If you find yourself eating when you are emotional and not
necessarily hungry then read this advice to help you curb your bad
habits.
Keep a food diary
Start by identifying times when you are eating due to emotion
and not hunger. Write down what you are feeling and then all the
ways you could deal with that emotion instead of eating - you may
be surprised! You can speak to other people who are feeling the same as you are?
You can update the food diary in your Personal Plan throughout the day.
Reward yourself
If you often reward yourself with food, make a list of rewards
and treats that you can enjoy that don't involve eating and
drinking. Why don't you go for a nice walk on a sunny day, indulge
yourself with a massage or facial, have a new nail polish or buy a
lipstick, or spend an hour of 'me time' with your favourite glossy
magazine.
Is it boredom?
Look at when and where you are snacking. What can you do
instead? Could you take up a new hobby or exercise instead of
watching TV every night? Could you speak to your boss about a new
challenge at work? There are endless things that you could do to
make life more interesting and your Personal Plan has some great suggestions -
it's just a case of identifying what works for you.
Try something new
The emotions you feel over your children leaving home can be
surprisingly intense, and you may find yourself eating for comfort,
even if you have never done this before. Talk about your feelings
and try to develop new interests that leave you feeling
fulfilled.
Find other ways to relax
Listen to music, slow down your breathing, learn to say no (at
work or at home), or try talking a problem over with your partner,
a friend, a colleague or another mum. This can help the solution
come more easily than battling with it on your own.