Conquering Emotional Overeating: One Bride’s Story

Bombshell Bride: Why do you think so many women struggle with emotional overeating?

Jenn: Life is stressful, and we get so many media images that tell us to look, dress and act a certain way. Trying to fulfill those stereotypes and roles is exhausting. And at the end of the day, food is a comfort to many.

Bombshell Bride: Weddings and holidays can make eating healthfully even more difficult. What can make it easier?

Jenn: On your wedding day, it’s your day, and everyone is watching and celebrating your love with your groom, so it’s natural to feel pressure to look a certain way. We all want to look our best! But know that you always look your best when you feel your best, and you definitely don’t feel your best when you’re bingeing or eating out of emotional hunger. During times like the holidays, it only takes one meal of overeating for me to remember why I stopped—you feel terrible! So I recenter, and ask myself what I really need (it’s amazing how often I really just need a break or a nap, but instead want to reach for food).

Jenn’s Healthy Intuitive-Eating Tips

• Whenever you want to eat something, ask yourself if you’re really hungry. The answer may surprise you.
• Focus on the whole you, not just what you look like. The big day is all about love and entering a new phase of your life. Go into it as healthy and happy as you can.
• Get help. If you are really struggling, go see a registered dietitian who specializes in emotional eating or intuitive eating.
• Get active! Find activities that you love to do and do them often! Exercise has been scientifically shown to make you feel good!
• Give up on being perfect. Your groom loves you as you are—you should do the same!

Have you struggled with emotional overeating? Tell us how you dealt with it, we’d love to hear.

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