Here are a few of my and my client’s favourites:
- Journalling
- Meditation
- Exercise or stretching, some kind of physical movement
- Calling a friend
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/tapping)
- Taking a bath or shower
- Getting outside in nature
- Singing loudly to one of your favourite songs
And sometimes, just naming and acknowledging the emotion can be enough to help you process it.
As with all healing, overcoming emotional eating is not a linear process. There will be ups and downs, triumphs and setbacks. It’s all part of the unlearning you need to do, especially considering how long you have had the habit of ignoring your emotions and turning to food for comfort.
As with all healing, overcoming emotional eating is not a linear process. There will be ups and downs, triumphs and setbacks.
I know for myself, in my own journey, I started with just naming the emotion, and then I’d usually have the food I was craving anyway! And I just allowed myself to go through that phase until I eventually was able to feel safe in expressing and processing my emotions without food.
Because food isn’t really helping you express or process your emotions at all, it just suppresses them. Quite literally, the food pushes your emotions back down into your body. Food is a way of numbing yourself against emotions, and the antidote to emotional eating is learning to acknowledge, accept and allow your emotions – all of them.
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Dannielle Illingworth is a kinesiologist, naturopath + author. Whether it’s in business, relationships, weight loss, career, health, or just general happiness – Danni helps her clients identify and let go of any fears, limiting beliefs + memories that are holding them back from what they truly desire. You can find out more at her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
