End Emotional Eating for Good

There are a lot of reasons people overeat, and more often than not, hunger isn't one of them. Do you eat because you crave a taste or texture, or because you're bored or upset? If you're taking your hunger cues from your brain or your taste buds, rather than your stomach, it's really easy to overeat.

Any emotional eater knows that it's a lot harder to control this kind of overeating than typical cravings, but it's not impossible. If you recognize one of the emotions below as a trigger for overeating, try some of these tips from AOL Health to get your emotional eating under control:

• Boredom: Find a new way to engage in life. Take a walk, try a new hobby or call a friend.
• Sadness: Comfort foods are "comforting" for a reason. But they really only make you feel better for a minute or two. Find a healthier way to heal yourself -- hang out with friends, walk your dog or take a class.
• Anger: Chewing something crunchy can actually relieve stress, but the after-effects can leave you mad at yourself. Try chewing gum instead.
• Sleepless: Don't cure your insomnia with a midnight snack, put something warm and caffeine-free -- like decaf tea or milk -- in your belly.

Do you struggle with emotional eating? What tips and tricks do you use to control these types of cravings?