Are you a stress eater? In a study, more than 75% of adults said that stress played a role in their eating during the past month.
If you’ve ever had a stressful day (or year!) that affected your eating habits, you are NOT alone. This includes overeating, eating junk foods, or not eating. It can make you feel sluggish, lazy, disappointed in yourself, and/or irritable.
The good news is that we have a few tips below to stop stress from getting in the way of your results when it comes to food. But before we get into the tips, it’s important to know WHY stress affects our appetite. Knowing why can help you manage the situation when you’re in it!
When you get stressed, your body releases hormones to help you deal with stress. Not only can these hormones – including adrenaline, insulin, and cortisol – cut your appetite and/or make you crave high-calorie, high-fat foods … They also can make your body store MORE fat than when you’re relaxed.
This means it’s NOT a willpower issue, but an actual physiological response. Knowing this can help stop you from giving in to it when it happens.
4 Steps to Stop Stress Eating (or Not Eating)
- Acknowledge it! If you’re feeling stressed and notice your appetite is gone OR you start craving junk food, remind yourself that you’re stressed … and focus on dealing with whatever is actually stressing you.
- Exercise. Go for a walk, do a workout, basically MOVE – it’s one of the fastest stress relievers and mood boosters there is. Plus, it can get you out of the situation and into a new perspective.
- Meditate or do deep breathing. Just 5 minutes can help you feel calmer, more focused, and less stressed.
- Talk it out. Taking a few minutes to get some support with whatever is bothering you can help you take back control.
These tips will help YOU gain back control, instead of letting your body lead the way.
At Power Athletics, home of CrossFit 30004, we help our clients find solutions that last a lifetime.
If you’re ready to stop going at it alone, we’re here to help you with a proven plan that’s designed to get you from A to Z in a way that works with your lifestyle, schedule, and goals! And that, of course, supports you every step of the way.
We’re here for you if you have any questions! Just hit CLICK HERE and we’ll get back to you ASAP.