Lisa Ward |

Are you an Emotional Eater?

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Research & studies have highlighted that the relationship between our state of mind and what we put on our plate/what we choose to eat begins in childhood.

What is Emotional Eating?

Emotional Eating refers to the way that emotions can alter our appetite.

Research & studies have highlighted that the relationship between our state of mind and what we put on our plate/what we choose to eat begins in childhood.

Think back to your childhood to a situation when you were perhaps upset, anxious, worried or stressed - all of which are negative emotions - how did your parent/guardian/carer comfort you?

Quite often in these situations as well as a cuddle, we may have been given food as a comfort. As a result we therefore may learn in our childhood to associate that emotional state with eating.

As we grow up and into adulthood we quite often develop alternative coping strategies for dealing with our negative emotions (can be from a partner, friend, a pet (hence why my cat Harriet appears in this shot) or exercise, or something else - meaning we don't always turn to edible or alcohol based comforts..

If for whatever reason we don't, then that's when our emotional eating may become unhealthy & predispose us to a range of health problems.

What's actually happening?

Well, there's a chemical element to all of this which drives us to eat certain foods & rewards us for doing so.

Whenever we eat something we enjoy, Dopamine (a neurotransmitter) is released and is involved with the "reward" part. This process is all taking place in the part of the brain area which is dense with dopamine receptors, which is why the certain foods that appeal to us are so rewarding! 

Most of us will find foods high in sugar, fats & salts the most pleasurable. These tastes & aromas combine to form powerful flavour-based memories in the brain & play an important part in the formation & storage of  emotional memories.

How I can help You

Firstly you're not alone! As part of teaching you to have a healthy relationship with food, I will:

  1. Show you how to enjoy food from all food groups & form healthy habits.
  2. Help you to recognise the triggers not just around emotional eating but various scenarios where food is involved & help you to devise strategies around it in a healthy way.
  3. Those clients who I have been working with for a minimum of just 8 weeks, have all experienced a minimum of 70% improvement in managing these situations & their self efficacy, as well as smashing their respective weight management goals..

If any of this article resonates with you, please don't delay, get in touch, I'd love to help

Take care, 

Lisa x

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Stop waiting for the perfect timing

If you're waiting for the perfect or right time, that time may never come, as we will always have things going on, that's life!

This is where I come in! I can help tailor your nutrition to your busy lifestyle so you can be successful no matter what life throws at you & to cater for your social life without giving up the things you enjoy.

I keep a small client base so that I can give you the absolute best-personalised attention, support, guidance & coaching but ultimately adapting to suit you & fit in with you.

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