Eating is one of life's most fundamental and pleasurable activities. However, many of us have a complicated relationship with food, particularly when we're prone to emotional overeating. We may be preoccupied with food on the one hand, and feel guilty for the kinds or amounts of food we eat on the other.

Arlene B. Englander knows the ins and outs of emotional overeating, not only from her practice as a therapist but from her own history of a troubled relationship with food. She has distilled her personal and professional background into a new book entitled How to Let Go of Emotional Overeating and Love Your Food, which was the focus of our conversation in this week's episode.

Topics we addressed included:

How we can get more enjoyment out of eating

The importance of loving our food

Ways to manage emotions other than through eating

The problems with the dieting mentality

Whether it's best to avoid some foods entirely

Thinking traps related to food

Effects of early learning on our relationship with food

Why it's so hard not to overeat at home, especially at night

Whether emotional eating (not overeating) can ever be a healthy exercise (with reference to this book—and apologies to the author if I mischaracterized his approach at all)

Arlene presents techniques that can provide not only emotional freedom at the table, but the ability to enjoy our lives more overall. I look forward to hearing what you think of this discussion.

Arlene B. Englander, LCSW, MBA, has been a licensed psychotherapist for more than 20 years. She completed her training at Columbia University and has worked in diverse settings including Cancer Care, Inc., and American Express. She has created health promotion programs on stress management, emotional overeating, and other topics for hospitals, corporations, and law firms. Arlene presents her "Love Your Food"® seminars at organizations throughout her South Florida community. Her private practice is in North Palm Beach, FL, where she specializes in treating emotional overeating.

To learn more about Arlene and her work, check out her website.

Her book is available on Amazon. (Please note: This is an affiliate link, meaning a percentage of sales from the link will be used to support this podcast, at no additional cost to you.)