The Only Way Around is Through

Week 4 of Emotional Eating Series

This is the final post in our Emotional Eating series. I hope you have been inspired to walk your own path towards overcoming EE once and for all. The last bit we are going to chat about is echoed in Robert Frost’s quote, “The only way around is through.”

This quote could not be more true when it comes to the task of creating peace with our food. It is so easy to grab our favorite comfort foods in those times of need to help make the bad feelings go away.

Does that really help us in the long run-emotionally or physically? Nope. And as you’ve been following each week you may have already experienced this first hand.

Feeling your emotions and allowing them to be felt is an important step in being able to let them go. Maybe this is why some people are afraid of therapy. I have been told by past clients that they felt the goal of their counselor was to make them cry!

Well, no one is trying to make you cry, not even your therapist. However, having to experience the uncomfortable feeling that comes up when you are internally battling with the question: “I really want to eat that but I’m not physically hungry” is inevitable. This is the “going through” part.

This is also where some of the alternative coping skills we talked about last week can come into play. Have you thought much about those new coping strategies this week? If not, that is okay, now is the time to do it.

Some guidelines for getting through that uncomfortable feeling (all contributed by past clients):

1. It will pass…keep telling yourself this one! 
2. Pray about it.
3. Try talking it out with a friend, spouse, or the person who you may be frustrated with (if appropriate.)
4. Be zany-instead of acting out with food, act out by jumping up and down or do some other funky movement that will take you out of your element and force a smile-even if fleeting.
5. Journal about it
6. Check in with yourself: What am I expecting? What do I really need right now?

Do any of these strategies resonate with you? Do you have any ideas that would work better for you than what is listed? Weekly Challenge: Choose one or two to focus on this week as you continue your journey towards creating peace with food. ™

Even though this is the last post for a while focused on emotional eating, you are going to be able to walk away with new insights and determination as you continue to practice these skills. I encourage you to set 1-3 of your own weekly SMART goals, including finding ways to keep your goals in your R.A.S.! Good luck and “see” you next week as we begin a new series on Feeding Your Family.