Your Inner Well

Mary, 

A few Sundays ago, we had some friends over for the big game and I made something I usually never make… 

BEAN DIP! Recipe below. 👇 

Creamy, gooey baked goodness sprinkled with green onions, extra cheese and black olives. It’s this savory-salty-mouth watering mix…that has you saying, “YUM!” 🤤 

It was the perfect not-too-spicy comfort food on a cold evening enjoying fun, family, friends and football. 

Anyways, I took one bite and was mind-blown. 🤯 Soooo good on so many levels. It was like a spiritual experience.

Immediately, I was transported back to my mom’s kitchen as a kid. The memories flooded in.

Needless to say, I was feelin’ pretty, pretty good. 

So, what did I do… 

If you guessed that I went back for seconds, thirds… you're right! One chip dip led to me eating HALF yes, HALF of the bean dip before HALF TIME. 

🏉 Emotionally eating my way through the game. 

And boy, did my body let me know I crossed a boundary.  Overly full, super uncomfortable and tossing and turning all night long…not fun.  

But instead of the normal blame, shame and guilt game we’ve been taught by society, I did something different. I got curious. I wondered, “What made me eat all of that bean dip?”   

Sure, there was a lot going on. 

Kids running around, hosting, dealing with the TV that kept losing connection.  

It occurred to me that I was disconnected from my body’s signals. I took some time to reconnect coming from a space of self-leadership (a fav topic I love to teach)

Let me know if you've ever experienced something like what I shared with you. Maybe it looks different for you.

Maybe...

🍿You’re watching a suspenseful and thrilling movie – totally sucked in and reach your hand into the popcorn bowl only to realize you’re out. 

Or you… 

🍕Ate a whole pizza while driving and talking on the phone only to get to your destination and wonder, “Where's the pizza?” (true story from a past client)  

Or...

🍫Grabbed a piece of rich chocolate every time you pass the candy jar at work on a stressful day? 

Only to feel frustrated, guilty and ashamed.

But why does it occur? 

Our emotions + eating + food are so interconnected.  We’re hardwired to want to eat and to eat foods that taste yummy. 

Here’s a few reasons why you might emotionally eat…

😤 Stress Relief: Eating releases feel-good chemicals in the brain like serotonin and dopamine, temporarily providing comfort.  

🥰  Comfort or Connection: Food can provide a sense of emotional comfort and nostalgia, reminiscent of positive experiences and childhood memories.

🥱 Boredom: When people are bored, they may eat out of habit or as a way to fill time and distract themselves.

Emotional eating happens to us all (including me) probably more than we’d like to admit. 

Whether we’re feeling fantastic or down in the dumps! 

But, the power is in the present moment, bringing awareness to why you’re doing what you’re doing and how you can pause or choose a more empowered thought or action. 

Now, I’d love to hear from you. Do you have a favorite food that signals you're emotionally eating? If so, let me know by reply back to this email.

Remember, your body have this amazing way of talking to you. Sometimes, we just have to lean in, turn up the internal wisdom and listen. 

In well-being, 

Elyse 

P.S. If you'd like to know my proven,  client-tested process for how to overcome emotional eating and master empowered eating, hit reply and say YES! 🍽️💪

Elyse Wagner MS, CN, LMHCA

Founder & Chief Wellbeing Officer, Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, Inc. Author, Speaker, Certified Nutritionist, Mental Health Counselor