Whenever we’re stressed, we’re almost always guilty of choosing the unhealthy path. One way we can cope with stress is to eat!
Today, we’ll explore how stress eating affects lifestyle and weight management and how we can cope with stress in healthier ways.
What is Stress Eating?
Also known as ‘emotional eating’, stress eating makes you wolf down high-calorie and fatty food and provides some sort of temporary relief from negative emotions. But, in return, this behavior leads to increased overeating and weight gain, resulting in poor health outcomes.
It’s a seemingly unending cycle starting with a trigger: work deadlines, a never-ending list of to-dos, relationship conflicts, etc. Then, consuming food brings temporary relief from the pressures felt. Guilt or shame comes flooding in for eating unhealthily. This cycle goes on and on and makes it challenging to break free.
Stress Management Effects
Consuming high-calorie foods in response to stress can lead to weight gain and obesity over time, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Additionally, stress eating involves eating mindlessly or in response to emotional cues rather than physical hunger, which can disrupt the body’s natural hunger and fullness signals.
Get Stress Out of Your System by…
- Identify Triggers
- Practice Mindfulness
- Engage in Physical Activity
- Connect with Others
- Practice Self-Care
- Seek Professional Help
Break free from the cycle of stress and unhealthy habits formed by it, but also give yourself some grace and patience as it is an ongoing process to develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Learn how to manage stress and new healthier ways of living with Marie France! Book a FREE consultation today!
