You may have heard of the expression where people “eat their feelings” all as an outlet for our stress. That expression holds true meaning in people with anxiety. By avoiding stress eating, you can avoid gaining weight and ruining your health.
Check In With Your Hunger Level
It is important to ask yourself if you are eating because you really are hungry or because it is a habit. Being aware of your body’s sensations is the first step toward empowered eating. Whenever you keep asking yourself why you need to reach for that sweet or junk food, the better you can control your unhealthy eating habits.
Take a Break
Whenever you feel the need to eat food when you are not hungry, take a break from what you are doing. This can mean taking a walk outside or indoors. Changing your surroundings can affect your thoughts for the better. It can take just a few minutes of your time and disconnect you from the stress you are feeling. It helps to distance yourself away from the food even if it is for a short while and you can change your mind about eating when you return from your walk.
Healthy Sleeping
If we do not get enough sleep, we have imbalanced adrenals and our cortisol levels rise up. This makes us want to give in to our cravings. It is recommended that we get seven to eight hours of sleep every night. By having a good night’s sleep, we are in better control of our stress eating.
Stay Hydrated
It is always important to stay hydrated. This is especially true when we feel really stressed. When we think we are hungry or tired, we are actually dehydrated. Avoid sugary and carbonated drinks and stick with water or a cup of tea. Sugary drinks will just make you more hungry and gain more calories. You can find a bottle online that measures out a recommended day’s worth of water.
Be Kind to Yourself
It is critical that you realize that we all have our stress eating moments. We may want to pause our worries, but we do not know how which makes us eat as a distraction. Be gentle with yourself and do not beat yourself up about this. You should speak to a professional about your stress eating to be in control of your weight and mental health.
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