Emotional Eating - Reframing the Meaning of Food in Your Life

Emotional Eating - Reframing the Meaning of Food in Your Life
by Reev Pierce Albuquerque, NM

Although many people understand the concept of eating by emotion, few understand it as clearly as those who have lived with the cycle of weight loss and gain that this results in. Those of us who work with them on a professional, helping basis, have a unique perspective on the situation as well. As a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, my observations may help you in dealing with emotional eating. I will outline the cycle from beginning to end as a means of furthering understanding on the subject.

The Beginning

From the start, our subconscious minds are conditioned, for better or worse, by our caregivers. Infants, incapable of clear communication of their needs, often cry, or fuss, to gain the attention of the adult(s) caring for them. The need they are communicating may be hunger, displeasure, need for a new diaper, attention, or a variety of other possibilities. Although the caregiver is usually intent of finding the real source of the baby's crying, if that reason is not readily apparent, giving the child a bottle often quiets the situation. That's great if the need was hunger, however, if the real need was for attention, a bottle is a poor substitute. In many cases, this is the beginning of satisfying an emotional need with something to digest.

This can be further reinforced as the child grows. Perhaps the reward for being still during church is ice cream on Sunday afternoon. Maybe a skinned knee is a reason for a cookie. A bad first day of high school may result in receiving a favorite meal. Although the intentions are kind and nurturing, the result can be creating an imprint on the mind that food can make it all better, and often with sweeter foods doing a better job of making things all better. This leads to emotional eating.

The Imprint

This imprint lasts into adulthood. Later on, long after they are grown, a person may find themselves eating emotionally and subsequently having weight problems they find hard to deal with. It is perfectly understandable how it happened, but that still doesn't take the weight off, nor does it keep it from happening in the future. Imprints govern our habits, behaviors, thoughts, and feelings, and an imprint on the mind lasts until it is altered or amended. Altering the imprint is essential to overcoming emotional eating.

Altering the Imprint - Self Hypnosis

Altering the imprint, which involves incorporating the subconscious mind into the process is fairly simple. It takes just a little practice, yet the process is simple enough for most people to follow with ease. As a hypnotherapist I whole-heartedly believe in the power of hypnosis to undo the imprints that do not serve our best selves. You can simply reframe the meaning of food in your life, or reframe why you eat, and when.

Take a few minutes each day and allow yourself to remain undisturbed by outside distractions. Allow your body and mind to just let go and relax for a few minutes. Repeat over and over a short, simple phrase designed to reinforce thinness and empower you with mastery over food and exercise. A couple of examples are:

"Although I used to find sweets compelling, now the just don't interest me."

"I feel myself getting thinner and having more energy."

"I can see myself getting trimmer everyday."

Repeat for several minutes, infuse with enthusiasm, and allow yourself to believe. You will notice a difference in how you feel, how you act, and how you look. My best to you on your journey.

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