Cravings and Emotions… Triggers for Bingeing

If you’re like most people, you’ve experienced food cravings. Out of the blue, you get an urge for something that you swore you would never eat… again.

You find yourself automatically heading to the cabinet, mindlessly open the door, reaching in, and grabbing an unopened bag of potato chips, not even aware of what you’re doing.

Suddenly, you “come to” taking the last handful of chips from the bag. Angry that you did this, you search for something else to ease the guilt.

Maybe it’s not quite that bad for you, but if you are honest with yourself, it’s likely you’ve had episodes of severe cravings.

What Your Cravings Mean

Although most people want to get rid of their cravings, your cravings can provide clues about what your body needs. For example, if you are drawn to cheese crackers or cheese puffs, your body might need more dairy products.

Cravings for potato chips can signal a desire for salt to boost the power of your adrenal glands.

The smooth, creamy texture of ice cream might remind you of childhood days when you were comforted by your mother.

And the fizz and sweetness of soda pop might remind you of the special, fun treat soda was when you went on a family trip. It is almost impossible to separate a food craving from an underlying emotion.

Since we’re considering emotions, we should also consider relationships regarding your eating habits. Your first two relationships on this planet were with your mother and with food. You are probably aware of the effects of your relationship with your mother on your life, whether or not it was a loving relationship; but what impact has your relationship with food had on your life? Ponder that for a moment.

Your digestive system is directly impacted by your emotions which impacts your eating.

One client’s story

Patty had been plagued with digestive issues for over a year, and she had gained a lot of weight. On a recent trip to see her family she was miserable with pain and bloating and ate antacids “like a kid with a bag of jelly beans.”

She called and asked if I could help. I used a technique called the Emotion Code, developed by Dr. Bradley Nelson, my brilliant brother-in-law. The Emotion Code teaches how to find and release trapped emotions. I used this technique to help Patty.

What I found bothering Patty’s digestion, and particularly her liver, was an emotion of frustration. She knew immediately where this emotion came from. About a year earlier her husband had been promoted at work. Patty was not happy about it because this promotion took him out of town for most of the week; she had her own job and needed help with the kids. She said she had felt constant frustration with all she had on her plate during the past year. She had grabbed many meals on the go and had not been eating right.

As Patty cleared the emotion of frustration, she had the strangest feeling. “My belly has been so bloated, and now it feels like a big beach ball with the air hissing out.” Her abdomen felt lighter and lighter, and suddenly her pants didn’t feel as tight. We were both pretty amazed.

I helped Patty clear some other emotions and we tested a Food Codes plan for her that she has used to find the best foods to eat at home and at restaurants. She dropped four pounds the first week and continued toward her goal weight.

Her digestion quieted down, and she kicked the antacids. She felt much happier with her husband and her kids after the emotional clearing and stopped eating in front of the TV in the evening. (from the book The Food Codes)

Stress Can Make You Fat and Sick

As you saw by what Patty experienced, emotions can pack on the pounds.

General stress coupled with emotional stress is associated with innumerable problems including being overweight and underweight. And eating food that is not right for you causes you more stress! Accumulated stress overloads the body and is the beginning of all disease.
Managing your stress is one of the most important steps you can take to reduce emotional eating.

There are any number of ways to do this including conscious breathing, meditation, walks, hiking and jou
aling. Chances are you have your favorites. Whatever it is, minimize emotional eating by implementing a regular stress management strategy.

Additionally, “tune in” to foods your body has a positive craving for. Notice how foods impact you. Do they give you energy, make you tired and sluggish, give you a “high” or make you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders?

These insights can literally save your life.