It’s always good to know the signs of an emotional eater, and when you’re actually emotionally eating, because despite what you hear otherwise, there is simply no other way to achieve any degree of permanent weight loss without it.

But how do you know when you’ve overcome it?

Believe it or not, there comes a time when you can put the food down when you’re not actually hungry, and know how to deal with life’s circumstances without forging your way through an entire box of Oreo cookies in one sitting. 

Here are the top 5 signs that you’ve turned a corner when it comes to emotional eating:

1.      You don’t stare at the pager when you go out to eat and have to wait.

You know that blinky thingy they give you when you add your name to the wait list?  If you’re on a date or arguing with your husband and you’re usually driven to eat out fear, anger, or any other emotion, but for once you’re not and you could care less when it goes off, that’s a good sign!

2.      You're less resistant to eating and exercising. 

It’s your natural instinct to take care of yourself, but when you don’t want to or dread it, there’s a reason – most times an emotional one.  When there are no emotional barriers getting in the way of proper self-care, chalk one up for yourself.

3.      Whatever foods you’re allergic to and can’t resist otherwise become easy to give up. 

Say you’re allergic to gluten or dairy, or both, but in times of emotional distress, they’re your BFF.  (After all, they are the top comfort foods.)  When your stress signal goes off, indicating a need to eat, no matter how much you try to deny them, you’re right back at it, overeating and bingeing on the very foods you know are bad for you.  And, that feeling of being comforted and safe is right there too.  [bctt tweet=”The goal of any emotional eater is to obtain or maintain a feeling,”] and unless you change the trigger, be it a new relationship, a formidable work environment, too much stress, etc., the drive to eat will always be there when you’re not emotionally equipped to deal with your circumstances.

4.      Food you normally can’t seem to live without suddenly becomes unimportant. 

You know that peanut butter and dark chocolate candy bar or pint of butter pecan ice cream you secretly down every night?  Mhm, that’s the one.  Astonishingly, when you’ve broken your emotional eating patterns, it can sit in your fridge or cupboard for days or weeks and you barely notice!  

5.      Breaking free from your food comfort zone becomes fun! 

Let’s face it.  We all have well-worn paths to eating, like eggs for breakfast, a salad for lunch, or steak and potatoes for dinner.  But when it’s easier to try new foods, and adopt new theories on eating, you can bet your relationship with food has changed forever.

Examining your emotional past in relation to food provides an enormous opportunity to understand your eating behaviors, and knowing which ones need to change in order to get past issues like stubborn weight and yo yo dieting.  Truthfully, it can feel like moving mountains, however, with expert coaching and insight, your road to the top can be less confusing, less intimidating, and take much less time than trying to figure it all out on your own.  

For more success, download my free eCourse on how to stop emotional eating here:

Love,

Angela 

Angela Minelli is an author, speaker and founder of Angela Minelli International, a heart-based global business serving purpose-driven everyday women and entrepreneurs whose self-image and weight issues are inhibiting their confidence and blocking them from pursuing their life’s passion. 

Angela's joy is in taking a stand for women who are living less than ideal lives, stopped by fear and doubt, which prevents them from stepping into their innate power and delivering their God-given genius to the world. Her coaching programs and products are designed for women with busy lifestyles yet allow for powerful transformation to take place within a small segment of time.  

As a natural health practitioner and digestive health specialist, Angela specializes in helping people overcome weight and energy issues through holistic, non-invasive protocols that address the root cause of their conditions, including adrenal fatigue, candida, thyroid disorders, and more.  

Explore the ideals that are the cornerstone of her work at angelaminelli.com.