{"id":4081,"date":"2021-05-27T11:56:27","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T11:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/noellewatsonfitness.co.uk\/staging\/6578\/?p=4081"},"modified":"2021-05-27T11:56:27","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T11:56:27","slug":"did-lockdown-mean-weight-gain-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/noellewatsonfitness.co.uk\/staging\/6578\/did-lockdown-mean-weight-gain-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Did Lockdown mean weight gain for you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0“I ATE & DRANK MY WAY THROUGH LOCKDOWN”<\/h2>\n
\n

Could that be your confession?<\/p>\n

Are you a Comfort Eater?
\nDo you comfort eat or drink regularly to help you “cope”?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Many people were already using food or drink to make themselves feel better.\u00a0 But now, 3 Lockdowns later, it got worse.\u00a0 So many people indulged in treats to help them through Lockdown.\u00a0 This overeating, coupled with poor activity levels, has resulted in The Lockdown Stone.<\/div>\n
It may have felt kinda nice at first – especially in that fine weather early on – a glass of wine in the sun, how lovely.\u00a0 Someone said to me the other day<\/div>\n
“It was great – we just pretended we were in the S of France every night
\nwith a nice glass of something chilled.”\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
But now things aren’t so good.\u00a0 That bad habit is there.\u00a0 Maybe it has got worse due to isolation, sadness, winter blues.\u00a0 Or maybe you’ve had other stresses in your life?<\/div>\n
But this is the thing.<\/div>\n
Eating or drinking for reasons other than hunger or thirst frequently causes overweight, and a feeling of failure …..<\/div>\n
Today I help you to help yourself.\u00a0 First, here’s\u00a0the best mantra for comfort eating.\u00a0 Say it to yourself out loud a lot!\u00a0 \u00a0?<\/div>\n

Say this to yourself before you eat<\/h2>\n

\"Food<\/p>\n

Here’s what to do about COMFORT EATING<\/h2>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0WARNING … TOUGH LOVE COMING.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
Eating & drinking to make yourself better when you’re feeling you “need something” is an excuse.\u00a0 Food only solves hunger.\u00a0 It does not solve any other issue.<\/div>\n
Having tough times around you does not put food into your mouth.<\/div>\n
It is you who does that.<\/div>\n
No one holds you down and forces you to eat or drink.\u00a0\u00a0If they do you should be calling the police, not reading this.<\/div>\n
    \n
  1. RECOGNISE.
    \nYour first step in “recovery” from Comfort Eating is to recognize there’s a problem.\u00a0 You’re eating & drinking more than you need and it’s making you fatter.\u00a0 If it feels like every day is Christmas in your house, you’re possibly destroying your health – and probably also your self-confidence.<\/li>\n
  2. YOU can solve\u00a0this problem yourself.\u00a0 Only you have the power to control what you put into your mouth.<\/li>\n
  3. \n
    DEFINE what the need is.\u00a0\u00a0It might be one of these.<\/div>\n
    \n

    Loneliness.\u00a0 \u00a0Pain. Boredom.\u00a0 Stress.\u00a0 Poor self-esteem.\u00a0 Tiredness.\u00a0 \u00a0Lack of motivation.\u00a0 \u00a0Never feeling appreciated.\u00a0 Overworked. Financial issues. Lack of Will Power. Unhappy. Just a habit.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n
    Now ADDRESS the need.\u00a0 Deal with it head-on.\u00a0 Figure out a way of filling your need.\u00a0 \u00a0Only when you start to do this will the cause of your Comfort Eating be squashed.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0Lonely or in pain<\/h2>\n
    If you’re lonely, then find like-minded people. Phone\u00a0a friend and tell them you need their help. A true friend will rise to this. Alcohol, cakes & crisps\u00a0are not the sort of mates you really need.<\/div>\n
    If you’re in pain, seek medical or complementary medical help.<\/div>\n

    \u00a0Are you bored?<\/h2>\n
    If it’s boredom, then find a new hobby – or resurrect an old one. Think back to what you’ve loved in the past.\u00a0 Or look ahead and try that thing you said you’d always like to do one day.<\/div>\n

    Stress can be huge<\/h2>\n
    Stress can be escaped without food – a good book<\/a>, a walk, exercise, a social life. Put something else in your life which you love.\u00a0\u00a0And 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.<\/div>\n
    Its well documented that stress causes weight gain.\u00a0 The change in hormone levels created by external stress causes instant energy cravings – you want sugar, fat & salt NOW!\u00a0 So stress spells danger time for your waistline.\u00a0 And your health.<\/div>\n
    Get support for problems close to you which you cannot solve – maybe a family member is having health issues, or there are financial pressures.\u00a0 There will be a support group with people who have been there and can advise.\u00a0 Citizens Advice or Google might help. Reaching out and ASKING may be all you need to do.<\/div>\n

    Unhappy at home?<\/h2>\n
    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).<\/div>\n

    \u00a0Is Comfort Eating just\u00a0a bad habit?<\/h2>\n
    \n

    \"IsIs 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?<\/p>\n

    If that’s the case then do one of the following at the cravings time to break that habit<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    \n