“I ATE & DRANK MY WAY THROUGH LOCKDOWN”
Could that be your confession?
Are you a Comfort Eater?
Do you comfort eat or drink regularly to help you “cope”?
Many people were already using food or drink to make themselves feel better. But now, 3 Lockdowns later, it got worse. So many people indulged in treats to help them through Lockdown. This overeating, coupled with poor activity levels, has resulted in The Lockdown Stone.
It may have felt kinda nice at first – especially in that fine weather early on – a glass of wine in the sun, how lovely. Someone said to me the other day
“It was great – we just pretended we were in the S of France every night
with a nice glass of something chilled.”
with a nice glass of something chilled.”
But now things aren’t so good. That bad habit is there. Maybe it has got worse due to isolation, sadness, winter blues. Or maybe you’ve had other stresses in your life?
But this is the thing.
Eating or drinking for reasons other than hunger or thirst frequently causes overweight, and a feeling of failure …..
Today I help you to help yourself. First, here’s the best mantra for comfort eating. Say it to yourself out loud a lot! 😀
Say this to yourself before you eat
Here’s what to do about COMFORT EATING
WARNING … TOUGH LOVE COMING.
Eating & drinking to make yourself better when you’re feeling you “need something” is an excuse. Food only solves hunger. It does not solve any other issue.
Having tough times around you does not put food into your mouth.
It is you who does that.
No one holds you down and forces you to eat or drink. If they do you should be calling the police, not reading this.
- RECOGNISE.
Your first step in “recovery” from Comfort Eating is to recognize there’s a problem. You’re eating & drinking more than you need and it’s making you fatter. If it feels like every day is Christmas in your house, you’re possibly destroying your health – and probably also your self-confidence. - YOU can solve this problem yourself. Only you have the power to control what you put into your mouth.
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DEFINE what the need is. It might be one of these.
Loneliness. Pain. Boredom. Stress. Poor self-esteem. Tiredness. Lack of motivation. Never feeling appreciated. Overworked. Financial issues. Lack of Will Power. Unhappy. Just a habit.
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Now ADDRESS the need. Deal with it head-on. Figure out a way of filling your need. Only when you start to do this will the cause of your Comfort Eating be squashed.
Lonely or in pain
If you’re lonely, then find like-minded people. Phone a friend and tell them you need their help. A true friend will rise to this. Alcohol, cakes & crisps are not the sort of mates you really need.
If you’re in pain, seek medical or complementary medical help.
Are you bored?
If it’s boredom, then find a new hobby – or resurrect an old one. Think back to what you’ve loved in the past. Or look ahead and try that thing you said you’d always like to do one day.
Stress can be huge
Stress can be escaped without food – a good book, a walk, exercise, a social life. Put something else in your life which you love. And if you cannot do that, then get your head around accepting that it’s a fight you cannot win and you need to find another coping mechanism.
Its well documented that stress causes weight gain. The change in hormone levels created by external stress causes instant energy cravings – you want sugar, fat & salt NOW! So stress spells danger time for your waistline. And your health.
Get support for problems close to you which you cannot solve – maybe a family member is having health issues, or there are financial pressures. There will be a support group with people who have been there and can advise. Citizens Advice or Google might help. Reaching out and ASKING may be all you need to do.
Unhappy at home?
If you’re unhappy, maybe in a damaging relationship at home or work, then confide in someone. You do not have to settle for unhappiness. You just need lots of love and support (and not food).
Is Comfort Eating just a bad habit?
Is it simply just a bad habit that you go to the fridge every night when you’re not hungry and eat, standing up, out of it?
If that’s the case then do one of the following at the cravings time to break that habit
- Clean your teeth
- Climb the stairs or do crunches
- Change the trigger point – maybe not watch TV at that time?
- Distract yourself with another activity.
Exercise breaks habits & improves self-esteem
EXERCISE can be a truly brilliant distraction if you’re a Comfort Eater. So many of my clients find exercise helps them overcome cravings.
Exercise and activity makes you feel different.
And when you feel different, that will help you act differently.
And when you feel different, that will help you act differently.
It might just be the thing that stops you from putting that cake, pastry, or cheese into your mouth.
You could be doing all this with me, in my Live Workouts with Noelle group on Facebook.
Get in a workout during the day and set your intention for your danger time. “You are NOT a Comfort Eater”.
Better still, get in a workout at Comfort Eating time.
Change the cycle.
That’s exactly what so many of my online members do. They LOVE their anytime, unlimited workouts with me. That could be you.
Only YOU can make the change.
Only you can stop yourself from Comfort Eating.
And only can make the change.