We've all heard it said that you can't love anyone else until you love yourself. And although we know there's truth to this old adage, most of us persist in looking for love outside of ourselves, often in all the wrong places. In one of my emotional eating groups this week, we discussed the concept
weight loss
The Diet Gurus–What do they agree on?
October 8, 2012 – Posted in: dieting emotional eating food addiction food allergies overeating, dieting, weight loss resolving emotional eating stress and overeating weight lossThere is always much debate surrounding the issue of diet and among the experts, there is still quite a bit of disagreement. Are starchy carbohydrates like potatoes and corn okay to eat or should we limit them? Should we follow high-protein or low-to-moderate protein eating plans? Is it wise to eat foods of animal origin like meat,
Emotional Eater’s Don’t Just Eat when They’re Sad or Depressed
June 15, 2012 – Posted in: compassion embracing emotions emotional eating identifying emotions and needs loneliness and overeating overeating, dieting, weight loss purpose of emotions resolving emotional eating self connection self-acceptance self-loveAt a seminar I gave recently on emotional eating, Cyndie, an attractive, well-dressed woman in her late forties came up to me and shared: "Even though I'm obviously overweight, I don't think that I'm an emotional eater because I don't eat at all when I'm sad or depressed. In fact, I can't eat at those
Do you have an inner nurturing voice?
April 28, 2012 – Posted in: compassion emotional eating identifying emotions and needs overeating, dieting, weight loss reducing stress self connection self-love stress and overeating Uncategorized weight lossWhen the adult voices of our childhood are primarily warm, kind, encouraging, hopeful, validating, soothing and nurturing, we begin to develop a supportive voice within that can restore us to emotional balance when needed. As we mature into adulthood, this supportive voice becomes the voice of what I call our Inner Nurturer, our main source of validation, approval and
Gain Self-Care Skills, Lose the Weight
March 19, 2012 – Posted in: dieting embracing emotions emotional eating exercising hope identifying emotions and needs UncategorizedIt makes me crazy when I hear supposed weight loss experts preach that the road to weight loss begins and ends with calorie counting, daily weigh-ins and intense workout regimens. This kind of advice couldn't be farther from the truth and, in fact, it encourages us not to listen to the wisdom of our bodies. You were
Resolve to be kind to and patient with yourself this New Year
January 11, 2012 – Posted in: adjusting expectations emotional eating hopelessness losses and disappointments losses and disappointments overeating, dieting, weight loss resolving emotional eating self connection Uncategorized unrealistic expectations weight lossDid you make any New Year's resolutions this year about losing weight, getting in shape or stopping your emotional eating? If your like most Americans, you made one or more resolutions along those lines. And now, almost two weeks into the new year, you may be wondering where all those good intentions have gone. I've
Loneliness and emotional eating–Part I
August 31, 2011 – Posted in: adjusting expectations depression despair emotional eating greiving loneliness and overeating overeating, dieting, weight loss stress and overeating stress eating weight lossMy client Alexis (name-changed), a forty-four year old web designer, has been single her entire life. Without partner or child, she often feels invisible at social gatherings filled with couples and families. Her parents passed away in the last few years and as an only child without much extended family, she often feels a painful, overwhelming and
The emotional eater’s expectations: are they realistic?
August 15, 2011 – Posted in: adjusting expectations depression emotional eating greiving hurts losses and disappointments old pain old pain overeating, dieting, weight loss reducing stress stress and overeating stress eating unmourned losses wounds from childhoodAfter spending Saturday afternoon with a close friend, Jackie came home and baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies. The time spent with her friend Carol did not feel nourishing. The two dishes of ice cream and the plate of hot, fresh baked cookies did. Just baking the cookies felt more nourishing than spending time with Carol. Jackie knew that an afternoon with Carol meant
Are you overeating because your life lacks purpose or meaning?
June 11, 2011 – Posted in: dieting emotional eating flexibility losses and disappointments overeating, dieting, weight loss painful childhood memories stress and overeating stress eating Uncategorized weight loss wounds from childhoodNothing feels better than waking up and looking forward to the day. Life feels worth living. We feel a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction because our life has purpose and feels meaningful. And even better if we feel inspired and passionate about what we're doing. We can feel purpose and meaning from many types of
Are losses and disappointments sending you to the refrigerator?
May 29, 2011 – Posted in: emotional eating greiving hurts losses and disappointments old pain overeating, dieting, weight loss painful childhood memories reducing stress unmourned losses weight loss wounds from childhoodMost of us don't like to spend much time thinking about our losses and disappointments or painful childhood experiences. Yet, without much effort, they are brought to the forefront of our minds when something in our environment triggers thoughts of them. We see a happy couple and think "Oh, yeah, I had a loving relationship with Jack,
