Overeating Because of Stress?

Stress causes the body to release adrenaline and cortisol. According to WebMd, these two chemicals are related to the flight-or-fight response our ancestors needed to survive. Now that we no longer need to run away or physically defend ourselves from wild beasts, we often overeat to deal with feelings of stress.

Eating Because of Stress

Even if you've just eaten lunch or dinner, when under stress you may feel hungry and eat again. Pay attention to your personal stress triggers and look for alternatives to eating.

* Do you often eat after an argument with a friend, loved one, or coworker?
* Do you reach for food when you're feeling bored or anxious?
* Do foods high in carbohydrates relax you?
* Do you grab a snack when you can't sleep?
* Do you eat out often rather than making meals at home?
* Do you often think about food?

Be Aware of Internal Dialogue

It's easy to beat ourselves up or put ourselves down when life is stressful. Problems seem insurmountable and it's hard to believe that life will ever be good again. Every time you catch yourself worrying or saying something negative, counteract the thought with a positive rebuttal. Bad times never last and everybody has positive traits. Choose to focus on workable solutions and compliment yourself for your positive traits.

Relinquish Control

We tend to become stressed, frustrated and even angry when we can't control a situation. We worry about what may happen tomorrow, next week, or years from now. Sometimes it's best to relinquish control when there's nothing you can do about a situation, especially one that hasn't happened yet. Most fears never come true, and all you can do is take care of things as they come up to the best of your ability.

Avoid Putting Things Off

Procrastinating is often a major cause of stress and overeating. It's easier to eat something and reduce stress that way rather than tending to chores. All that happens though is more and more projects or tasks pile up and more stress chemicals are released and the more you'll want to overeat. When something comes up, take care of it on the spot. This goes for paying bill, cleaning the house, getting a yearly checkup at the doctor, or whatever else you find easy to push aside. Start hacking away at that to-do list and you'll find your stress level decreasing. In turn, you won't feel as hungry all the time.

Cook More and Eat Out Less

It's tempting to grab some burgers and fries on the way home from work rather than standing at the stove cooking. Even if your scheduled is packed to the maximum, let go of some tasks that aren't as important and make time to cook more meals at him. Several cookbooks are slanted toward the busy cook, with meals that can be prepared with only a few ingredients and in a short amount of time. By slowing down a bit to cook a meal and eat healthier, you may find that your mood is lifted, your waistline shrinks, and you'll be saving money too.

Exercise Reduces Hunger

Regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress by releasing feel-good chemicals called endorphins. This natural mood lifter also reduces hunger. Just 20 minutes a day is all it takes to reduce stress and help with your weight loss efforts. The key is finding something enjoyable and mixing it up. Try to choose two or three types of exercise that you enjoy, whether taking a walk, working out to a DVD, or watching TV while you spend time on the elliptical.

Take Up a New Hobby

Boredom tends to make you feel stressed, which in turn leads to eating when you shouldn't. Try taking a class at your local community college. They have class times that will fit just about every schedule and offer everything from oil painting and voice lessons, to tamale making and tracing your family roots. Keeping your mind focused on learning something new and socializing with others will make you less likely to overeat and will help in your stress reduction efforts.

By practicing simple stress management techniques you can be happier, healthier, and drop several pounds in the process.

Resource

WebMD - Can Stress Cause Weight Gain