How are you today? I hope all is well, and you are doing well.
It's a beautiful day to be alive! I am doing well. The sun is shining; it's a bit chilly, but beautiful day outside. My home on wheels didn't blow away the other day. We had some pretty serious storms, in which we had to take cover in the lodge at the campground we are staying at on Easter.
So, that was a little stressful, but otherwise, all is good.
Which brings me to to the topic at hand!
Life is stressful right now; things feel uncertain, ain't it?!
Some days are good, some aren't so good, right?
Working from home might be your new normal, but you may still not be used to it.
And bad days at our at-home work can happen just like it did when we went to an actual building (brick & mortar)! And pile all the other things on top of that, like homeschooling, etc. Woooo wee!
And when it’s finally time to go home - wait, we are already at home, lol! Well, at the end of the day at home. All you could think about was how awesome it was going to be to finally sit on the couch with a bag or bowl of your favorite snack, or a glass of wine?
NO JUDGMENT! No shame, guilt, nor ridicule!
Emotional eating is a real “thing” for a lot of us. It only makes sense, because, since the day we were born, we’ve used food for more than just our physical nourishment.
Food is an IMPORTANT part of our holidays and celebrations. It can help define our family heritage. And it obviously comforts and nurtures us.
So, it makes sense that we use it to soothe our emotions when we’re feeling down. (Or even “up.”)
Again, nothing wrong with this. DIET CULTURE has ingrained in us that we should NEVER emotionally eat! We are not bad for emotionally eating!
Being aware of all of that is a big part of intuitive eating.
Quick Recap on Intuitive eating:
If you aren't sure what it means to intuitively eat, it simply means to listen to your body's cues and let them dictate when and how much you eat.
Intuitive eating simply means slowing down to LISTEN to your body and then make decisions based on THAT.
---> It means eating when you’re actually hungry and stopping when you are comfortably full.
---> It also means eating foods that help YOU feel energized and healthy vs. bloated and tired.
As a result, no foods are “good” or “bad.”
Doesn’t that sound liberating?
When we observe your patterns and habits, you can be more intentional in your choices instead of falling back into habits that aren't doing so well for us and old patterns.
You can actually have control over what you eat, vs. it, controlling you.
Why do we eat when we feel down?
This is a complicated topic, but negative feelings can leave you feeling empty or disconnected – as if there’s a big hole or void. It’s uncomfortable.
So, we can eat to try to fill it.
Here are some hallmarks of emotional hunger:
- The hunger comes on quickly.
- You are only craving certain kinds of foods.
- You don’t feel full, even if you’ve eaten a lot.
- You feel guilty or have regret later.
Over time, emotional eating can turn into a pattern or habit, so you don’t even know you’re doing it.
If you want to get a handle on your emotional eating, here are some tips:
1. When you feel like eating, ask yourself WHY. Are you truly hungry, or are you feeling stressed, bored, sad, lonely, or angry?
2. If you’re not physically hungry, shift your mindset. Take a break and do something different: go for a walk, journal, take a bath, reach out to a friend or supportive family member (maybe even make a phone call!), or do something creative.
3. Be gentle with yourself – congratulate yourself on noticing your patterns!
Remember, this is not about “bad” or “good.” It’s about embracing health and listening to your body’s true needs!
YOU GOT THIS! Become the detective of your body, get in the driver's seat!
If you are struggling with your nutrition, I can help! Hit reply back, and let's hop on a non-obligation Connection Call and talk about your struggles, wins - can't forget those, and come up with a game plan that is unique to YOU to help you move forward!
In Strength
Xo
Candace
