What Happened When I Stopped Emotional Eating

For years, I was stuck in a cycle of emotional eating. Whenever stress hit or life felt overwhelming, food became my comfort when everything else seemed chaotic. But that comfort was only an illusion - because it didn’t last, and I felt more out of control than ever.

I’d go from feeling overwhelmed (or anxious, frustrated, annoyed) to reaching for comfort foods, only to end with guilt after eating. Sound familiar? It’s the pattern I was stuck in, and now so very familiar to many of my clients.

The moment I stopped emotionally eating (and changed my mindset around emotional eating) was the moment everything shifted. Here is what changed when I finally broke free from this cycle.

#1 I Became More Present

One of the biggest things that happened when I stopped emotionally eating was that I became more present in life. Emotional eating had been my go-to numbing tool; it disconnected me from uncomfortable feelings, but it also disconnected me from joy, fulfilment, and meaningful moments.

Without the constant distraction of food, I was able to really feel my feelings and process them. This certainly wasn’t easy at first, but it was so liberating. I became more aware of my emotions and learned how to handle them without using food as a crutch. This shift helped me become more present with myself and the people and experiences I valued most.

#2 My Relationship with Food Changed

When I stopped using food as the only way to cope with emotions, I realised just how tangled my relationship with eating had become.

I’d been caught in the pendulum swing. At one end food was something to be earned or restricted. I was trying to cut out all the “bad” food and eat all the “healthy” food, following strict rules about what and how much I should eat.

At the other end, I was bingeing, overeating and emotional eating – and it was always on the “bad” stuff – sweets, chocolate, cake and biscuits. And since I’d told myself these were “bad” foods, I felt like a failure.

When I stopped labelling food as either "good" or "bad" I could finally start enjoying meals without guilt. Food had less power over me and I started seeing it for both nourishment and enjoyment.

3. I Uncovered My Real Needs

Emotional eating was never really about food. It was about avoiding feelings of loneliness, stress, or inadequacy. Once I stopped numbing with food, I had to face those emotions head-on – and I’ll be honest, that was hard work.

But in doing so, I began to uncover my real needs. Sometimes, it was emotional support that I was craving, not a snack. Other times, it was rest, self-care, or even just a break from the constant pressure of life.

When I learned to address those needs directly, I found that food wasn’t the solution - it never had been. I could finally give myself the things I needed instead of filling a void with food.

4. I Started Trusting My Body

For so long, I didn’t trust my body. I thought I had to control everything I ate to prevent myself from spiralling. When I stopped emotional eating, I had to re-learn how to listen to my body. I learned how to tune into my hunger and fullness cues, something I’d lost touch with after years of dieting and bingeing.

I began to understand that my body knew what it needed, and if I listened to it, I could let go of the rigid rules I’d built around food. Trusting my body meant letting go of diet culture and the fear that comes with it. It wasn’t about "perfect" eating, but about listening and responding to what my body was asking for. The freedom that came from this was life-changing.

5. My Self-Worth Grew

Before I stopped emotionally eating, my self-worth was heavily tied to how I ate and how I looked. I thought that controlling my food intake would make me feel better about myself, but it never did. When I let go of emotional eating, I learned to build my self-worth from within. I began to appreciate my body for all it does for me, instead of constantly judging it.

And most importantly, I realised that I’m worthy of love, respect, and kindness no matter what I eat or how my body looks.

Final Thoughts

Letting go of emotional eating was about finally allowing myself to feel, heal, and trust. If you’re tired of feeling out of control around food and want to break free from the emotional eating cycle, I want you to know that it’s possible and also, that it probably won’t happen overnight. With a bit of patience, you can break free too.

And, if you need a little helping hand, you might find my emotional eating freedom method toolkit a good place to start breaking free.