Ending the Endless Cycle..

Emotional eating is a particularly strong captivation for many people. Eating food spikes hormones and pleasure centers in our brain: It really does work to cure sadness or stress. The problem? Its only a short term remedy that has terrible side effects, such as weight gain, energy drops...

We all understand this logically, its so easy why can't it be conquered? My conclusion? Life is not lived Logically.

Feelings are very powerful they often take a stand over logic. We don't always do what we know.

This is why I have started to think about methods: tiny acts of discipline that snap one from a state of despair or laziness, into a state of discipline and clear thinking.

For instance: You've had a crummy day at work, binged on greasy spoon food, gotten home, the house is a wreck, you are tired, your feet are killing you, and ice cream is the only food (you want) in the house.

You lay on the couch TV gabbing, spoon and bucket in hand, sadder then life, and begin to loose control... You pick up the remote and pause the scene. Just for a moment.

You set the ice cream down. Then you pick one task. This decision alone can cause a new spark in brain activity, it causes thinking about something else other then the problem at hand.

Tasks can be anything: but they must be small and always attainable according to ability, even in a very dark state of mind.

Examples:

Task 1) Do 15 sit ups -or- fake crunches --- always according to ability, it must not be a horrible strain.
Task 2) Do 15 Jumping Jacks
Task 3) Walk or Jog in place for 50 steps.
Task 4) Do 15 dishes.
Task 5) Pick up 15 things and put them in the proper spot.
Task 6) Do a small task for someone else.
Task 7) Your task here.

By the time the task is done you look for your ice cream and its melted. Congratulations, you have just jumped out of the endless circle.


If you constantly struggle, make 10 tasks suited to your place in life and write them out. Post them on the refrigerator and use them. Doing a task can keep you from continuing on in this viscous circle, it restores control and sanity, and it gets the dishes done!