How can I distract myself from emotional eating? What would your distraction be?

[Anonymous]

Im having a really hard time this year. And when i feel bad, my coping mechanism is to eat. I want to change that but I don't know how i can stop. Im not overweight yet, but im heading towards it. I try to stop, but im struggeling.

I can go to the gym sometimes, but not all the time (for example; when im home alone with my kid and i have on babysitter, during my work or at night). So how can i distract myself from eating when i feel bad and mentally feel the urge to eat? Any advice?

How would you distract yourself in this situation, or what do you do if thats also your coping mechanism?

[Sonorous]

What helps me the most if having a clear fitness goal to aim for. I know that if I don't maintain a good diet, I won't achieve a certain look & strength level. On days where I'm more relaxed, I eat in more relaxed ways. But for the weeks or months where I have a clear goal in mind, deviating significantly from a diet plan can be bad. Could even risk causing injury due to increased inflammation. And I don't want to deal with that again.

[DryGermanGuy]

Get a simple hometrainer machine, for example an exercise bike, to blow off some steam.

[sage2021]

Buy some sunflower seeds with the shell on them and eat them a lot.
They keep your hands and mouth and mind busy.

[Nikki1989]

I have no idea what emotional eating is.

[noohair]

Get out of the house and away from the food. I know what triggers me and I don't keep food in the house that I can use as self medication to feel comfort.

[jahaims]

Retrain your brain

[In_Trance]

Go to the gym