I'm a massive comfort eater. I am not naturally in shape and nor do I find eating a varied and healthy diet that easy! That's why I know how hard it can be and can empathise. I have to work daily to combat the pitfalls of eating and training that we all fall into! Learn more about my journey to becoming a Coach HERE.
Stress is one of my biggest downfalls for triggering comfort eating so. If I'm stressed, I'm eating anything in arms reach. Here's what I do to combat the stress related eating.
The Stress Free Diet
I realised something yesterday. I don't really spend a lot of time or effort making healthy food choices. But I do spend a lot of time reducing stress, keeping things simple and avoiding particularly stressful situations where possible. And that's because I comfort eat.
When I am happy, 'sane', busy (but not too busy) and doing what I love - I eat well. I don't think about what I'm going to eat and I don't feel like I am 'forcing' myself to eat well. Because I am not fighting any negativity or stress - both of which are drive me to eat!
However, when I'm stressed all I want is junk food. The emotional part of my brain is stressed out (from the stress) and stressed out from trying to force myself away from food. It doesn't take long for my willpower to get really tired, and I become to be unable to stop myself eating junk food.
Elephants
Here's the metaphor that I use. The emotional part of your brain is like an elephant with a rider on his or her back. The rider is the rational part of your brain.
When there is no stress, no temptation, no problems, the rider and the elephant are free to walk along the path towards their destination is happiness, together. However, when something scares the elephant, or stresses the elephant, the rider must hold the reigns to keep him in control.
When there is tempting elephant food to either side of the path, once again, the rider must control the elephant to keep it moving forward. Combine these two things and suddenly the rider is not only tired from holding the elephant in check against stress and fear and all sorts of other emotions, he's also holding the elephant in check against tempting food.
Eventually the rider will get tired and the elephant will run off, with a helpless rider on top, and will eat lots of tasty junk food.
Remove the Stress
.jpg)
If you take away the stress and fear, the rider is going to have a lot more energy to guide the elephant towards the healthy choices and away from the junk food! Scare the elephant and the rider is going to stand no chance of stopping it. Focus more on reducing stress and giving your calm and in control brain a fighting chance of making the right choice.
That's how I approach most of my training and food with clients and myself. I make them as stress free as possible, and avoid stress at all costs. If you comfort eat - stop worrying about what you eat and start worrying about what you feel.
Six Week Health Challenge
If you're here you probably know about my Six Week Health Challenge. If you don't, go and check it out HERE. If will help you get healthier AND be in with a chance to win a bunch of Steem :)
Yours in health,
Coach Ben #coachben
It's really interesting to hear about what different people consider "comfort food". I've lived in a few different countries and with some people from different cultures. The range of what they considered comfort food varied pretty widely. Some people craved sugar, while others craved salty/savory. Me, I'm a big fan of fruit.... yes, odd, but I have a sweet tooth and nothing satisfies it like a big bowl of grapes, a dozen clementine oranges, or a pint of berries (love all kinds but blueberries are the best!).
That's really interesting! At least you crave healthy food for comfort :D I think I crave sweet things most
Great post! Stress is really an emotional strain
I'll sure check out your 6 weeks program
Hmm this is really interesting. I am only now paying attention to the effect that the food I eat has on my emotions and particularly stress! I will be checking out your 6 week plan.Thanks for sharing and STEEM ON!!
It's great that you're paying more attention to the foods you eat and how they effect your mood, and visa verca! Thank you for the comment @t8scones :)
Stress is just a response to a certain stimuli. If you change the response then there's little to no stress within you. So it's just a matter of choice.
Mindset is definitely important for stress. Many people stress about things that really don't need to be stressed over!
I agree.
By the way how are you going to judge the entries for the sixweekhealth challenge. I'm just curious to know. That's all.
Hey @amarbir, they are judged on quality, content, time to create them and creativity. A post with step by step instructions with your own photos and discussion of why the recipe is healthy will do much better than a recipe with a stock photo and only a few instructions :)
thank you for your upvote
Good post
Thank you @thetitan
Great read. I could definitely stand to de-stress my life, and this is a great reminder.
It can be a really hard thing to do. Recently I've been writing down the one or two tasks I HAVE to do each day, and scheduling in a time to do that. As long as I've done those 'deal breakers' I feel really accomplished and less stressed to do the rest of my work :D Good luck with the de-stress
Excellent post @healthsquared, there was a time that I felt that way, when I got stressed!
Thank you @taty17, how have you managed to reduce the desire to comfort eat when stress? I'd love to know what strategies other people use!
Makes a lot of sense. Good read!
Thank you @terezakumric. Great to have you on Steemit :)
Good post. In my case, I feel guilty after eating a lot of junk foods.
Yes! Sometimes we eat junk food, feel bad about it, and then eat more junk food because we feel bad! It's a hard cycle to break
Stress is : The physical, mental, emotional and behavioral reactions that the individual gives when he feels uneasy or under pressure are the whole.
I think that is one of the best way to get healthier and be kind with ourselves. We just have to find our confort zone to get happier and reduce our stress, and if we are happy we don't have anxieties, so we have more control about what we eat, everything is connected. Another way to get healthier is eating better, and some people see that like a effort, but if we reduce our stress we starting to see it like a happy life style and not like a effort. Something very importar is do what makes you happy, no matter what.
You're so right @veleriaquiaro, being kind to ourselves is such an important part of health. It's easy to be too hard on ourselves and that can stress us out mentally AND physically.
@healthsquared. I used to have the same problem when stressed out leading to me eating junk food and soda drinks which makes it hard for me to realize my fitness goals. So what I do now is I go for full body massage twice a week. So far it has been helpful after my usual gym activities. Concerning the 6 weeks health challenge. I am in, let's do this.
Sounds like a great idea - taking active steps to help you deal with daily pressures :D
Thanks so much for this post. I am into fitness too. However, when I’m sad or stressed, I tend to eat unhealthy stuff like chocolates. I joined your six week challenge. Looking forward to the next 5 weeks!
It happens to many of us! It's good to notice the things that trigger comfort eating for you because that can help you improve that. Glad to have you in with the challenge :D Make sure you join in with next week's challenge :D
Thank you! I think I still have time to join this week’s challenge. Will document the new recipe now
Im happy i came across these..now i can stand the stress of life...and this contest is a very good one.have been reading alots of people entery..i know alots about health benefit with some fruit and plants can i participate sir?@healthsquared
I think you are totally onto something here! Stress is such a big factor in unhealthy habits. Lately meditation has really been helpful to me in reducing stress :)
Eating the one nature has provided :)
We have nutritional deficiencies from nature not drug deficiencies from science;)
#truthtrain
People are eating science
GMO's
Hydrogenated oils
Fake sugar
Hybridized foods
MSG
HFCS
Magarine
Irradiated foods
Enriched foods
Fortified foods
Etc