Scenario
You're trying to lose weight, but one evening, you find yourself eating an entire packet of biscuits after a stressful day
1. Identify the Thought
You might think:
"I've had the worst day. I deserve this". OR "I already blew my diet-I might as well keep eating".
2. Recognise the Emotion
You're feeling:
Stressed, frustrated, or maybe even guilty.
3. Notice the Behavior
You ate a large amount of food that you didn't plan to, which leaves you feeling worse.
4. Challenge the Thought
CBT helps you question that automatic thought:
"Is food actually helping my stress?"
"Does one slip-up mean that I've failed?"
You might reframe it as:
"Today was not great, but eating won't fix it. I can take a walk, vent to a friend, or watch something relaxing instead."
5. Replace the Behavior
Instead of emotional eating, you choose a healthier coping strategy and remind yourself:
"One slip-up doesn't ruin my progress. I'll draw a line under it and get back on track now."
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