Suggestions for non-food alternatives to Emotional Eating?

[JoanOH]

We've been talking about various forms of emotional eating, and I think we've pretty well discovered that most of us who are emotional eaters reach for food when we need comfort, relief from stress, relief from loneliness, etc.

So, it's time to come up with some ALTERNATIVES to food when you need to comfort yourself!

I find I need to really FOCUS my brain on an activity so I stop hearing the refrigerator call my name. My alternatives are:

Hand quilting
Embroidery
Knitting
Reading

Or best yet, watching a video/DVD while I'm hand-quilting, embroidering or knitting! That really keeps my mind busy.

In the case of anger, I tend to head to my treadmill or drive to the fitness center. Gets rid of all that excess energy that anger seems to create.

How about you? What activities can you do/do you do to keep your mind off food and/or to comfort yourself during times of stress?

Joan J

[shiitake]

i love writing. i keep a journal nearby at all times when i feel a bit emotional. also, i try to stay outdoors A LOT...and i make sure i have no cash on me. when i'm out hiking on the hills or walking around san francisco...i tend to be calmer when i'm outdoors observing nature and other people. furthermore, it gets me away from the fridge and when i have no cash, i can't buy any food...so all i have is whatever i packed with me. besides, walking is good exercise.

hmm...hand quilting...that sounds fun...i should try that.

[2big4mysize]

I subdivid it by what the food I'm being directed by my brain to eat actualy does in terms of minerals andbrain chem

Like if I'm wanting chocolate I know I need some brain chems that will relax me so i don't want to go say jogging. if you can identify what thefood you are feeling you have to have as a comfort thenyo have won 1/2 the battle
if I'm stressed or angry then i use exercise to use up the nasty stress chemicals being released in my body in a positive manner so they don't interfer with my weight loss as we have all seen in the new commercials on TV for the lasted diet pills.
Finding a socially acceptable outlet for the physical side of my anger helps me a lot. Smacking golf balls playing bop it hitting the punching bag give me a great workout and allow me to vent my feelings.

If I'm sad or blue I know I need some setotonin and proteins with tryptophan will be used to create that so i eat foods high in that and get some bright lights.


I also got my emergency Atkins kit and have learned that there are some things that work for me that will not work for others. Water as a stalling factor helps me with an immeditate action taken by me while I attempt to defuse the driving forces. thinking about and looking at my before pics gives me a real mental jolt as to what I'm about to be doing if I do go buy and eat those foods when i'm not home.


I also have learned to stop and take a minute to say what am I really doing here. Am I hungry and need food or am I just feeding a need for comfort food. I also use my own stubborn determination and i got pics of that 300+ lady in my kitchen and I ask myself if i really really want to allow her back in control of my body cause as a carbholic i need to be very careful letting that tiger out to play.