Emotional eating is the number one cause of failure to lose weight. Lifestyle change is the only way to permanent weight loss, and that includes changing destructive thought patterns. See if you can identify with any of these 4 scenarios.

All or Nothing Thinking

Example: You succumb to temptation and have a piece of birthday cake at an office party. Or you scarf down an entire pint of ice cream watching American Idol.

Destructive Thoughts: I've already blown it for today, so I'll just keep eating and start over again tomorrow.

Rethink: Everything you put in your mouth means more to make up for later, by either cutting calories or increasing exercise. Put the past behind you. Don't set artificial starting points like "after the holidays" or "after the weekend". Make every meal a chance to enjoy healthy food.

Taking Criticism Too Personally

Example: Someone made a slightly critical remark or statement you interpreted as unsupportive.

Destructive Thoughts: You feel totally devastated, like a complete failure, and question whether you can ever lose weight. Before you know it you've eaten an entire box of Oreos.

Rethink: If you are seriously bothered by off-hand remarks, you are likely being overly critical of yourself. Treat yourself with respect and what others say won't matter nearly as much. Maybe the other person was just having a bad day!

Escaping From Problems

Example: You make a mistake at work, or you are dreading studying for that big test or finishing a daunting project.

Destructive Thoughts: You decide to have a snack or go out for a burger to forget your mistake, or because you're procrastinating.

Rethink: Don't dwell on your mistakes. Everyone screws up every now and then. Instead, look at your setbacks as learning moments and resolve to do better next time. If you're putting off an unpleasant project, break it up into small chunks and check them off one at a time. Your big task becomes more manageable and you'll gain confidence as you complete each step.

Taking Care of Others' Problems

Example: A friend or loved one has a problem and you feel responsible or pressured to fix it.

Destructive Thoughts: You reach for a bag of chips or package of candy while you ponder what to do to help your friend or loved one.

Rethink: You can't fix everyone else's problems, and you shouldn't try to. Be supportive, but don't feel responsible. People need to learn from their mistakes. Ruining your own health by overeating won't make it easier for you to help them!

Makeover your thinking to beat emotional eating and succeed in permanent weight loss.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Gilabert

You can only conquer emotional eating when you know how to handle emotions. The problem is that we label emotions as good or bad. And even the emotions we label as good--like happiness and joy--are often an excuse to eat.

The problem is that we understand so little about emotions. In fact, most people have no idea as to where they come from. That is, what at any moment makes one feel good or bad?

The following may provide some insight: For instance, you have a guy driving to work who gets cut off by another driver. He gets angry and upset; his blood pressure rises and he's thinking that most people get their driving licenses at Sears and Roebuck. Most of his day is ruined.

Then there's another fellow who has the same thing happen to him. As he swerves and misses the accident, he's happy.

Why is the first fellow upset and the second fellow happy when the same thing happened to both of them?

The answer is that it's because of their expectations. The first fellow is expecting that other drivers are supposed to stay out of his path and it doesn't happen that way so he feels justifiably angry. The second fellow took a defensive driving course and expects that in the event someone pulls out in front of him, he'll avoid the accident. It works out as he expects and he's happy.

Emotions are as a result of our expectations. When things work out as expected, we feel happy, joyful, glee, love... and when things do not work out as expected, we feel bored, malaise, upset, angry, frustrated, disappointed, depressed...

Unfortunately, most of us have learned to associate food with certain emotions because feeling them and taking them straight is taboo.

What stands in the way of feeling emotions are acquired beliefs about them. For instance:
• "Don't let yourself feel happy because you'll set yourself up for the big let down!"
• "Anger is beneath me."
• "Don't be depressed, no one will want to be around you"
• "You should know what you want and shouldn't be confused."

Truth is that when you allow you to simply feel the emotion it disappears; otherwise you dilute it with food--emotional eating.

A progressive approach to emotional eating involves asking important questions "What is missing? Why are you not getting the results you've been promised?" It is clearly insane to keep dieting when the results are so poor. It's more important to gain a grasp on how to handle emotional eating--eating emotional stress than it is to read the scale. Besides focusing on the scale doesn't empower you to be a better more enlightened person, whereas learning how to conquer emotional eating empowers you in all aspects of your life. If you're a sales person, you'll be a better sales person. If you're an assembly line worker, you'll be a better assembly line worker; a mother, a better mother... Overall, you'll build self worth and find that what you really want to eat is far more nutritious and less in quantity than you ever before imagined possible.

Richard Kuhns B.S.Ch.E., NGH certified is a prominent figure in the field of stress management, a specialist in Waking Hypnosis to eliminate panic attacks, and author of the best selling Scale Conspiracy e-book.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Kuhns

Many individuals view Anorexia as an eating disorder, however, they view obesity as the individual lacks will power that they are unable to control themselves. Unfortunately,discrimination is common with obesity. Any individual who has experienced obesity understands what this firsthand. Obesity is frowned on people view the individual as unorganized not capable of handling situations. Typically obese people are highly intelligent, functioning people yet they are unable to control this area of their life. Interestingly enough the anorexic is viewed as highly intelligent, a workaholic, a go getter.

The body shape and size may be different yet the similarities between anorexia and obesity are present. Both the anorexic and obese individual thinks about food all day long, the health concerns for both are critical. These individuals share common denominator eating disorders. The medical concerns for both are hormone imbalances, hair loss, hair over growth, loss of menstruation, possibly hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic, diabetes, knee and joint pain and damage long-term, skin tags, the list goes on.

The emotional needs for the anorexic and the obese individual, is individualized. Typically they have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, bi-polar, trauma perhaps post traumatic stress disorder. Individuals who suffer from eating disorders need intense inpatient eating disorder treatment programs. Going to a structured program will provide the support necessary to rebuild lives and put in place new coping skills. Eating disorders require treating the body as well as the mind; ultimately it would be a disservice to the individual looking for help to not treat the whole.

Joanna works for the Women's Behavioral Program. She has overcome adversities and shares her hope with anyone she comes in contact with. Joanna is a known published author in the Bariatric and Weight Loss Community, she has spent the last 13 years helping to inspire and motivate people on the value of the body, mind and spirit connection.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joanna_Painton