There are many reasons for over eating…. some people find comfort in food, I find that when I am bored that the first thing I do is open the fridge door. For some it is just a habit…. Do you find yourself craving something to eat while you are watching television? Sometimes it is just a need to keep our hands and our jaws busy.

But stress can also be a major trigger for eating when you are not really hungry. The problem with this is that even though you think you might be calming your nerves with this “stress-eating” you might actually be making it worse.

The comfort foods that we tend to choose like chips, white potatoes and sugary sweets are the foods that cause swings in your blood sugar levels that cause even more intense cravings and then lead to weight gain. Not only that, a drop in blood sugar can make you feel even more stressed and uptight.

Sugary food is not good for Stress

So here are some ideas on how to cope better with your stress without making binge-eating part of that solution:

- Be very aware of the guidelines of a healthy diet and gain knowledge on what foods are really not beneficial     for your health. Find a few healthy snacks that you really enjoy, or keep your portions small when it comes to your snack foods.

- Remove all the temptations from your pantry and your fridge. Stock up with healthy snacks like low fat yoghurt, nuts, raisins, dried apricots, whole wheat crackers, beef jerky, fruit, low fat cheese and cottage cheese. Crunchy veggies like celery and carrot sticks make great healthy, high fiber and fat free snacks. Hummus or eggplant dip is ideal to make those a little more tasty and interesting.

- Keep your hands busy. Find something else to do with your hands besides eat. Find if there are any hobbies you enjoy like drawing, painting, knitting, crosswords, or do some chores around the house and if all else fails distract yourself by calling some friends or family. (Don’t use the phone in the kitchen – hehe)

- Work Out! Exercise is not only a great way to stay fit and manage your weight, but it is also a wonderful stress reliever. If you do not enjoy going to the gym, then clear your mind with a brisk walk around the neighborhood or in the park. I have created the Hot Burning Body Workouts so you can have fun with your workouts right in your own home if you don’t like to go to the gym.

I hope these things help you find better ways to deal with your stress…. and of course you can use all the same guidelines when you are just feeling bored or feel like going on a binge eating spree. We are all human and we all experience this but there are ways to take control. You can do it!

To your health and strength

Vanessa Bader

http://www.hotburningbody.com