There are many ideas out there on how to stop emotional eating. But the question is: Do you know how to stop emotional eating? And here is another important question: How do you know how to stop emotional eating, have you actually tested your own techniques or do you rely on what other people have to say about how to stop emotional eating?

Arguably, one of the ways to stop emotional eating is to reflect on all the times your mood has driven you to food. “Recall any recent times when you ate in order to feel better,” says Linda Spangle, R.N., M.A., a weight-management coach in Denver, Colo. “Perhaps at a family gathering, you used food to fill your need for love and acceptance. Or maybe you reached for a snack to calm your anger or frustration at work.”

How to stop emotional eating with a notebook Sure, it just a silly notebook, but did you know that the process of putting your thought on paper has a powerful effect on your subconscious mind that translates into real-world results?

Get out a journal or notebook and describe these experiences in detail, Spangle advises. “Even if you initially felt better, consider whether the food really met your needs or if it was the consolation prize. Then identify what you really wanted instead,” Once you realize food did not accomplish what you were after, you can come up with alternative plans for satisfying what you are really hungry for the next time.

The bottom line is that you have to take action. In order to figure out what works for you, you have to try different things. Do not just sit around and wish for it to go away, it will not, take action, be proactive, and do not be afraid to fail – failure is only real if you stop trying, otherwise it is a way to find out what works and what does not work for you. [via Looking Good]