Confessions of an Emotional Eater

My name is LaToya, and I'm an emotional eater. Everyone say hi LaToya. Woo-sah, so glad I got that off my chest. After all the first step when you have a problem, is admitting it- right? Before I going into how I plan on dealing with said problem, let's back track to when and how it started.

About 6 weeks before my first pregnancy

For the most part of the my life, I've been mostly healthy and petite. I pretty much ate what I wanted when I wanted it. I even was fairly active; whether it was a home workout video or going for a leisurely walk. My weight matched my 5'0 fame proportionately with textbook BMI numbers. I worked four years in the health/fitness industry. Insert pregnancy #1, marriage,  pregnancy #2, and job loss within about a 18 month timespan, and I was 65 pounds heavier. I masked many of these joyous life changing events with food. When things didn't return to "normal," I ate more and more. Distancing myself from family and friends, I self diagnosed myself with postpartum depression, and again turned to food.

Reflecting on things today, I haven't returned to my pre-pregnancy because I had two babies (2010 +40, 2011 +25). I haven't returned to my pre-pregnancy because I am an emotional eater. I notice if I'm bored (mostly at home) or having a bad day I eat. Not only do I eat, but I consume some pretty unhealthy foods. Oh, and don't let it be close to that time of the month, because I get the munchies something serious.

200-170s

So after nearly four years, since my last my last pregnancy I'm no longer masking my weight gain. It's kind of hard to do when you have one preschooler and another school-age child. The other day after a long, hard look in the mirror I said to myself honey this is no longer baby weight, this is a result of you letting your emotions get the best of you.

Now that I've gotten past the anger, denial, and admittance stages I think I'm ready to do something about it. My mission is pretty simple, lose weight or die trying'. The first thirty pounds that I lost, and kept off for three years that was solely baby weight, but these last 30-35 will take work. Here's my tentative action plan:

• 30 minutes physical activity 5-6 days/week
• 2-3 liters of water daily 
• add more fruit & veggies to my diet (at least one with each meal/snack)
• 5-6 small meals/snack daily
• cut back on eating out 1-2 meals/week
  

Are you an emotional eater? How did you overcome it? What advice do you have for other busy mothers looking to curb emotional eating?

Be Well,

LaToya