If you ever get in trouble which ends in court, you shouldn’t bribe the judge, but give him/her food!
Stress gives us early warnings! Anxiety, irritability and muscle tension are the signs of stress!
Here is what you should do to reduce stress and stressful eating:
1. It is very important that you do not skip meals, especially breakfast.
Strong and healthy breakfast will provide your body with energy it needs to get through the day. Regular meals will keep you calm and less likely to get irritated, capricious or exhausted. I once read a study in Economist conducted on 1000 applications of prisoners to Israel judges (either asking for allowed out on parole or to have the conditions of their incarceration changed). It was found that, at the start of the day, the judges granted around two-thirds of the applications before them. As the hours passed, that number fell sharply, eventually reaching zero. But clemency returned after each of two daily breaks, during which the judges retired for food. The approval rate shot back up to near its original value, before falling again as the day wore on. So, if justice is served, but more of it after lunch 🙂 , it is pretty obvious that we – poor mortals 🙂 - depend on healthy eating and keeping our blood sugar levels in control. Planning your meals and consuming them regularly helps to avoid mindless eating and consuming much high-calorie foods in bigger quantities later.
2. Make a list of foods you usually crave for and keep them out of your home or office.
3. Keep track of- or even better a diary to write down – your emotions and thoughts as well as eating habits.
This will help you to look for connections and patterns, and then figure out how to overcome them.
4. Practice relaxation skills, such as yoga, stretching, massage, deep breathing or meditation.
5. Engaging in regular physical activity or exercise has done miracles for me.
Even if after a long working day at office followed by 2-3 hours of chores at home, the only thing I want to do is to collapse in front of the TV, I drag myself to gym. And voila! when I come back, I am a new, relaxed and happy person and love my children and husband again 😀 .
6. Also, I can’t stress enough do get adequate sleep!
I am utterly and totally dependent on sleep. I am a sleep junky! If not getting enough food doesn’t make me cranky, half an hour less sleep and I am not my usual charming self! My husband, on the other hand, can do without sleep and still be his calm and stoic self with ease. Although, privately, he has confessed that missing a meal can make him lose his ever-present optimism and good mood! 🙂 .
And always, before eating, ask yourself are you truly hungry or do you feel stressed or anxious? Then if you're tempted to eat when you're not hungry, find a distraction.