Comfort Eating – Smart Ways to Stop So You Can Lose Weight
When we are stressed, we all have different ways of dealing with the problem. Emotional eating is a coping mechanism for dealing with stress, but it often leads to weight gain. Here are some ways that you can overcome emotional eating and lose weight.
Comfort foods are so called because they feed some longing within us. Did you know that endorphins are released when you eat good food, just like when you exercise? In the case of food, it is usually high in fat or calories or both. Food is often a way to cope with stress.
Emotional eating involves using food to soothe hurts and other conflicts. Unfortunately it often leads to a new set of problems in your life. If you want to lose weight but emotional eating and comfort foods are a problem, here are some smart ways to help.
* Phone a friend – This is not a game show but it still works. Have a friend who you trust on standby to talk to you when you need an ear. In a stressful situation, picking up the phone is easier than trying to lose an extra five pounds after munching down on unhealthy snacks.
* Take a deep breath – You’d be surprised how much better things look when your brain gets a little extra oxygen. Your thinking becomes clearer so you can work through to a rational solution to your dilemma.
* Exercise – Get moving to stop emotional eating. Exercise lowers your stress levels, increases oxygen levels and also increases your health. Endorphins are released to give you a natural high and a mood boost.
* Remove the offending food from your home – You can’t eat what you can’t find. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Only keep healthy snacks around so while you munch a little and get your head together, you won’t ruin your waistline.
* Carry snacks with you – We aren’t often hungry when we eat emotionally, but if we are, we are more likely to eat something high in fat. Keeping snacks with you ensures that you reduce your hunger.
* Brush your teeth – You may have already brushed them once, but brushing them again can take away your craving for that candy bar or that macaroni and cheese. It is a small thing that really works.
* Drink water – When your belly is full of water you won’t think about food. Staying hydrated is also good for your overall health.
* Think before you eat – Before you pick up that first gooey bite of fattening food, think about why you are upset in the first place. Maybe you are overreacting. If you are, find a way to calm yourself. Be in the moment so you don’t mindlessly eat.
Are you struggling with eating comfort foods? It could be a sign you are an emotional stress eater. Use the above tips to help reduce your reliance on them.
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Tags: comfort eating, emotional eating
