By Pamela O'Connor
We all have
reasons to be depressed and stressed. Work may not be going well, your relationship
may be on the rocks, and things may just feel hopeless. Unfortunately, binge
eating on fattening foods does not help at all in this area. We may feel
satisfied temporarily, but our problems still exist and now our waistlines are
expanding. When we become stressed, our brain releases adrenaline, to help with
our “fight or flight” response. This chemical will help decrease our appetites,
but once it wears off, cortisol will be released to replenish the food supply,
making us very hungry. We don’t really need the extra food unless we are using
all of our energy, but sitting around stressing doesn't happen to use much. However
we still get the message, and so we eat more.
One way to
fix this issue is to do lots of aerobic exercise. By doing this, it can
decrease levels of cortisol and help to improve mood and relieve pain. This can
also help to speed up your metabolism. Also, by learning mindful eating, it can
help you to slow down and even change your outlook on food. Within learning
mindful eating you learn how to meditate, which is also a big stress reliever. You
can also learn how to savor food and its sight, texture, or smell. One study
done of binge eaters showed fewer binges and less depression when using the
mindful eating program.
Another way
to deal with stress in a healthy way is to find activities that are rewarding
in other ways than through food. Spending time with loved ones, animals, or
even getting a massage can help to relieve stress in more ways than you’d
think. Writing down your thoughts in a journal is also very effective. Writing helps
to clear the mind and is a good way of expressing yourself. It can help to keep
you busy and away from unhealthy snacking. It is also important to write down
your goals and progress; seeing your accomplishments can help to ease your
stress.
There are
many ways to deal with constant stress, although most are unhealthy. It may be
easier to go with fattening foods or late night partying, but that will only
hurt you in the long run. If you take the extra time to eat healthy and take
care of yourself, you can greatly reduce your stress and live a better, happier
life.
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