Have you ever found yourself reaching for a bag of chips, a pint of ice cream, a bar of dark chocolate, or a box of cookies (preferably oatmeal raisin) when you are feeling down?
Many of us turn to food for comfort when the world goes sideways because it feels like an easy solution (and it makes us feel a little better for a moment…).
The problem? What seems like an effective quick fix literally leaves you feeling worse off than you started… The high dose of sugar in the body gets you “high” for a moment but then leaves you with a crash worse than you started.
Why do we do that to ourselves time and time again, you ask?
The reasons vary. It could be a bad day at work, a break-up, a fight with a loved one, fear, or self-doubt… Those are pretty serious motivators to reach for that sweet “drug”.
Let’s start by getting educated and then get a game-plane for what to do instead of loading up on those empty carbs and excess calories our body could do without.
No matter how loudly your body screams “Feed me CRAP!”, You know that a stress binge will leave you feeling defeated, sluggish, shameful, and… chubby.
So why do we do it to ourselves?
Stress causes our bodies to automatically increase respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, metabolism, and the blood flow to our muscles. Your whole body goes into “fight or flight” mode. That triggers your body to release a hormone called cortisol, which increases your appetite in return…
Your body knows you need the energy to deal with all the crap, causing you to stress out, and it is trying to “assist” by keeping you fueled for your “fight”. The worst part is that all the stress you feel actually suppresses your production of the satiety hormone (ghrelin), which keeps your appetite low. Now you are not only stressed but starving as well… which pretty much causes you to lose control over what you put in your mouth..Unfortunately, our brains crave foods that are high in calories and sugar, because those provide the quickest boost…
The Solution?
Naturally, we all have our own issues and hardships to deal with on a daily basis…life happens… and it is brimming with a never-ending series of triggers. However, we ARE powerful, intelligent human beings, smart enough to make better choices. If we want to be our healthiest and happiest, we must make active decisions to take care of our bodies.
Here are 6 ways to keep a bad day from driving you to your fridge…
Get away from the crime scene- Get outside! One of the best and most effective ways to avoid binge eating is to get outside. Go for a walk, run, go swimming, sit on your balcony with a good book, and some lemon-water. Take deep breaths, soak up the sun, hug a tree, and relieve stress instead of eating your feelings. The key here is getting away from the kitchen!
Visit a friend- Stress can keep you isolated. Call a friend or visit a neighbor. Take a walk together or have a cup of Joe together. Getting together with people you love, automatically changes your perspective and attitude. Have a laugh, share fun memories, and have a good time.
Run some errands. Have a “To Do” list ready for emergency times like that. Now get your keys and hit the road… Once you are out of the house and focusing on your errands, you’ll end not only the craving for junk but the stress about getting all those things done.
Attack a cluttered project. Pick one annoying project you have been putting off such as decluttering your phone, your bedroom closet, your kitchen cabinets… whatever it is. Grab a trash bag and go after it. Start small with a drawer or go as big as your entire closet. Create libraries in your phone and start small, or backup your entire phone if you like. The satisfaction you get from attacking that one eyesore will keep your mind and hands too busy for snacks…
Sign up for a class. Pick a class and go (or log into your virtual class). Surrounding yourself with other people who care about their health will put you in a better state to do the same. Additionally, the benefits of exercise include a mood boost and a caloric burn that lasts! (That is definitely better than eating a pint of Ben and Jerry’s)
Change your sheets. Fresh sheets are like a new beginning. They smell good, they feel good, and you tend to sleep better. You can even take a nap if you feel like it, as long as you don’t open that fridge!! And yes, you get a little exercise doing it as well!
Put these techniques to action, and you will feel like a winner. When stress pushes you toward a passive solution, and you feel like you are about to vibe in, fight back!!
If those 6 techniques were not what you were looking for, I encourage you to try any of the additional ones in the attached PDF.
Click HERE for lots of other cool and effective ideas.
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