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The Link Between Feelings and Food

Craving for food usually changes with a change of mood. Some people binge when they're happy, some when they're sad, some when they're bored, and the list goes on. It's a way of coping that is usually done unconsciously, and in consequence, could add a ton of excess pounds little by little.


Depression and Weight Gain

Feeling depressed is one of the most common triggers for binge eating. People usually turn to food for comfort, and most of the time the cravings revolve around sweets, chocolate, chips, and other high-calorie snacks. The will to control food intake is usually weaker during these episodes, since they serve as a way to cope with emotions.

Although some people, when they feel depressed, lose their appetite for food, depression for weight loss is not a guaranteed effective method. Also, I would not wish it on anyone.

The Question to Ask before that First Bite

The moment you feel like gulping down a huge tub of ice cream or indulging yourself in chocolate, take a step back and ask yourself how you feel at the moment. Are you depressed? Are you angry? Are you extremely euphoric? Find out what emotion triggers such binging episodes. The moment you discover this about yourself, you will be able to get ready for when you start to "cope" again. Next time that happens, go for a walk, do something fun, watch a movie, go out with friends, and do some other things to deal with those feelings other than grabbing another bag of chips. This way you'll be saving yourself from a ton of calories you'll regret later.

Sometimes the most important thing you need to do to lose weight is see what causes you to eat so much. A very practical and cheap weight loss method would be to know that part of yourself that craves for those extra calories and start from there. That should be enough to get you going.

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