How Do I Stop Emotional Eating?

Question by Annie: How do I stop emotional eating?
I’m a bit of an emotional eater. . .that’s really an understatement actually. Whenever I don’t do so well at school or I fight with my dad or my mom moves again, I eat. A lot. Because of this, I’m not at a very healthy weight. I’d like to stop doing this, but I don’t know how. I’ve tried the whole ‘ask yourself why you are eating” thing. That never works for me. Even as i’m making the food, I tell myself I’m not hungry, just upset. But then I eat the food anyway. I’ll be the first to say that my willpower sucks, so I’m really looking for some non-generic answers, things I am not going to find by checking out the first few results on Google.

Your answers are really appreciated, you have no idea how awful this is making my life.

Also, im only 17. I do not buy the food for the house, nor do I have any control over where it is put. Spending time with friends is also not an option as I have no friends in the town I currently live in.
I’ve lived in this town for 4 years now. Me being friendless has more to do with my social anxiety problems than the usual reasons.

Best answer:

Answer by Sal
It takes time of course to meet new people in a new town. That mus always be an option in your head whether you want to be with the people or not. Until you get over your eating habits, it’s best to do something else to throw the time away. It’s just like recovering from any “addiction.” To stop eating habits, you should also find an activity or something that you would like to do to get rid of your emotional downfalls. I’ve been through the same thing and even something as simple as playing a video game for an hour or two will replace an hour or two of eating. Exercising is another great way to do so, but sometimes people who are upset don’t feel up to doing that, but that’s just another option. Find something you would enjoy doing both outside the house and inside the house in the mean time. Also, if you plan on dieting to get rid of the “unhealthy weight,” eat less and less which in each day. Not less to the point where you are starving, but you are probably eating to much and eventually you will eat at a normal rate. Hope I helped!

Answer by Chocolate Barbie*
Alternative: still eat, but go for healthy foods and snacks like fruits and vegetables. A variety of fruits and vegetables. You can never go wrong with that. Cooked. Raw, steamed, baked. Fried. Any fried food over a period of time isn’t healthy but if it’s vegetables every once in a while then you’re okay.

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