8 tips to stop stress eating

Why is there such a problem as stress seizure at all? It affects people with a persistent association "food = pleasure". Of course, everyone loves to eat well and enjoy food, but if in the event of stress you cannot cope with it otherwise than by mechanically eating something, you need to do something about it.

The association is born in childhood, when food was an encouragement, meant a reward or a holiday. And in order to regain this joyful feeling in moments of stress, a person begins to eat.

Moreover, stress can be very different: from difficulties at work and in relationships, to banal boredom and monotony of maternity days. In any case, if your hand reaches for high-calorie foods to cope with anxiety or lack thereof, remember that you can change it.

1. Have a supply of low-calorie food in your home

In case you really want to eat something out of boredom or other emotions, have on hand a supply of things that will not harm your figure: apples, small peeled carrots, cucumbers, frozen vegetable mixes, lean meat, kefir, diet bread, citrus fruits, fish.

If you spend your days at home, cook yourself vegetable soups and borscht - and try to lean on them when you are emotionally hungry.

On the other hand, do not keep chocolates, sweets, buns, sausages, pasta, alcohol and other high-calorie foods in reserve at home, which will obviously go into use before apples and carrots. In an acute state of stress or boredom, you are unlikely to run after them to the store, it will still be a meaningful action that can be controlled.

2. Find a business to which you can devote yourself completely

It can be either a favorite job or a hobby: dancing, sewing, folding puzzles, jogging, blogging, drawing, modeling, computer design - anything that will occupy you and distract you from unnecessary worries and boredom. This way you will feel your life richer and more fulfilled.

3. Don't be alone

Alone with yourself is always more likely that you will eat more than you should and will lean on high-calorie foods. Try to see your friends more often, sign up for training courses, in the gym, where you can make new acquaintances with your interests.

If you feel that you cannot cope with emotional hunger, immediately go for a walk in the fresh air.

4. Hang a lock on the refrigerator

Yes, a real small castle. It can be either the most ordinary hinged one - then it is better to give the key to the husband for preservation, or ultramodern - with a timer that opens the refrigerator only at certain intervals.

5. Drink water

Before you start eating on emotions - drink 2 large glasses of water. To make it tastier, add lemon to make your drink even healthier. But less food will fit into the stomach.

6. Keep a diary

Make it a rule to write down not just everything you eat, but why. Write down what you eat and why you ate it in a notebook. Realizing over and over again that hunger is not the cause, it will engage your rational mind and help you break the habit.

7. Don't reward yourself with food

Even if you were taught as a child that chocolate is a reward for good behavior, don't let this mistaken belief rule your life now.

The more often you give up such an association and perceive food as just food, not a reward - the more this neural connection will be destroyed in the brain and relieve you of the compulsive overeating.

8. See a psychologist

Some deep-seated problems cannot be solved on your own. That is, you can restrain yourself, avoid harmful foods, but willpower weakens under the influence of stress, which leads to breakdowns. In this case, the cause of overeating, which often lasts from childhood, must be worked out with a specialist.

You will also be interested to read:

• 5 foods for joint health
• 7 foods to treat headaches without pills
• 5 foods that spoil your mood