Emotional eating, those cravings, snacking and/or binging. Is that you? Or, maybe you just overeat?
The last few years of lockdowns, war and traumatic weather events, have brought about financial crises and insecurity. And overeating has increased, along with our bodies!!
Although, it may have been going on far longer for you, and for different reasons.
While it’s a common problem and can affect all ages, even children, these issues can be difficult to stop permanently, especially if you’re over 40.
If you’ve been using food as a way of coping with boredom, anxiety, 
stress, emotional upsets and distress, or even just relaxing and thinking “I deserve this treat”, that is emotional eating. And you may have struggled trying to not give in to the cravings, but have lost the battle so often! Can you relate to that?
Often this emotional eating occurs at certain times of the day, such as after dinner, mid- afternoon, when you get home from work, etc. So, when you turn to emotional eating as a coping mechanism, you are more likely to choose high-calorie, high-fat, and/or high-sugar foods, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. Or maybe overeating is more general for you – large portion sizes, going back for seconds and more!
Being overweight can lead to a variety of physical and mental health issues…
Physical & Mental Heath Issues:
Excess weight can put a strain on your body, leading to health issues such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
In addition, being overweight can also have a significant impact on your mental health. And using food to cope with emotions can lead to feelings of guilt and shame, which can cause low self-esteem, anxiety, and stress. This can then spiral into depression, leading to a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviours that are difficult to break free from.
Also, unfortunately, if you’re overweight you may also experience social stigmatization, discrimination, and a negative body image, which can contribute to poor self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. These issues can further exacerbate emotional eating, leading to a vicious cycle of negative emotions, unhealthy eating behaviours, and poor physical and mental health outcomes.
It’s because of these issues, that the importance of addressing emotional eating and developing a healthy relationship with food is paramount. If you already have any of these physical or mental issues, it is vital that your overeating is addressed urgently.
How To Develop a Healthy Relationship With Food
If you are struggling with emotional eating, you are not alone. You may have tried various solutions in the past, like diets, life style or fitness programmes, but have found they don’t work long-term.
With the help of hypnosis you can build new coping mechanisms for dealing with difficult emotions, improve your self-esteem and confidence, and create a positive, supportive mindset around your weight loss goals.
Using Hypnosis can also help you address other common barriers to weight loss, such as motivation, procrastination, and self-sabotage. By identifying and releasing these limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns, you will gain a renewed sense of motivation and focus, supporting you to overcome emotional eating for good and improve your overall health and well-being.
As a Professional Hypnotherapist and health and wellness coach, I have helped many people overcome emotional eating and reduce their weight. And through my 12-Week Healthy Mind-Body Challange program, I address all of these issues and provide you with the knowledge, tools, and techniques to overcome emotional eating for good. My program is designed to help you understand the causes of emotional eating, develop healthier coping mechanisms step-by-step, and make lasting changes to your eating habits.
If you are tired of feeling guilty, ashamed, or are unhappy with your body, it’s time to take action!
Join me on this journey to a healthier, slimmer, and happier you. My next training is coming up soon. You can check out some of the feedback about this training here. Then, just click on the link on that page to choose a time to have a quick chat with me. Let’s discuss a strategy that will work for you to overcome emotional eating and achieve the body and mind you deserve.
Sue Wood