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Stop Stress Eating With These Tips

By Rachel Carver

Does this sound familiar? A busy day at the office leaves you craving chocolate. Or something unexpected happens, and you find yourself reaching for something salty or picking up fast food on your way home.

Reaching for food to calm down is a common coping mechanism. According to an American Psychological survey, 38 percent of adults overeat or reach for unhealthy food every month because of stress. Half of these adults surveyed do this at least once a week.

Stressful situations raise your stress hormone levels, which can increase appetite and cravings for fatty and sugary foods. These foods can calm the part of your brain that sends stress signals.

The bad news is that emotional eating only temporarily relieves the stress. It also adds guilt of eating too much. However, there are ways to combat emotional eating.

Find the Stressor

Identifying the things that stress you out can help you think less about food. Keeping a journal or brainstorming solutions to your stressors will help you address what is upsetting you instead of getting distracted by food.

Organize Your Food

When you are stressed, it is easy to grab any food you see without giving it much thought. To decrease mindless eating, hide the junk food. Put ice cream in the back of the freezer. You can also prepare healthy snacks such as fresh fruits and vegetables that stay front and center in your fridge. Organize your kitchen for weight loss to promote healthy habits.

Remember Your Why

Stress makes us want unhealthy foods to feel better. Remind yourself of your why to stay on track. Put your goals in a visible place such as your fridge. Hang up photos of your family in your kitchen or dining room. Make a daily to-do list on your phone of things you need to accomplish to prepare for your first 5K. Motivators will keep you focused and away from food when you are not hungry.

Find Ways to De-Stress

Creating healthy habits around stress will make you less likely to stress eat. Look for wind down activities such as a brisk walk or reading a book. If you are drawn to fast food, pick a different route home and jam to some fun music.

Stress management will keep you on track with your weight loss or overall health goals. Use The Joint Chiropractic's affordable pricing and walk-in visits to get all of your questions answered about healthy ways to deal with stress.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Denton, Tex.

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