Whether you are angry or depressed, a lot of people use food for comfort. You may start off with a light snack which then turns into a massive binge. You begin to question your will power and self doubt creeps in. Your good intentions fly out of the window. Anger, depression and anxiety can play havoc with our eating habits because life tends to revolve around food for a lot of us. As children, we love to eat sweets and desserts. We celebrate special occasions by eating fattening foods such as birthday cake, chocolates and alcoholic drinks. We subconsciously use food as a reward or to take our minds off unpleasant things. We naturally turn to food as comfort when things go wrong. That’s why we must be aware of our daily emotions.

If you know that you are feeling low, and that you are then more likely to have a binge, remember that tomorrow is another day. It is no good feeling guilty if you have succumbed the day before, just start afresh with your diet and remember that you are vulnerable when anxious or depressed and try to make allowances. Plan the time, portion and content of your meals each day and stick to it. Many people eat to fill a void in their lives.
Examine your life and keep records of your eating habits. If you eat when you are not hungry, you may be trying to obtain comfort from food. Learn to eat when you are hungry and plan to eat four to six times a day. Cut down on portions but eat more often. Once you establish a habit of eating smaller meals through the day, you will not be as vulnerable to overeating. Never eat unnecessarily. Spontaneous eating when not hungry, is a sure sign of emotional problems, lack of discipline or lack of nutritional education. Identify emotional issues that cause you to overeat. Find supportive friends or family to talk to when you feel the urge to overeat. Regular exercise can also help ward off depression.

Here are some tips to help fight the emotional battle of losing weight:
Determine your mood, especially before eating.
Develop interests or hobbies to take your mind off food.
Plan your meals each day.
Walk regularly throughout the week.
Monitor your emotions. Be prepared for the urge to overeat when emotionally upset.
Drink eight glasses of water per day.
Replace junk food with fruits or low-fat treats.
When you blow your diet, forgive yourself and treat tomorrow as a new start.