Have A Stress Eating Action Plan

Nutrition

Have you ever had an off day where you “treated yourself” to high-fat or sugary processed foods in an attempt to make yourself feel better?

We have all been there at one point or another!

Potato chips…cupcakes…ice cream sundaes…or whatever other foods fall into your “self-soothing” category.

Stress eating is a REAL struggle for many.

Too much stress eating will derail the results you have worked so hard to achieve. Even more importantly, it’s not good for your overall health. You can go from feeling AMAZING and making great progress, but then BAM you get hammered by a stressful time at work, a few sleepless nights, or a super hectic week.

If you aren’t prepared ahead of time, the stress flood gates open – and it’s stress eating central!

Here is a quick rundown of why this matters – and what you can do about it. You may have heard of the stress eating cycle before:

You get stressed, your cortisol levels rise, your metabolism slows, you crave sugar and other processed foods, your blood sugar rises and falls, you get more cravings…it is a vicious cycle.

You need to have a plan in place BEFORE THIS OCCURS to help avoid falling into this cycle.

When you notice yourself getting stressed:

-Take 5-10 minutes to sit quietly and focus on your breathing. Don’t fight any stressful thoughts that may pop up. Instead, just notice them and let them go.
-As soon as you have the chance to, engage in your favorite type of exercise. It prompts your body to release endorphins, which have natural stress-fighting properties.
-Go outside! Being in nature for just a few minutes is a proven stress buster.
-Keep a journal and focus on the positive things happening versus the negative. This can shift your focus and lift your mood in a pinch.
-Eat something containing protein (the most satiating macronutrient) at your next snack/meal.

These tips will help make sure you are much more prepared and better able to manage stress eating when the cravings inevitably happen.

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