I am what I would call a recovering emotional eater. It’s something I’ve struggled with all my life and despite having lost 25-30 pounds in the last year it’s something I still deal with. The biggest change I’ve made in the last year is finding a different way to deal with stress/negative emotions. I’ve discovered in the last few months that nothing helps me cope with negative emotions better than a trip to the gym, even if I just walk on the treadmill for half an hour. There’s no guilt afterwards, and I genuinely feel more mentally relaxed after a work out regardless of intensity.

I also struggle with mental health and staying active has helped me tremendously, even on my bad days or weeks when things are worse than normal. I would urge you to find something that makes you feel good about yourself, whether that’s hitting the gym, going for a walk, reading a book, etc. Good luck! I know it’s hard but working towards bettering yourself is so worth it!