Thaddeus Jeckell - Your Fitness Advocate
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12/6/11
“PUT DOWN THE EGGNOG”
Tis the season of emotional eating. The Holidays are here which means the next 30 days are filled with stories of Santa Clause, trees done up with lights, family gatherings, parties, and exchanging gifts. We are all filled with joy and cheer until New Year’s Day. That was the advertisement I got. Realistically all of this celebration comes with stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness for many. All of these emotions positive and negative can lead to emotional eating.
Let’s define “Emotional Eating”
Emotional eating is “feeding our feelings”. An emotion triggers eating and we satisfy it with a comfort food. If you find yourself scarfing down a bag of chips, or scraping the bottom of a tub of ice cream and you are not even hungry you are most likely feeding an emotion.
What triggers emotional eating over the Holidays?
The Holidays can cause stress and anxiety and it’s an emotional time for everyone. These emotions can be induced by the preparation of travel, cooking for everyone, buying presents - did you spend enough money on a gift or did you spend too much money on that gift, the gathering and entertaining of visiting friends and family, end of year job obligations, or the crazy relative who drinks too much every Christmas and embarrasses someone at dinner, or on the serious side simply being afraid of being alone or dealing with the memories of a lost loved one. Emotional eating is easily fed during this time because of all the Christmas cookies, pies, ice cream, and goodies readily available to you every time you pass through the kitchen and the side table that has all the homemade chocolates.
Why do we feed our feelings?
Emotional eating habits can be learned. As a child we were given a cookie or candy in reward for a big achievement on a job well done. As a daddy, I am totally guilty of offering chocolate chip cookies to my little man in reward for doing something heroic in the eyes of a 3 year old. We continue this behavior throughout life. We just can’t allow it to become a habit. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go out and treat yourself with family and friends after a big promotion, but if you turn to the Hostess cupcakes because you had a bad day at work it’s time to find an alternative option to relieve the stress.
How do we survive the Holidays without burying yourself in Grandma’s signature homemade pie?
- Plan for setbacks by planning ahead
- Don’t come to the dinner table hungry
- Keep a food diary to identify triggers
- Give yourself permission to eat the foods you love and enjoy them without guilt
- Exercise – If you can get out of the house go for a run or sneak in a gym workout
In summary enjoy the good food, don’t deprive yourself, manage your emotions with alternative choices besides the pecan pie, expect setbacks, exercise to relieve stress and anxiety, don’t beat yourself up for cheating on your diet, and then refocus on your personal diet and fitness goals.
Did You Know?
- Ice cream is the #1 comfort food in America
- Females prefer chocolate and cookies as their comfort food choice
- Males prefer pizza, steak, and casseroles as their comfort food choice
- Majority of people who are in happy moods choose pizza or steak
- Majority of people that are sad choose cookies and ice cream
- Majority of people who are bored choose potato chips
Daily Motion: Round up the family and play a game of Nerf football, play hide and seek, or tag over the holidays.
Diet Success Challenge: The first of many weekly Diet Success Challenges is to have 2 snacks each day between meals. These 2 snacks will consist of a raw organic vegetable. Do this for the next 7 days. Practicing this should cut your caloric intake and increase your nutrient intake. Find your superfood and experience how it can change the way you feel. Your choices may include carrots, bell peppers, spinach, avocado, romaine lettuce, seaweed, cauliflower, and of course broccoli to name a few.
Blog Teaser: Next week check out my new Diet Success Challenge. I will also have a Fitness Challenge prepared for you as well.
Thank you
Your “Fitness Advocate”
Thaddeus
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