Are You an Emotional Overeater?

I am. I don’t eat JUST because I’m hungry. I eat when I’m happy, having fun, feeling down, upset, etc. This quiz by Andrea Metcalf, Author of Naked Fitness: The Proven 28 Day Lifestyle Program for a Slimmer, Fitter, Pain Free Body made me take a good long look at  my eating habits.
 I’ll be reviewing Naked Fitness in January, in the meantime…

Take this short quiz to find out if YOU are an emotional overeater like I am.

1. I turn to food when I’m sad, disappointed, or lonely. Yes ___ No ___
2. I often eat past the point of fullness. Yes ___ No ___
3. When I’m upset, I crave sweets or salty snack foods. Yes ___ No ___
4. When I go to parties or dine out with friends, I tend to overeat. Yes _ No _
5. If I eat too much, I feel guilty afterwards. Yes ___ No ___
6. I eat more than I should when I’m home alone or bored. Yes ___ No ___
7. My moods have the biggest influence on when and how I eat. Yes ___ No ___
8. I like to nurture family and friends with food. Yes ___ No ___
9. I think about food a lot. Yes ___ No ___
10. I am unhappy with my weight, but I overeat anyway. Yes ___ No ___
11. Eating is my favorite activity. Yes ___ No ___
12. I tend to clean my plate; I don’t like to waste food. Yes ___ No ___
13. I binge habitually. Yes ___ No ___
14. The large amount of food I eat embarrasses me. Yes ___ No ___
15. Sugary foods tend to calm me down. Yes ___ No ___


SCORING
Count up your yeses and your noes.


If you answered yes to eight or more questions:
Your feelings of anger, frustration, loneliness, sadness, boredom, or even happiness might be causing you to overeat. And you are probably an emotional overeater. You may be eating too much or eating chaotically, but what you are really feeding is something in your life: relationship problems, broken dreams, financial worries, or problems at work. Try the strategies in this chapter, but don’t be afraid to seek professional help.

If you answered yes to four to seven questions:
You may be struggling with some emotions from time to time. You are a borderline emotional overeater. At this point, it will be easier to get your eating habits under control by applying some of the strategies in this chapter.


If you circled three or fewer yeses:
You probably aren’t an emotional overeater. You may occasionally use food to cope, but for the most part, it doesn’t interfere with your ability to manage your weight.

The above is an excerpt from the book Naked Fitness: The Proven 28 Day Lifestyle Program for a Slimmer, Fitter, Pain Free Body

Andrea Metcalf, has been teaching fitness, training clients, and coaching on subjects of nutrition and health for the past 27 years. Her inspiring and approachable personality has helped build her reputation as a nationally known fitness expert. Andrea is a regular contributor of MORE, Self, and Women’s World, among other magazines, and a regular blogger on Oprah.com. She frequently appears on Today, Good Morning America Health, NBC5 in Chicago, and the nationally syndicated Better TV.

For more information please visit: http://www.andreametcalf.com and follow the author of Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about Naked Fitness at http://www.nakedfitness.com