Weight Loss, God's WaySample

OVERCOMING EMOTIONAL EATING

Scripture Reflection 

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” ~ Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV

“Feel your feelings, don’t feed them.”

Another destructive behavior that will always sabotage your weight loss program is emotional eating. Experts estimate that 75 percent of overeating is caused by emotions. Emotional eating is when we eat in response to our feelings regardless of whether we’re hungry or not; and/or when we use food as a tool or coping mechanism to either numb pain or to feel better. Common feelings that lead to emotional eating include: boredom, stress (financial, relational, mental, etc.), loneliness, tiredness, and frustration.

In Ephesians 4, Paul teaches how to effectively deal with the stresses of life. He is talking more specifically about strife between people, but it also applies to dealing with our inner turmoil. He points out that it’s okay to be angry (or experience other emotions) but we must find godly ways of dealing with it. Unresolved issues give way to the devil operating in our lives. The psalmist also tells us when we are angry to search our hearts and be silent (Psalms 4:4).

But the one thing that Jesus wants above all else is that you spend time listening to him, 'Sitting at his feet', as it were. That needs to come first before all these other things. That is where peace is found. 

Over time you will learn how to develop appropriate and effective ways of dealing with your emotions such as: 

• Take the time to ask yourself what the underlying feeling is that is triggering the emotion.
• Submit that feeling/situation over to God; ask Him to handle it instead of food.
• Pause. Emotional eating can be so intense but if you can hold off for 10-15 minutes the craving will often subside.

Today’s Health Challenge

What emotion led you to eat unnecessarily the last time? What was the underlying feeling? 

Today’s Confession

He who the Son sets free is free indeed! I rejoice because I am free from bondage. I am free from emotional eating. I am free to be me, created in Your image and destined for greatness. I have the capacity to effectively deal with every situation and circumstance that my mind, people, or the enemy will throw my way.