While it’s too bad that you don’t crave celery sticks and carrots during stressful times, that would go against biology…
Year-end can be stressful – I get it. And French fries, snack mixes, cookies and ice-creams are normal go-tos when you’re feeling frizzed and frazzled because they’re high-carb, high-fat eats that help increase your brain’s feel-good dopamine response.
But turning to comfort foods is obviously very unhealthy – especially if you do it on the reg. Next time you get into a bind and hear the siren song of chocolate chips because your noggin has come to expect the rewarding hit of dopamine, consider these tips…
Four tips to control your emotional eating
#1: Focus on the real issue
When you’re feeling stressed, food is merely a crutch. You probably know that… So next time you’re feeling stressed or under pressure, ask yourself how you feel and what you need. Instead of going straight to kitchen to drown your sorrows in a tub of ice-cream, figure out what’s REALLY getting under your skin.
When you’re feeling stressed, food is merely a crutch. You probably know that… So next time you’re feeling stressed or under pressure, ask yourself how you feel and what you need. Instead of going straight to kitchen to drown your sorrows in a tub of ice-cream, figure out what’s REALLY getting under your skin.
#2: Think long-term
Take a minute and focus on the future (whether that means recalling your weight loss goals or how awesome you want to look during your beach holiday at the end of the year) before you give in to stress eating. It can help you get out of the moment so you make healthier food choices instead of succumbing to the lure of a tasty treat.
Take a minute and focus on the future (whether that means recalling your weight loss goals or how awesome you want to look during your beach holiday at the end of the year) before you give in to stress eating. It can help you get out of the moment so you make healthier food choices instead of succumbing to the lure of a tasty treat.
#3: Be kind to yourself
Self-compassion can help decrease stress eating. When you’re a kind, understanding friend to yourself, it’s far easier to resist the urge to try to disconnect through stress eating. If you do stress eat, promise that you won’t beat yourself up about it. Understand that it happens to everyone sometimes. That can help stop you from eating out of failure and help you make better choices later on.
Self-compassion can help decrease stress eating. When you’re a kind, understanding friend to yourself, it’s far easier to resist the urge to try to disconnect through stress eating. If you do stress eat, promise that you won’t beat yourself up about it. Understand that it happens to everyone sometimes. That can help stop you from eating out of failure and help you make better choices later on.
#4: If all else fails – go ahead and indulge…
Food is a lovely, comforting thing. So if you’re going to do it anyway, then enjoy it. Sit down, let yourself relax, and taste the chocolate (or whatever you choose to indulge in). Of course, do so in moderation. For example, plan on a savouring a small brownie rather than the whole batch.
Food is a lovely, comforting thing. So if you’re going to do it anyway, then enjoy it. Sit down, let yourself relax, and taste the chocolate (or whatever you choose to indulge in). Of course, do so in moderation. For example, plan on a savouring a small brownie rather than the whole batch.
Good luck!
Please share this article and comment in the section below!
No comments:
Post a Comment