlow, a pediatritian and expert in childhood obesity, is doing great things in the field, including a new treatment approach to childhood obesity that is based on the addiction model. I am a consultant to his project, and the work he has done with kids is a real eye-opener.
Feel free to contact me if I can be a help.
16 hours ago (11:31 AM)
thx William! Before I started working with the show, I did not understand the integral role that psychology plays in weight loss. If your head’s not in the game, the weight loss results won’t last. I’ve learned so much from our show’s psychologist (Dr Sean Hogan) and even more from our contestants themselves. Good nutrition and intensive exercise are both key for healthy weight loss -but the psychology/emotional piece is crucial.
18 hours ago (9:43 AM)
Good article, Cheryl. You recognized something that very few realize when they talk about emotional eating: food works! Not only do we develop habits of eating for reasons that have nothing to do with nutrition, but we get hooked on using food to satisfy those needs. It is, in my opinion, the toughest of the addictive behaviors to master. That’s why a good psychotherapeutically based solution works so well. Understanding that you are hooked and even understanding why does not solve the problem. "Treatment" does, learning how to get unhooked. My hat is off to you for suggesting that people with a weight problem would benefit with a counseling/behavioral approach to their weight and eating problem. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a dietitian say this (other than those on staff or who I was collaborating with). You are a breath of fresh air.
William Anderson, LMHC
Author of ‘The Anderson Method – Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss’
Blog: http://theandersonmethodblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/how-do-you-kill-a-craving/
18 hours ago (10:25 AM)
Thanks – Terri Jo Lorz
16 hours ago (11:39 AM)
Funny, I was having this conversation with my wife yesterday about what to eat for a snack. What’s your favorite source of protein for a snack?
17 hours ago (10:49 AM)
that’s a great idea! Also, be sure to include protein and fiber with every meal and every snack. It increases satiety (fullness) and helps keep blood sugar even. Yes waiting too long often results in eating too much, too fast AND choosing the wrong things. C-H-E-E-S-E-B-U-R-G-E-R!
Planning ahead is key
17 hours ago (10:41 AM)
I’ve found that I do better if I try to keep track of when I get hungry. Before I get to that point if I drink a big glass of water and eat something good. An apple, a bannana, a bowl of oatmeal then I don’t get to the point where I have to have a cheeseburger. Because once I’m to that point its too late.
13 hours ago (2:29 PM)
You are so right. I’ve been thinking of going back to some kind of handwork; knitting and needlepoint are my favorites. The rhythm of the stitches in both is very calming. I’ve used handwork projects before to get through times of stress or depression, and having my hands busy allows my mind to focus better while watching TV and during conversations, too. Thank you so much for the suggestion!
17 hours ago (10:51 AM)
Knitting is another good activity that can keep your hands busy and stay stimulated while watching TV. It’s also a nice and soothing meditative motion that can calm stress and help with the other elements involved in emotional eating.
15 hours ago (1:19 PM)
prayer helps
17 hours ago (10:58 AM)
"Emotional eating — if you eat when you’re not hungry, for a variety of reasons — is a very real, and under-recognized problem. It affects many more of us to varying degrees than you might have guessed."
We fatties have ALWAYS known this…It’s nothing new.
"Changing negative, self-defeating thoughts into more positive constructive thoughts is key."
Easier said than done….but possible, especially if you have the money to see a therapist.
17 hours ago (11:17 AM)
I know way too many people who eat when they’re not hungry. And overeating is so common, that I have to explain myself when I leave food on my plate. It’s not a commentary on how good the food was, I just stop eating when i’m full. I can’t believe that some folks get offended if I’m unable to eat all of what’s on my plate, but at age 54, I’m at a very good weight and in excellent health. Nuff said.
17 hours ago (11:18 AM)
i eat when i am happy
i eat when i am sad
i eat when i am at peace
i eat when i am fuming mad
i eat when i am hungry
and even when i am not
that is the bottom line
so thickens the waistline
and the plot
13 hours ago (2:49 PM)
you might be surprised about the misleading concept of "hard wired" which is refuted by current neurosciences discoveries in neuroplasticity. Give it a look.
16 hours ago (11:36 AM)
This is a truly interesting article, but the notion of this pattern being "hard wired" is a clinical and intllectual cop-out……"Hard wired" is a simply trendy, scientifically vapid tech phrase that spells " fixed determinism". when things are not so detemined in people’s psyches or behavior. there is nothign Hard-Wired about willful gluttony or todays mainstream American culture which relentlessly inculcates an "oral- passive" ( i.e. mindless consumption) orientation to life as the road to happiness...no "hard wiring" is involved when Americans are deluged with media onslaught to indulge , eat, shop, get, purchase....i.e. passively consume! .. throughout their lives..
16 hours ago (11:43 AM)
This presentation explains why we eat when we’re not hungry…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM&feature=youtu.be
4 hours ago (12:18 AM)
That’s most often how I remember to eat!
14 hours ago (2:11 PM)
you’re on the right track, but just DON’T eat
16 hours ago (12:14 PM)
Usually cause I smoked some good weed and got the munchis.
14 hours ago (1:52 PM)
I hear ya.
Hope things get better.
16 hours ago (12:15 PM)
when ALL of our money goes to paying bills and fees, and there’s no money left over for personal enjoyment, the last thing we’re left with to still find pleasure in, is food.
we can’t afford vacations, we can’t afford going to the movies, we can’t afford cable tv. but we can’t live without food, so we find ways to afford it, and it becomes our only source of joy.
we try to keep meals we purchase to $2 or less. that means $1 cans of soup, spaghetti-o’s, mac ‘n cheese, or $1 burgers on the fast food value menu.
we try to get stuff we can eat out of its own package, so we don’t dirty up dishes which increases the water bill.
when we’re really depressed, there’s nowhere to turn anymore. at least we can try to distract ourselves with something sweet for a few minutes.
despair is not a good diet partner.