Day Fourteen: Emotional Eating & Obesity

I came across a Q&A with Trainer Jackie Warner that I found very insightful. Although I've never seen her show, her workouts are phenomenal. Although there are a number of medical influences when it comes to obesity, the below centers around the emotional eater.


"I worked with morbidly obese people on season 3 of 'Work Out' & continue to work with obese clients today. The physical work is not hard at all. It's the deep emotional work that is difficult. Obesity is a physical sign of a dangerous addiction. People literally eat themselves to death & poison their bodies. It can't be hidden and carries with it a great deal of self-loathing and emotional problems.
When I work with an obese client, we go back to their childhood & find out why they use food as a drug. Many painful memories & feelings come up that need to be worked through. I find a way to change the person's self-perception & their views of the world around them along with their body.
I set physical & weight loss goals. For example, I get them to set a goal of walking around their block every night 7 times or taking the 11 flights of stairs twice before each workout. Bigger physical goals are things like participating in a 3K. We go grocery shopping, and I teach them about healthy foods. We talk about how they feel while on their journey & how to change their relationship with food."


Do: Continue to think about your relationship with food, especially food that is bad for your health. If you find yourself to be an emotional eater, journal your thoughts & feelings. If so, psychological assistance may be needed to work through some of these issues.


Try: Spinach Shake: Blend 8oz water, 1 banana, 4 strawberries, 1 egg (optional), 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 2 large handfuls of spinach, ice, 1 scoop of spirulina powder...tastes great, & you're getting your greens first thing in the morning. Take your multivitamin with this beverage for extra punch. Substitute for your morning coffee a few days a week. This recipe will yield enough for your morning drink and your afternoon snack.