Stress Eating
Ever had a stressful day (or year!) that affected eating habits? You are NOT alone.
In a study, more than 75% of adults said that stress played a role in their eating during the past month.
This included overeating, eating junk foods, or not eating at all. Many of them said it happened weekly.
They also said it made them feel sluggish, lazy, disappointed in themselves, and/or irritable.
The good news is that I have a few tips below to stop stress from getting in the way of positive results when it comes to food.
But before I get into the tips, it’s important to know WHY stress affects our appetite.
Knowing WHY can help a person manage the situation when they're smack in the middle of it!
When under stress, the body releases hormones to help deal with it.
Not only can these hormones – including adrenaline, insulin, and cortisol – cut appetite and/or increase cravings for high-calorie, high-sugar foods …
They also can make a body store MORE fat than when it's relaxed.
Not cool, hormones!
This means it’s NOT a willpower issue, but an actual physiological response. Knowing this can help stop a person from giving in to stress and cravings when they happen.
| 4 Steps to Stop Stress Eating (or Meal Skipping) |
| Acknowledge it! |
If you’re feeling stressed and notice your appetite is gone OR you start craving junk food, remind yourself that you're stressed … and focus on dealing with whatever is actually stressing you. Food is never the right answer to solving for emotions. |
| Exercise |
Go for a walk, do a workout, basically MOVE – it’s one of the fastest stress relievers and mood boosters there is. Plus, it can get you out of the situation and into a new perspective. |
| Meditate or do deep breathing |
Just 5 minutes can help you feel calmer, more focused, and less stressed. |
| Talk it out |
Taking a few minutes to get some support with whatever is bothering you can help you take back control |
And … if this is something a person deals with regularly, it can help to talk to a professional who has experience with eating issues.
These tips will help people gain back control, instead of letting their body lead the way.
Check out my FREE e-book "Your Handy Portion Guide" HERE
Committed to your health,
REFERENCE:
www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat
www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/eating
www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/lifestyle/blog/8070/everyday-wellness/
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