TIPS TO AVOID DISTRESS EATING

(Stress Eating)

 

Kelly Bilodeau, the Executive Editor from Harvard Women’s Health Watch, stated:

“Weight gain has many underlying causes, but one of the most common is something we all experience: stress. Whether it’s the mild temporary kind caused by a traffic jam, or major and chronic triggered by a traumatic life event — stress is no friend to your waistline. It can set off physical and emotional changes that drive you to eat more — and even gain weight much more easily.”

 

 

Managing distress to control weight

While distress is an inevitable part of life for many people, the weight gain that can accompany it isn’t. Changing our response to distress and adopting strategies to reduce it can help to avoid weight gain.

Shake off tension with exercise. A physical activity we love can help us generate endorphins, dissolve distress and burn fat at the same time.   

Goodnight sleep is essential. Lack of sleep can increase the number of distress hormones circulating in our body. So ensuring we get enough restful sleep (REM) is crucial to managing distress effectively. 

Change your negative thoughts for positive ones. The amount of distress we feel is based on circumstances and our perception of those circumstances. Having positive and assertive thoughts will make the difference.

Plan ahead. If we are entering a high-stress period, a good idea it is to seek out additional support to help us through. This might include adjusting our schedule to add extra exercise or making a healthy eating plan to help us resist the impulse to snack on unhealthy food.  

Get help.   We can ask our spouse, friends, family or neighbours for help. We may also talk to our coach, psychologist or therapist.

Alternative techniques.  Energy lovers and holistic enthusiasts may find practising Yoga, Meditation and/or Belly Breathing very appealing when it comes to eliminating distress.  

Socialize. Connect with others by taking a class, joining an organization, or participating in a support group.

Sharpen time-management skills. The more efficiently we can juggle work and family demands, the lower our distress level.

Resolve stressful situations before they fester.  Hold family problem-solving sessions and use negotiation skills at home and work.

Let’s pamper ourselves and treat ourselves to a massage. Truly savour an experience: for example, eating slowly and focusing on the taste and sensations of each bite. Taking a walk or a nap, or listening to our favourite music.

Focus on the difference between stress and distress. Stress is good for our system. It keeps us active and alert, makes us feel alive, proud of ourselves and fulfilled, the adrenaline released during stress creates a good sensation of excitement and satisfaction.  

Distress, on the contrary, is the sum of stress combined with anxiety, tension and preoccupation. Distress disrupts sleep, eating habits, mood, and many other aspects of a healthy life.  

So, next time we think about stress, let’s focus on our feelings and sensations, and we will be able to tell the difference to engage in some effective remedy actions.   

 

 

 

I am Love I am Success!

Remember that loving ourselves means taking care, pampering and enjoying our health and our bodies, looking good and feeling good to please ourselves in the very first place and then to please others. The book I am Love … I am Success takes you through the path of that love for ourselves!