dont keep snack foods in the house. Keep veggies and fruits so when you do eat they are good for you snacks. When you do want something to eat walk past the kitchen and find something to do or get a piece of gum. find something else to put stresses and worries toward.

Until you get to the bottom of your emotional eating, none of the "surface" things, like not keeping snack foods in the house, will prove to be pretty effective, particularly for the long term.

I absolutely understand the "life challenges" part. Several years ago, I lost 104 lbs on Weight Watchers, and kept it off for 4 years, until my life spun off into a ditch. I absolutely believe though, that I would been able to keep the weight off if I had addressed my emotional eating. This time, I'm doing this the right way by working hard every day to address my emotional connection with food and seeking to heal it.

Good for you for being aware of this problem while you're young, because, if you leave this problem unchecked, you will continue to gain weight. The older we are, the less our bodies can tolerate excess weight.

I would suggest doing some soul searching about your emotional eating. I'm currently reading a book called "A Course in Weight Loss - 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering your Weight Forever", by Marianne Williamson. It's an EXCELLENT book! In lesson two, the exercises call for writing four letters to yourself - one to your Fat Self, one FROM your Fat Self, one to your Thin Self, and one FROM your Thin Self. Anyone who seeks to understand their emotional eating would benefit so much in doing this exercise, not to mention reading the entire book. I gained SO much insight by writing them, particularly the letter from my Thin Self, which turned out to be 4 times as long as the other three letters - almost 4 typed pages.

I disagree with the title of your post; you CAN stop overeating. The first step is seeking to understand why you're doing it, then seeking to heal what's broken.

Wishing you all the best!
Janice

Janice,
Thank you for your post! I too am an emotional overeater. I have the book you spoke about...I think it is time for me to read it. Blessed19...I understand your frustration. I know what I should be eating...I have the healthy food in my kitchen but I still go out for the fast "comfort" food. Then I sit back and wonder why am I doing this to myself. I am a nurse and I know the medical problems that are coming from the weight but I guess subconsciously I just don"t care.

I was in the same situation it was a gradual decision to make permanent changes and workout.....It is still a struggle but I actually enjoy this new way of eating. While overeating soothes your mind eating healthy soothes your inner-being.

Spiritnst,
What are examples of healthy foods you have and fast comfort foods?