“You cannot always control what goes on outside, but you can always control what goes on inside.” — Wayne Dyer

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I want to share something that’s been a real challenge for me—something that’s often kept in the shadows but touches so many of us, especially moms. I’m talking about emotional eating and how it can weave itself into the fabric of motherhood, personal identity, and self-worth. When I became a new mom, I wasn’t prepared for how much I would struggle with my emotions. In moments of stress, exhaustion, or overwhelm, food became my comfort, my escape, and my way of coping. It wasn’t until I realized that my eating habits were tied to much deeper emotional struggles that I started to see the full picture.

As a mom, you’re expected to have it all together, but behind closed doors, I was unraveling. Caring for a newborn is hard, and no one really prepares you for the emotional rollercoaster. For me, emotional eating started as a way to deal with feelings of frustration and inadequacy. When my baby was crying, and I felt helpless or when I hadn’t slept in days, I’d find myself reaching for something—anything—to quiet the chaos inside. It wasn’t hunger driving me; it was stress. And every time I felt like I was failing or falling short, food became my way to numb those feelings.

But it wasn’t just about being a mom. There was this whole layer of self-judgment that made it worse. I’d look at my husband and feel jealousy—jealousy that he got to go back to work, to have adult conversations, to shower without interruption. I felt a longing for the version of me that existed before motherhood, and I hated myself for it. Those thoughts felt selfish, even though they were perfectly natural. Instead of facing them, I pushed them down with food. I thought if I could just suppress those uncomfortable emotions, I’d feel better. But the more I avoided them, the more they controlled me.

This cycle of emotional avoidance was like a loop that I couldn’t escape. Every time I felt overwhelmed, I’d eat to avoid the discomfort, and then I’d judge myself for eating. It became a habit, and that habit kept me stuck. But here’s what I’ve learned: emotional eating wasn’t the problem—it was the symptom. The real issue was that I wasn’t allowing myself to feel my feelings. I was terrified of what they meant about me, as a mother and as a person. I believed that if I let myself feel inadequate or stressed, it would somehow make me ungrateful or selfish.

The turning point came when I finally started to allow myself to feel, instead of fleeing from my emotions. I realized that food wasn’t going to solve my stress or make me feel worthy. The real work was in acknowledging my emotions, giving them space, and understanding why they were there. It was about accepting that I could feel stressed and still be a good mom, that I could long for a part of my old life and still love my baby with all my heart. When I started to recognize my emotions rather than run from them, the urge to eat emotionally began to fade.

This journey has been about so much more than food. It’s about mental health, self-compassion, and the courage to face our feelings head-on. We all have triggers—moments when we feel overwhelmed or inadequate—and it’s so easy to turn to something comforting, whether it’s food, social media, or another distraction. But true growth comes when we can sit with our discomfort and address the thoughts and beliefs behind it. That’s when we can break free from habits that no longer serve us.

So, if you’re struggling with emotional eating, I want you to know that it’s not about willpower or self-control. It’s about understanding and honoring your emotions. It’s about being gentle with yourself in moments of struggle and recognizing that you’re not alone. You deserve to feel seen, heard, and understood, not just by others, but by yourself. And that’s where the real healing begins.

I want you to take a deep breath and really hear this—you are not alone in your struggles, and you are not defined by them. As a coach, I’ve seen countless people—strong, capable, loving individuals—turn to food as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a signal that something deeper is asking for your attention. Maybe, like so many, you’ve used food to push away feelings of stress, guilt, or even resentment, especially in the chaotic moments of motherhood. But let me tell you something: your emotions are not your enemy. They are the key to your growth. The real power comes when you learn to embrace those feelings, to sit with them, and to understand what they’re trying to tell you, rather than pushing them aside.

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You deserve to live free from the cycle of emotional eating, and that starts with giving yourself permission to feel everything—yes, even the hard stuff. By facing those uncomfortable feelings of stress, inadequacy, or longing, you begin to take your power back. You are capable of breaking free from old habits that no longer serve you. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about progress. So today, let’s shift the focus from food to what’s really happening inside. Let’s practice compassion, acknowledge those emotions, and give yourself the grace to grow. Because when you do that, you’ll not only find freedom with food, but also a deeper sense of peace with yourself. You’ve got this!

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