By Barbara Zimmer, LCSW, Former EAP counselor at Middlesex Hospital

Eat to Live
Do you eat to live, or do you live to eat? Most of us learn early on that food serves other purposes than just nutrition. Our mothers may have given us a special food to make us feel better when we got hurt or to celebrate getting good grades. We continue the habit, eating when we are angry, sad, or lonely. We no longer eat out of physical hunger, but use food to numb ourselves or to make ourselves feel better. Our social activities also often revolve around food.

For weight management to be successful, we must look at our relationship to food. We have to develop new insights into why we eat, whether it be out of emotional hunger or social situations. Overeating has served an important purpose in helping us manage and get through stressful events in the past, but we need to alternate coping mechanisms. We need to find an alternative to eating that will soothe our emotions. When we find ourselves overeating, we have to ask ourselves, “what is it that I am really hungry for?” If what you really crave is a hug or a quiet intimate talk with a friend, no amount of ice cream or chocolate cake will satisfy you. As Geneen Roth, author of “When Food is Love” has said, “You can never get enough of what you don’t really want.”

So begin to examine you eating behaviors, thoughts and emotions in relation to food. Begin to differentiate physical and emotional hunger, and find alternate ways to address and meet your emotional, social needs. Instead of always meeting a friend for lunch or dinner suggest a hike instead. Get yourself whatever support you need to be successful at weight management whether it be a weight loss buddy, support group, or some counseling or psychotherapy to address emotional issues. Become conscious of your eating and listen to what you are truly hungry for instead.

If you would like to talk about this or any other problem or concern, please call Solutions Employee
Assistance Program at 1-800-526-3485 or www.solutions-eap.com