Get a Grip on Comfort Food Temptations
By Sandy Schroeder
My comfort food hangups began as a child. Macaroni and cheese, toasted cheese sandwiches and hot fudge sundaes were my frequent favorites. Most of us have favorite food memories that sometimes overload our daily diet, but there are ways to keep them in check.
Drs. Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen took a look at the comfort food issue recently, talking about what happens and what should happen to keep comfort foods in check.
UK researchers dealt with the issue and recently published results in Obesity. They found daily stress, economic pressure, and personal challenges are frequent triggers for overeating and obesity. Individuals who have dealt with this issue all of their lives may lose and gain 50 pounds over and over, which is incredibly frustrating and equally unhealthy for the body.
Here are some suggestions to escape emotional overeating for good.
Connect with good support - Get a buddy to keep you committed to daily exercise. See a therapist if you feel you need one. Reach out to others around you to interact with friends and family and stay active in your neighborhood and community. All of those positive connections are excellent replacements for watching old movies on the couch with a bucket of popcorn.
Discover the pleasures of fresh whole foods - The more you shop for healthy recipes and visit the local farmers market the more apt you may be to abandon burger, fries and pizza runs. Black bean or shrimp tacos, grilled fish, mixed greens, spicy soups, savory sides, and fresh fruit loaves or tarts may become tempting replacements.
Realize nothing tastes as good as thin feels - It is hard to top the thrill of slipping into slim new jeans; when you do, you might be a lot more determined to skip second portions and late night junk food runs.
Do regular meditation and deep-breathing routines - Make these practices part of your life on good and bad days. Gradually they will help to absorb the stress and keep you level all of the time.
Keep a diary to track your diet and vent your frustrations - If it works right, there will be more and more good food entries and less and less need to vent. You will be too busy, heading out into the world in your skinny new jeans.
If these suggestions work for you, and help you feel better, eat healthier and shed pounds, keep up the good work. Integrate the habits and foods into your daily routine to maintain your best weight and savor life minus the stress.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Chula Vista, Calif.