Overeating in stress and boredom

It is called the emotional eating disorder. Food is obviously one of the great pleasures of life, and our brain responds to it by releasing feel good hormones like serotonin. But continuing to eat when full leads to severe health problems and really packs on the pounds! Sadly, the brain continues to release feel good hormones even when we are overeating, and this is why people use food as a way to feel good about themselves when they are experiencing stress, loneliness, or boredom. At these times emotional eaters always turn to ready to eat junk foods like ice cream or chips, instead of low calorie fruits and veggies, which makes the problem worse.

There's no easy solution to stress, boredom, anger or depression; particularly when the reasons for those problems are beyond your control. But you can tackle overeating.

1. The first thing is to recognize that your overeating is an eating disorder; most emotional eaters don't even know that it is.
2. The food only helps as long as you're eating. Once you stop, you start to feel guilty and all the stressful, sad, or empty feelings return.
3. Take responsibility for someone else in your life to feel good about yourself. Adopt a pet or do social work.
4. A more effective way of battling stress and boredom is exercise. It also releases feel good hormones and endorphins.....and it doesn't have to be a proper workout. Just go for a walk!