How do I stop emotional eating / giving in?

[londongirl993]

I have a lot of weight to lose - around 5-6 stone. I have started calorie counting but I am struggling to ignore those hunger feelings / just wanting to give in and eat what I want.

I know it’ll get easier, but I think I am an emotional eater and for a lot of the time, I eat because I associate it with happiness and also when I am bored.

Does anyone have any tips on how to overcome this feeling?

Ive lost 4 stone through calorie counting, 1 more to go.

My top tips are:
Fill up on fruit and veg, and don’t let yourself get too hungry.

Don’t have your trigger/binge foods in the house.
Do online food shops. Meal plan first and work through your list rather than browse all the tempting aisles.
Identify your danger zones and plan for them. If it’s the evening, have a cup of tea or a satsuma after your dinner and then get up and go something else.

I’m now off to take my own advice and make a cup of tea and put some washing on before i raid the cupboards 😂

Try having a sparkling water with a touch of lime or a cup of fruity/herbal tea when the craving for a snack strikes.

Go for a walk

Do something to keep your hands and mind occupied.

Read a book, do the dishes, hoover up.

Maybe take up mindfulness and meditation so that you recognise when your mind is wandering and so try to detract you away from boredom snacking.

Remember that every day that you get through at or under your calorie allowance is another day where you've lost fat.

Hunger pains are temporary. Weight loss is forever!

Are you sure calorie counting is the right method for you? Personally I prefer low carb as the weight drops off, but more importantly your appetite decreases so you don’t have hunger pangs and cravings.

It’s really important to pick the right weight loss method you can stick to.

I can’t do calorie counting because it’s so easy to get it wrong, either on purpose or accidentally, and also because you become obsessed with planning what you can have and you’re spending your days hungry and feeling like you’re limiting yourself, so much easier when you just don’t want it.

Whereas i was exactly the opposite, Bluntness. Calorie counting so much easier for me and I feel dreadful on low carb. So you’re absolutely right; picking the right method is imperative for each person :)