Why Do I Over Eat? The Scoop on Emotional-Compensatory Eating

Every human being has basic emotional and intellectual needs. You are no exception. There are four needs that your mind strives to fulfill on a very consistent basis: certainty/security, significance, variety, and love/connection. Your mind views these needs as necessities; they are not optional. When a need goes unmet, an over eater's mind uses food to compensate for that need.

The Need for Certainty/Security

Everyone needs to feel in control of their lives; facing the unknown can be very unsettling for many people. When a person loses the feeling of being in control, the mind will strive to regain control by employing whatever habits and behaviors it has been programmed with.

For stress eaters, this is a weakness. Stress often happens when the feeling of control has been lost. Stress eaters seek control through consuming food because, although they cannot control their outer circumstances causing stress, they are able to control what they eat.

Pay close attention to those stressful times and notice if your immediate reaction is to run to the fridge. You could be compensating a feeling of losing control with the consumption of food.

The Need for Significance

Another basic human need is the need to feel important. No one wants to live a life where their presence hasn't made the least bit of impact in the lives of others. We want people to remember us when we are gone, or it will be as if we never existed at all.

But there does need to be balance. Ever hear of the saying "It is lonely at the top"? Being significant requires a certain amount of responsibility; maybe too much for one person to handle.

Maybe food is giving you that "special feeling" that significance emits. Maybe you feel you are too significant and you are feeding your face as some sort of distraction from the responsibility that comes along with being significant. Next time you are feeling like you are being pulled in many different directions, pay attention to your response.

The Need for Variety

Sometimes life can become so certain that it becomes boring! Everyone has the need for variety in their lives. For some people, variety comes in the form of food. For good reason! With so many different kinds of foods out there, the choices seem endless! Plus, food is relatively cheap compared to other forms of "entertainment". So instead of going out to a movie with your spouse or friends and blowing well over $20 on a movie ticket, some popcorn, and a drink; you head to your favorite restaurant or right to your refrigerator, and ease your boredom with your favorite junk food.

Does this sound like you? Pay attention to your actions when you find yourself getting bored. Is your first reaction to head for the pantry or the fridge? Chances are there are many other things you could think of to ease your boredom (like dishes, laundry, a project, etc.); but nothing says "fun" like a brownie fudge sundae!

The Need for Love/Connection

Ah yes...the need for love and connection. This is by far the deepest need. Everyone wants to be and feel loved; everyone wants to feel connected. The most damaging emotions someone can experience are rejection and loneliness; and when rejection and loneliness are experienced, our minds work overtime to compensate. For some people, compensation comes in the form of "comfort food".

Food may be the one variable a rejected person feels they can rely on-it will never say "no" or "not now" or "maybe later". Food is always there to serve its purpose; and if its purpose for you is to comfort you, your mind knows that it will always be there. So your mind quickly employs the habit of seeking comfort from food; and you end up easing your feelings of rejection and/or loneliness with a box of dough nuts or a pint of ice cream.

Examine Your Needs

Take a quick inventory of your needs and identify the ones that are falling short of being fulfilled. This is a major key to obtaining your freedom. Unless you know the problem, you will not be able to find the solution. 

If you are over forty take a look at this Fight Fat After Forty: How to Stop Being a Stress Eater and Lose Weight Fast

Article by: Michelle Casey

5 Reasons Why You Don't Lose Weight

Losing weight can be a difficult proposition for most of us. There are many factors that contribute to making a difficult situation even harder: physical factors, such as injuries; lifestyle issues, like a demanding job or school schedule; family issues, like having children or caring for a relative. Or even mental issues, such as depression, can keep you from achieving your weight loss desires.

These issues need to be addressed before you begin any weight loss program. Reach out to others, such as your doctor or relatives, to help you get started. But once you are on a program, don't let the following 5 things sabotage your success:

1) You Eat Too Much

Old habits are hard to break. And temptation is all around us! Most of us who are overweight got there simply by consuming more calories than we burn in a day. Conversely, if we burn more calories than we consume, we'll shed the excess pounds. Skip the extra slice of pie. Don't go to the buffet at lunch. Your body will love you for it!!

2) You Eat The Wrong Kinds Of Food

Get plenty of fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods are digested slowly, so they leave you feeling satisfied longer. Heart-healthy fats, like those in olive oil, nuts, and fish, are doctor recommended. So is calcium from green, leafy vegetables and dairy products. Stay away from foods high in sodium and sugar. And soda needs to be cut back on, if not eliminated, for you to be successful.

3)You Don't Get Any Exercise

Though it's possible to lose weight without exercise, it will take a lot longer. Cardiovascular exercise, in combination with some form of strength training, is the quickest way to boost your metabolism and burn fat. See your doctor or a personal trainer before you start any exercise program. You want to avoid injury.

4) You Are Not Getting Quality Sleep

Research has shown that many overweight people don't sleep well. If you're not getting regular, good sleep, you will feel sluggish, and your body will crave high carb, high sugar foods for energy. If insomnia is an issue, ask your doctor if a melatonin supplement might benefit you. Also, check your mattress. Is it time to replace it?

5) You Are Not Setting Goals

Goal-setting may be the most important factor in successful weight loss. Use the SMART acronym for setting your goals--make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Bound. With out setting a goal, you will remain mired in the "wish" stage, and never get started on true progress. Make sure to write down your goals.

By avoiding the 5 pitfalls above, you will give yourself a real boost in achieving lasting weight loss.

To see other helpful information, product reviews, and resources on weight loss, including how to burn belly fat and how to quickly lose weight, visit Jillian Michaels

Article by: Brad Schuh

What a Treadmill Can Do For You

In today's technologically advanced society, plenty of machines have been made to help us cope and perform our tasks easier and faster. Health wise, a lot of machines are currently out today that provide us opportunities to improve our fitness. One of the popular exercising equipments that have been of great use today is the treadmill. This machine is relatively very user friendly and has a lot of significant health benefits to offer, even for a person who makes use of it at home.

Athlete and runners train on a treadmill because they want to keep track of their pace as well as upgrade the road challenges they face, without having to change locations. With a treadmill, the incline of the machine can be increased in order to build leg muscle. Serious trainers also make use of treadmills to monitor their vital statistics in connection to improvements in their speed and workout intensity.

However, the most popular application of the treadmills has always been for the plain purpose of weight loss. See, treadmill exercises actually burns out around 700 calories per hour - which is significantly higher compared to using a stair-stepper, rowing machine or a stationary bicycle. With a regular routine of 2 hours daily treadmill workout, a drop of 2 pound can be expected by the end of the week. Two of the best cardiovascular exercises, which is running and walking, can be done on a treadmill. The advantage for this is that the running surface on this machine absorbs the impact and is very gentle on the joints, thus preventing injuries.

There are different types of treadmills that can offer convenience for any user. You can purchase foldable ones that do not take up much space or big bulky treadmill that are more durable. The typical dimensions of a regular treadmill are 77 inches long, 30 inches wide and 53 inches high. The length of its belt should be long enough for an ample stride which is around 58 to 60 inches for a runner.

When you purchase a treadmill, make sure that it feels stable whenever you walk or run on it and that it has enough power to stand up to a good workout. It is important to find a treadmill that you will be able to use frequently so that it does not become just another expensive equipment that takes up space and collects dust.

Article by: Ada Dowell