Welcome to Conquer Emotional Eating based on the book Life is Hard, Food is Easy If you missed the original post about this online class, click here. This post will also give you information on where to purchase the book.
Week 1: Read the introduction to Life is Hard, Food is Easy
This book is not about compulsive overeating or all-night binges. It’s written for people like you and me who raid the refrigerator after a tough day and, in ten minutes, undo an entire week’s worth of careful eating.
But instead of merely suggesting you eat only low-fat snacks, I’ll help you figure out why you keep standing in front of the refrigerator in the first place.
Eventually, you will no longer need to eat your way through a bad day or a relationship break up. Instead you will discover how to identify and label the emotions that prompt your eating desires.
As you become clear on what you are feeling, you’ll be able to take care of what’s missing in your life instead of asking food to do it for you.
In this book, you will learn how to revise your entire outlook on food and eating. But most of all, you will discover the secrets to managing your emotions and your needs without reaching for food. (end of excerpt)
If you don’t have a copy of the book, you can read the entire introduction here – this excerpt also includes Chapters 1 and 2, so you can read the book until you get your own copy.
To do this week:
Download and print these two worksheets, then complete the answers to each section. Or write your answers in your notebook or journal.
10 Reasons WHY I Want to Lose Weight
Seven Keys to a Successful Weight-Loss Program
(Even if you have completed these worksheets in the past, I encourage you to do them again and use them for current motivation.)
Your weight-loss plan
Whether you are working on losing weight or maintaining your current weight, think carefully about how you will accomplish this goal.
Which diet or method will you use? Will you follow a special program or simply try to eat healthier? Do you plan to count calories or points, eat low-carb, or follow a structured program such as Weight Watchers?
Consider how you will track your daily eating and exercise. Will you use an online program such as My Fitness Pal? Or will you record your actions in a journal or notebook?
Here’s a link to the Dot Calendar system I use for tracking: Online Tracking program
About Life is Hard, Food is Easy
I wrote this book in 2002 when I was running my weight-loss clinic in Denver, CO.
In my work, I watched many of my clients struggle with emotional eating. But I wasn’t happy with the available resources on the topic, so I wrote the book I wanted to give to my clients.
As you’ll see from reading the book, I have personally struggled a lot with emotional eating. Many of the examples in the book came from my clients and my coaching work. But a lot of the stories are about me and my own issues.
I love reviewing the concepts in this book because they apply to my life as much now as they did many years ago. I think you will find this true as well.
I’m excited about offering this program and I feel very confident that it will be a game changer for many of you.