You're feeling good about yourself and your life.  You are having a great day, feeling trim and healthy.  You feel so strong that nothing could make you eat any food that is not healthy.

Suddenly, out of nowhere comes this overwhelming urge to eat.  You promised yourself that you wouldn't let this happen.  So, where did it come from?  You might even be asking yourself, "What is wrong with me?  Why can't I control myself".

Rule number one is to let go of any blame.  It is not a sign of weakness on your part.  Rule number two (as you well know if you've read The Emotional Diet), start asking better questions.  These kind of questions will only keep you in that self-perpetuating loop of false belief that you can't change.  Rule number three is to notice what is triggering that feeling of desire.

Visual cues can be very strong.  The sight of a food commercial or a magazine ad can trigger this feeling.  Remember, the whole point of advertising is to get you to buy their food.  Other triggers can be conversations.  Discussing foods or recipes can make you think about food.  Watching cooking programs or segments on television can also trigger the desire to eat.  As you remember from The Emotional Diet, you are drawn toward what ever you focus on.

The first step to freedom from emotional eating is to notice the triggers that create these feelings.  Once you do that, you can realize where this is coming from and deal with it at a rational level.  Also, once you see where these emotional eating triggers are showing up, try to avoid them as much as possible.  The old saying, "Out of sight, out of mind" is also true for emotional eating.  

Try to consciously notice the food triggers and expose them for what they are.  When you do, you will see that they are everywhere.  Really notice the ones that effect you and the feelings thay create.  When you start to notice them at a conscious level, they will stop sneaking into your subconscious mind and you will start to take control.