If you are a woman struggling with emotional eating, take heart. Help is on the way. The following is a partial list of things to do when you want to eat but you're not physically hungry. Emotional Eating is consuming food in an effort to handle feelings of overwhelm or stress in your life. In my experience, I've found that women who are emotional eaters, tend to be very proficient at juggling many things and taking care of the needs of others. As a result of this extreme focus on the needs of others, they often tend to overlook themselves and as a result they neglect their own needs over the long term and fall prey to the instant gratification that food can bring. If you are an emotional eater, there is a good chance that you haven't learned of a variety of ways of coping with stress without food.
I offer my clients the following list to use in conjunction with various stress relief techniques that I teach to help them to reawaken the inner nurturer inside of themselves and to provide them with choices and tools guiding them to take specific steps to help them to cope with their stress and enjoy more of their life.
* Use body lotion
* Take a bubble bath
* Get a manicure
* Enjoy a pedicure
* Get a massage
* Go shopping
* Buy a new lipstick
* Treat yourself to some flowers
* Cuddle up with a good book
* Watch a favorite movie
* Go for a walk
* Look at the the sky
* Visit a museum
* Go to the park
* Call a friend
* Hug a tree
* Go hiking
* Hug someone
* Ask for a hug
* Tell someone you love them
* Forgive
* Count your blessings
* Make a cup of tea
* Paint a picture
* Fly a kite
* Walk on the beach
* Take a swim
* Pack a picnic lunch
* Gaze at the stars
* Watch the sun rise
* Revel in a sunset
* Snuggle up with a soft pillow
* Jump in Autumn leaves
* Listen to the birds
* Sew a patchwork quilt
* Dance
* Sing
* Watch a comedy
* Write a letter
* Listen to books on tape
* Go to the library
* Take a cooking class
* Redecorate a room
* Watch children play
* Enjoy a guided visualization CD
* Write a book
* Play a board game
* Relax outdoors
* Touch something soft
* Buy new underwear
* Buy hair accessories
* Change your hairstyle
* Ask a question
* Participate in a support group
* Give yourself a hug
* Make plans to see a friend
* Sit by a fire
* Sit quietly and listen to your body
* Meditate or visualize
* Take pictures
* Jump in a Jacuzzi
* Take a road trip
* Go to a concert
* See a show
* Take off your shoes
* Buy new slippers
* Plant a garden
* Try a new recipe
* Get out your old cookbooks
* Invite a friend to dinner
* Visit the Acquarium
* Go to the zoo
* Take a trip to Disneyworld
* Write down your goals
* Buy a scented candle
* Buy some potpourri
* Go for a bike ride
* Make a pot of soup
* Do a craft
* Learn Calligraphy
* Take a class
* Send a thank you card
* Pet a cat or dog
* Hold a baby
* Take a yoga class
* Smell samples in a bath store
* Clean your refrigerator
* Start a hobby
* Go bowling
* Chew gum
* Read a biography of a hero
* Take a nap
* Go to a gym
* Enjoy a workout video
* Watch a cooking show
* Travel abroad
* Buy new pajamas
* Enjoy nature
* Learn a new language
* Start your own business
* Decorate for the holidays
* Take a day off
* Go on a cruise
* Watch the leaves changing
* Spend time with family
* Listen to the ocean
* Make love
* Do some housework
* Play in the snow
* Visit historic sites
* Go camping
* Pick berries
* Visit a farmer's market
* Buy a new dress
* Write a poem
* Go ice skating
* Write your memoirs
* Learn to dance
* Make your own jewelry
* Buy a necklace
* Volunteer your time
* Give to charity
* Pray
* Go out to brunch
* Take a risk
* Walk on a boardwalk
* Smile
* Make lemonade
* Bake cookies
* Go to church
* Visit a pet store
* Make new friends
* Watch Public television
* Go to a baseball game
* Attend the ballet
* Play an instrument
* Read to a child
* Set aside time to imagine
* Take a walking tour
* Have a birthday party for yourself
* Go on a boat
* Go fishing
* Golf
* Play cards
* Go to a wine tasting
* Take a car ride
* Buy a Harley
* Get a foot massage
* Buy a colorful umbrella
* Hang a picture
* Buy scented hand soap
* Blow a kiss at your reflection
* Learn stress relief techniques
* Get more sleep
* Clap your hands
* Go back to school
* Say what's on your mind
* Adopt a pet
* Make a dream mat
* Buy new shoes
* Play a video game
* Wear a funky necklace
* Plan a dinner party
* Make a phone call
* Watch cartoons
* Buy a plant
* Read the newspaper
* Have a girl's night out
* Prioritize your day
* Send an email
* Listen to motivational CDs
* *Listen to music
* Ask yourself the question, "What do I really want?"
If you still feel stressed and notice that you are very resistant to the idea of doing anything but eating, then eat until your hunger is satisfied. Later on, when you are feeling less tense, return to these resources and begin to integrate more of them into your life on a daily basis. The key to your success in losing weight without dieting is to gently create new habits in your life that will change the way that you think and feel about food. This is most effective by combining stress relief techniques with a non diet approach to eating, which means "No more diets!" Naturally this list is by no means complete. Have fun adding to it and trying new things. Most of all, allow yourself to notice the many new things that you can do besides eating.
