Overeating Recovery header image

resolving emotional eating

Emotional Eating and Food Addiction: What’s the Connection?

– Posted in: brain chemistry imbalances compassion diet mentality embracing emotions emotional eating food addiction hope identifying emotions and needs Inner Nurturing overeating, dieting, weight loss resolving emotional eating stress and overeating stress eating sugar addiction

There's a quote I've always loved by Sir Francis Bacon, the English Philosopher, and I'm sure you've heard it. He sad that "knowledge is power." And I definitely believe this to be true. But I also know, from more than three decades of work as a psychotherapist and life coach specializing in overeating challenges, that

Happy International No Diet Day

– Posted in: diet mentality dieting embracing emotions emotional eating fasting food addiction forgiveness gratitude motivation to change habits overeating, dieting, weight loss perfectionism recovery resolving emotional eating self-acceptance self-compassion stress and overeating stress eating weight loss

I bet you didn't know that today is International No Diet Day. Well it is, and its observed annually on May 6th. It's a day dedicated to raise awareness regarding the dangers of dieting and to celebrate body acceptance and body shape diversity. Despite the entrenchment of the diet mentality in our culture, research demonstrates that diets don't

Resistant Starch: Are You Including this Superfood in your Eating Plan?

– Posted in: blood sugar imbalances brain chemistry imbalances diabetes diet mentality dieting food addiction food allergies glycemic index high insulin levels overeating, dieting, weight loss resolving emotional eating stress and overeating sugar addiction sugar cravings whole unprocessed plant foods

When you think about "starch", what comes to mind?  Most likely, you think about foods like potatoes, breads, beans, rice and pasta and fruits like bananas and plantains. Perhaps you think about your shirts being laundered or that box of potato or corn starch you saw your grandmother take out of the cupboard to add to recipes. And

Stressed Out and Overeating?

– Posted in: adjusting expectations blood sugar imbalances brain chemistry imbalances dieting emotional eating food allergies high cortisol levels high insulin levels identifying emotions and needs loneliness and overeating motivation overeating, dieting, weight loss overwhelm recovery reducing stress resolving emotional eating self-acceptance stress and overeating stress eating sugar addiction sugar cravings weight loss

We all feel the effects of stress, from agitated moods to tension in our bodies leading to chronic pain and illness. Stress in small doses can actually be useful. The stress you feel before a big exam may just be the motivation you need to increase your study time. Chronic job dissatisfaction may be the needed stressor to change jobs or go back

Can Mindfulness Curb Overeating?

– Posted in: compassion depression embracing emotions emotional eating hope hurts identifying emotions and needs Inner Nurturing loneliness and overeating losses and disappointments Making lifestyle changes mindful eating mindfulness overeating, dieting, weight loss overwhelm reducing stress resolving emotional eating self-compassion self-defeating thinking self-doubt self-love stress and overeating stress eating weight loss

Mindfulness, according to Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Mindfulness for Beginners, is “awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a sustained and particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. Mindfulness can be traced to Buddhist origins and the practice commonly referred to as “mindful eating” is an offshoot, involving slowing down and paying attention

Are Unmet Needs Sending You to the Refrigerator?

– Posted in: dieting emotional eating food addiction identifying emotions and needs loneliness and overeating overeating, dieting, weight loss resolving emotional eating self connection self-acceptance self-love self-worth stress and overeating unrealistic expectations weight loss

Does it feel like you're living your life, day-to-day, with many of your needs unmet? Do you think this may have something to do with your overeating or imbalanced eating? If so, you're not alone. Many people, frustrated by years of unmet needs, find themselves regularly turning to food for emotional comfort, pleasure, soothing, escape,

Is Seasonal Affective Disorder the Cause of Your Cravings?

– Posted in: brain chemistry imbalances depression despair emotional eating hopelessness mood disorders motivation to change habits overeating, dieting, weight loss recovery reducing stress resolving emotional eating Seasonal Affective Disorder stress and overeating stress eating sugar addiction sugar cravings transitions weight loss whole unprocessed plant foods winter blues

At this time of year, many of my clients begin to complain about the days getting shorter and darker. Understandably so. It’s not just that the summer is ending and the longer, lazier days will soon be behind us. With this particular season change, those who suffer from mild to moderate mood disorders (especially depressive

Stopping the Diet Mentality

– Posted in: adjusting expectations body image compassion delaying gratification diet mentality dieting embracing emotions emotional eating healing a body image Making lifestyle changes mindful eating overeating, dieting, weight loss reducing stress resolving emotional eating self-compassion stress and overeating stress eating weight loss whole unprocessed plant foods

I bet you didn’t know that May 6th was International No Diet Day. Well it was, and its a day dedicated to raising awareness regarding the dangers of dieting and to celebrate body acceptance and body shape diversity. Despite the entrenchment of the diet mentality in our culture, research demonstrates that diets don’t work. Ninety-eight

Does Your Eating Have an Emotional Component to It?

– Posted in: adjusting expectations delaying gratification diet mentality dieting embracing emotions emotional eating hope identifying emotions and needs Inner Nurturing overeating, dieting, weight loss purpose of emotions reducing stress resolving emotional eating self-compassion self-defeating thinking self-doubt self-love stress and overeating stress eating

We all eat for emotional reasons some of the time. Let's face it: food is convenient, pleasurable and exciting. It can also be comforting and soothing. And eating is a way to distract ourselves from dealing with the things we don't want to deal with, right? Generally, we're not bothered by a little emotional eating

Do You Turn to Food When You’re In a Transition?

– Posted in: embracing emotions emotional eating greiving identifying emotions and needs Late night eating loneliness and overeating losses and disappointments Making lifestyle changes motivation to change habits overeating, dieting, weight loss overwhelm procrastination reducing stress resolving emotional eating self connection self-defeating thinking stress and overeating stress eating transitions unrealistic expectations

The Random House College Dictionary defines a transition as "a change from one position, state, stage, subject or concept to another." Many emotional eaters have difficulty with transitions and turn to food as a way to comfort and soothe themselves during the transition process. Here are some examples of what I call "transition eating": --You