Emotional eating is one of the many reasons people struggle with their weight. The temptation to eat the wrong foods, such as high-sugar, high-fat foods that are comforting to many people, takes over. According to MayoClinic.com, emotional eating is one of the ways people deal with a number of negative feelings. If you have a problem with your weight, pay attention to certain triggers that may cause you to overeat.
Loneliness
When people are lonely, they may turn to food because they may feel as though they are not worthy of friendship or love. Rather than continue on this thought path, find a passion that enables you to meet others and find friendship or romance. Remember that food is there to sustain life, not be your friend.
Boredom
If you sit in front of the television munching on snack food, your overeating problem may be caused by boredom. The same goes for mindlessly perusing the contents of your pantry or refrigerator between meals. Lose Weight for Life recommends finding a cause to pursue, such as volunteering or taking a class, to keep from being bored. If you don't want to give up eating while watching television, choose fresh vegetables or fruit.
Work Stress or Unemployment
Stress at the office and being unemployed can both trigger overeating. Do what you can to eliminate the stress, then find ways to relax. Substitute exercise, yoga or meditation for food to help increase serotonin, a chemical that gives you a feeling of well-being. Take deep breaths to increase oxygen flow to the brain.
Exhaustion
Sometimes when you are exhausted and need sleep, but it's not possible to go to bed yet, you may turn to food for energy. The solution is to get more sleep at night or take a power nap during the day. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night to get the rest they need.
Bad Weather
The Mayo Clinic claims that bad weather may be one of the triggers of overeating. A dreary day may give you a feeling of gloom, so you turn to food for comfort. Next time you wake up to an overcast day, find other ways to feel good. Play your favorite music, dance around the house, wear your best outfit or plan a get-together with friends.
Anger and Guilt
Dealing with anger may cause you to reach for food to delay or prevent a confrontation. If you can pinpoint anger being the cause of overeating, take a deep breath and slowly exhale. Do some mental imaging on how you would handle a confrontation in a logical, cool-headed manner. Learn to forgive others for making you angry.
If you feel guilty about something, you may turn to food to cover the shame. Just remember that eventually, you'll have to face whatever makes you feel guilty. Change your way of thinking and try to solve the problem. If you can fix whatever made you feel this way, start working on it. Lose Weight for Life recommends apologizing, or if this isn't possible, imagine yourself apologizing to wash away your guilt.
Depression
Depression may be the cause of overeating. If you suffer from mild depression, try reading uplifting books, listening to music and exercising to boost your mood. If this doesn't work, you might be suffering from a more serious form of depression that needs to be treated professionally.
