Today, I have an assignment. Ask yourself, are you using food to fill an emotional hole left in your life? There are studies that can help answer that question.

They show you mood swings that stimulate appetite in your body. For example, if you are secretly stressed, your adrenal glands can be sending a message saying, "hey, eat salty foods!"

If you reach for hard and crunchy foods, you might be angry. If you stuff yourself with sweets, you could be depressed. And if you crave soft and sweet foods like ice cream, you may be fighting anxiety. And bulky foods, like crackers and pasta, could mean you're lonely or sexually frustrated.

So before piling your plate, think about why; connecting to the emotional reasons

behind your cravings is the first step to losing weight and becoming healthier.