Lifestyle Choices: Learn to Overcome Emotional Excess

Overcoming emotional overeating can seem overwhelming and setbacks can be expected. But the good news is that there are lifestyle choices you can make to help overcome this problem.

The key word is choice: you can choose to follow a healthy lifestyle. Sometimes it helps to break things down into small, specific steps you can take (trying to lead a “healthier lifestyle” is a bit vague!). The following are some of these details. And remember, setbacks and delays are not unusual. Don’t beat yourself up; start again tomorrow.

It’s never too late to start over and start fueling your body with the nutrients it needs to stay and function better as a whole.

Malnourished people often do not have the time or knowledge to eat adequate food and therefore miss out on a healthy lifestyle and risk putting their lives in danger.

working out

Experts generally agree that regular exercise three to five days a week is most beneficial. This exercise should consist of at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise (such as brisk walking, jogging, bicycling, etc.) followed by some light toning or weight training. Committing to this regimen full force isn’t necessarily the best way to go; if you can only exercise once or twice a week, it’s better than nothing and will hopefully pave the way for more in the future.

Exercise is said to relieve emotional overeating in several ways. For one thing, exercise produces endorphins, which are the body’s natural “feel good” hormones. On the other hand, exercise prevents boredom and mindless eating, which is what you could be doing if you weren’t exercising! And lastly, exercise is likely to improve self-image, helping to break the cycle of low self-esteem and poor self-image that “fuels” the emotional disturbance of overeating.

Nature

Never underestimate the healing power of nature! For those with emotional distress from overeating, choosing to spend more time in nature can be particularly beneficial. After all, in the natural realm there are no media messages to alter the image you have of yourself, and being in nature connects you with your origins and the origins of food.

Some experts theorize that detachment from food and its natural source plays a role in emotional distress from overeating. Engaging in, exploring, and appreciating nature can go a long way toward reconnecting us with our biologically normal view of food. Maybe you can kill two birds with one stone and get your regular exercise outdoors!