You’re stressed, bored, or hurting, and suddenly you’re elbow-deep in a bag of chips. Sound familiar? That’s emotional eating—turning to food for comfort, not hunger. It’s eating to dodge pain, stuff down feelings, or chase a fleeting high. Whether you’re doing it on autopilot or fully aware, it’s a cycle that can leave you feeling trapped, guilty, and far from your best self.

Been There, Done That

I get it—I was an emotional eater for decades. As a kid, I stuffed my stress, trauma, and pain with food. It was my shield, the one thing I could control when life felt like a runaway train. As I got older, it became my crutch for dodging bigger fears—like what I’d do if I didn’t have “lose weight” as an excuse. Every time I neared my goal weight, the panic of facing an uncertain future sent me spiraling back to the fridge. I’d eat to push away the what-ifs, regain the weight, and restart the miserable cycle. At least I knew the drill: “I’ll get back on track tomorrow.”

Worse, I used food to punish myself. Feeling worthless, like I was “bad,” I’d binge until I felt sick, convinced I deserved it. Tomorrow’s promise of “eating right” was my get-out-of-jail-free card. If this hits home, you know it’s a brutal loop. That’s why, after breaking free, I became a Strategic Intervention Coach and Holistic Practitioner—to help others bust out of that cycle and reclaim their lives, body and soul.

The Emotional Eating Trap

My clients’ stories differ, but the feelings are the same: guilt, defeat, powerlessness. They know the foods they’re eating are packing on pounds and wrecking their health, but stopping feels impossible. They feel heavy, sick, hopeless—like they’re stuck forever. I’ve lived those feelings too, and I’m here to tell you: you’re not alone, and you can change.

Emotional eating isn’t about hunger—it’s about escape. Stress, loneliness, overwhelm, or just craving a hit of comfort push us to food. It’s not a willpower failure; it’s an emotional knot. But here’s the beautiful truth: you can untangle it. You can learn to face your feelings head-on, without a snack as a sidekick.

Signs You Might Be an Emotional Eater

Wondering if this is you? Check these red flags:

• Eating in secret, hiding wrappers, or sneaking snacks when no one’s around
• Feeling guilty or ashamed after eating
• Eating when others are gone to avoid being seen
• Fearing you’ll never stop if you “let go”
• Obsessing about food—what’s next, how much, will it be enough?
• Food losing its joy, becoming a source of anxiety
• Worrying you’ll eat too much and that you won’t get enough
• Ignoring hunger cues, eating on autopilot

If these ring a bell, you’re not doomed—you’re just human, and there’s a way out.

Breaking Free: No More Slave to Food

Emotional eating thrives on stress, boredom, or pain, but you can rewrite that story. It’s not about locking the pantry; it’s about tackling the emotions driving you to open it. You don’t need to stay chained to this cycle—you can learn healthier ways to cope, ones that leave you feeling empowered, not stuffed.

Step One: Awareness

First, get real with yourself. Are you eating because you’re hungry or because life feels like too much? Try this quick quiz to spot the patterns:

• Do I eat when I’m stressed, sad, or bored, even if I’m not hungry?
• Do I feel guilty or hide my eating from others?
• Am I thinking about food all the time, even when I’m full?
• Does eating feel like a punishment or a way to avoid tough feelings?

If you’re nodding, that’s your starting line. Awareness is power—it’s the first step to breaking the cycle.

Step Two: Get Support

You don’t have to fight this alone. My Leading Lady Experience, a group coaching program, is where we dive deep together to uncover what you’re really hungry for—connection, ridding yourself of false beliefs, building stronger relationships, and learning to feel worthy so you can get unstuck. With like-minded women rallying to cheer you on, you’ll find the support to break free from emotional eating’s grip. And over at SPBTV—Your Holistic Living Network, you’ll discover classes on nutrition, yoga, meditation, and programs designed to help you escape that loop and reclaim your emotional power. Together, we’ll build the tools to face your feelings, not bury them in food.

Take the Quiz,Get the Tips

Take the quiz and get my Free Tips for Overcoming Emotional Eating. Want to learn how to listen to your hunger cues? Click here and get the exercise and my satiety scale.

Ready to go deeper? Learn about my coaching programs , sign up for my newsletter, and tune in to my podcast, Sharise Uncut, for No BS tips to for your health, life and everything in between!

You Are Not Alone

Emotional eating can feel like a life sentence, but it’s not. You’re not weak or broken—you’re just stuck in a pattern, and patterns can change. Take that first step today. Reach out, get curious about your triggers, and let’s break that cycle together. Your future self—lighter, stronger, freer—is waiting.

To your health—and a life unchained from food!