27 Comments

    • melissa

      Emotional eating is such a difficult cycle to break. Made to Crave is a beautiful resource to help people understand the ‘why’ that is driving the behavior. Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!

  1. I’m trying to remember to ask myself, “Am I hungry?” before eating, and not just because it’s time to eat. I also want to stop eating when I’m full, and put away the rest of the food until later. This is especially true for middle age where you automatically gain weight while eating less than you did before.

    • melissa

      These are great reminders and cues to work on. Food patterns are so difficult to work on because they are so closely connected to emotions and habit. Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!

    • melissa

      I got so good at out-smarting myself which helped me to realize my food issues were more than just bad choices but emotional struggles I wasn’t really dealing with. You should check out Food Freedom Forever, too. Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!

  2. This is such good advice. Instead of castigating ourselves, we should look to the roots of our habits. Eating is just one way we try to solve emotional issues. Great piece.

    • melissa

      Rarely do behavioral responses alone alter anything long-term. Our eating pattern is just one example of that. Everything we do is driving by our thoughts and emotions. Food issues can be hard to work through, however, because of it’s intrinsic value. Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!

  3. Kristi

    It’s definitely important to look at the root cause. Are we hungry or are we just feeding a past hurt and trying to bury it.

    • melissa

      And what makes it all the more confusing is that often times the food we eat alters our physiological ability to tell the difference. Too much sugar or processed food can mess with the hormone leptin which gives you cues you are no longer hungry. It becomes a vicious cycle. Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!

    • melissa

      These books were a great combination and help for me. I hope that the information in both part one and two were helpful for your journey. Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!

    • melissa

      Thank you, Sarah! While I loved the spiritual aspects of Made to Crave, I knew I also needed a more practical approach to food, too. The combination was beneficial for me so I pray they can do the same for someone else to break free from their emotional eating cycle. Thank you again for stopping by and signing up! God bless!

  4. Emotional eating is such a challenge, especially when you’re an equal opportunity emotional eater like me 😉

    I loved Made to Crave years ago. I’m revisiting the ideas with the 21 day devotion!

    • melissa

      I understand equal opportunity emotional eating as well! Emotional eating often takes revisiting! Thank you for reading and commenting and God bless you on your journey!

  5. Dear Melissa

    Your blog post “How to Break Your Emotional Eating Cycle – Part Two” deals with a topic that’s a problem for many. Especially in the western culture where it seems to have become the ideal escaping work, wanting to do nothing but relax and eat.

    You give some interesting suggestions on how to address and change the cycle of emotional eating.

    I agree with you when you say it requires motivation and a desire to change behavioural patterns.

    In general, it seems that your message, if I understand you correctly, is to treat the cause instead of the symptom.

    I believe those who struggle with this can get some valuable tips from your blog post.

    Blessings!
    Edna Davidsen

  6. I’m stopping by from a linkup.
    Whenever I do emotionally eat it’s because I’m bored or restless. I usually recognize this as I’m doing so and stop dead in my tracks and shift gears. Not keeping foolish food in the house helps also.

    • melissa

      That’s great Nylse that you are able to recognize why the eating is happening and to stop the behavior. Minimizing unhealthy food is definitely beneficial! Thank you for stopping by and commenting! God bless!

  7. Melissa – a very important topic, but right around the holidays? Girl, you’re killing me! (Ha ha ha…) Seriously, though, it is harder around this time of year. I don’t think holiday eating equates to emotional eating, but perhaps in some ways, it does. Thanks for the reminders to eat mindfully, and the giveaways! May the person who needs the books the most win. God bless you!

    • melissa

      Ha! Lisa, the holidays is absolutely why I did write the post. Emotional eating ramps up during this time. We allow the rich food to take a forefront instead of time with friends. The holidays is also a difficult time for a lot of people and the extra desserts and “comfort food” get used to get them through. Thank you for stopping by and commenting! God bless!

    • melissa

      It is very common but not often discussed due to embarrassment and shame. Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless!

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