What Diet

Food and Mood

Feeling stressed out? Bored? What something to do? Many in your shoes will reach for a chocolate bar. Unfortunately this is a slippery slope. by using food to ease your mood you will only gain pounds and find no real comfort. In fact it will only increase you problems and make you feel worse. 

So what are the alternatives? Read on to learn about food and mood and how you can come out on top.

Stressed Out
It is tempting to deal with stress by reaching for comfort food but there are healthier ways to relieve pressure. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress. Take a brisk stroll or hit the gym. Moderate to intense activity lowers stress levels and gives you a clearer head to deal with issues more effectively. 

Regular exercise help prevent stress building in the first place.

Relaxed forms of exercise such as meditation and yoga also help you feel calm.

Bored?
If your evenings follow the same routine of food and snacks in front of the TV you should think about breaking the mould completely. Many times you eat solely out of habit without even thinking about it.

Try a new activity instead. Go partying, bowling, skating or to the cinema (just make sure you don’t take unhealthy snacks with you!) Meet friends or keep your hands busy on your computer or knitting or playing an instrument. It is difficult to snack if your hands are occupied. 

Lonely Hearts
Loneliness can make you feel depressed and turn to comfort eating to ease the pain. Instead of filling up on sweets and cakes turn your energy to creating new friends and social ties. Enroll in an evening class. Get out and about rather than staying in the house alone. 

Angry 
Food is sometimes used to work through anger rather than dealing with the anger constructively. Many people feel they cannot openly express their anger so turn to other vices instead. 

The same methods that work to ease stress—exercise, meditation, getting involved in new activities—can help relieve anger. While this tones down angry energy however, ensure that you deal with the cause of your anger so it doesn’t fester and cause further outbreaks in future. Resolve your differences with the person who made you angry or if a situation is bothering you make a plan to deal with it. 

Cry 
When you feel sad reaching for comfort food to ease your mood is a natural thing for some people. Recognise that some days you feel emotional and that this is ok. You just deal with it and it passes. No need to reach for the sugary snacks. Again try and resolve things rater than eating to console yourself.

A good cry really heps to let out emotions and clear the air. Crying reduces stress and helps you feel better. Also it is a lot better for your weight than chowing down on food! 

Think Positive
Think and act positive. A smile is infectious and makes you feel better and people smile back at you.

Fake a happy mood to make it come true and forget the ice cream! 

Advertisements

Useful links
Home
Photo credits

What Diet: Food and Mood

Tweet