Dec 23, 2019
In today’s episode I will be discussing how to end stress eating.
Stress can be difficult to define because it has so many causes
and is different for different people. But you know what stress
feels like, and you also have probably experienced how stress can
wear you down—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
The bottom line is - we all react to stress
differently. Your perceptions and reactions to
different situations are what make them stressful or not. Your
perceptions are like wearing glasses with a certain color lens. If
your lenses are red, then everything you see looks red.
Don't knock stress
eating
One of the most common ways we deal with stress is by
overeating. Eating can serve to push down unwanted emotions
or it can be a way to numb yourself when you don't want to feel
what you are feeling. Eating can provide us with a temporary
feeling of comfort. This is only a problem if it is
your only way to deal with stress.
Comfort foods are part of the body’s inherent feedback system to
help you return to balance. When stressed, you eat comfort foods
that make you feel better for a time by stimulating the dopamine
reward centers in the brain
Stress is the #1 cause of emotional
overeating and bingeing
Acute stress leads to the fight, flight or freeze reaction and
the release of adrenaline and is sometimes associated with loss of
appetite. However, if stress continues, cortisol
is released, stimulating your appetite, making you feel hungry all
the time, it also makes you more likely to eat “comfort foods” and
put on weight.
3 Ways to Deal with Stress Eating
Social support: Tapping into sources
of social support (family, friends, clergy, etc.) is important in
managing stress and helping you cope with food and weight
issues.
Avoid eating when you're tired. When
you’re stressed to the max, you may feel tired and have low energy.
Don’t mistake this for true physical hunger.
Prioritize your well-being: One source of
stress is always putting other people first and not doing good
self-care. When you feel stressed - get a massage, see your
chiropractor, or just take a bubble bath. Take some time to
reset and replenish your energy.
Stress is unavoidable—we’re all prone to it. It is vital to
recognize the signs of stress before it causes health problems for
you, to be aware of your personal stressors, and to develop
strategies for managing stress.