After working with emotional eaters for more than a decade, it is common to hear from clients that they don’t understand why they keep emotionally eating when it makes them feel terrible.

They can’t stand the overfull feeling after a binge.

They hate hiding from others and sneaking food.

They judge their worth by thinking they need more willpower to get their shit together.

They dread the judgement, guilt, and self-hatred that comes after eating.

They’re ashamed of how much money they spend on food.

For something that is supposed to bring a sense of comfort, these things sound like anything but! So, why are you stuck in this emotional eating cycle when you know it doesn’t feel good? It isn’t about cravings for specific foods or an “addiction to sugar.”

It is because emotional eating is familiar. It is the predictability, even the negative side of it, that offers you a sense of comfort. You know what to expect and our brains are wired to go with what we know. Yup, even when what ...