I’d like to give a victory shout for a moment and say that sensible eating has paid off for me this year. I have lost a little over 30 pounds since January. It’s a wonderful feeling, both physically and mentally.
That being said, the past few days haven’t gone so well for me. I have somehow very quickly developed a habit for stress-eating.
A few years ago I had a conversation with a friend who used to be a smoker. He said that his addiction to smoking happened much faster than he ever dreamed. In fact, he thought he became addicted to nicotine during the first five seconds of the first smoke.
The problem with stress-eating isn’t just the calories and fat. It’s the fact that the indulgence is so addicting too. When I eat because of stress, it’s usually unhealthy and superfluous fat and calories. Stuff like chips, fries, cookies, and cake with lots of frosting work like a drug to my tired mind needing an escape. And this emotional eating can be addicting in that first bite. Once I permit it this one time—after all I’ve had a very trying day!—well it simply is a given that I will do it again. Soon.
Eating unhealthy foods like cake is okay every now and then. Special occasions are a good reason to allow it. Stress-eating is not one of those special occasions. Knowing the reason I am eating is a very important step to being healthy.
If you are trapped, and eating senselessly day after day the things you don’t want to be eating, chances are that stress is the reason. It will take work to break a bad habit, but a lot of the power comes from knowing—or admitting—the problem. No person is immune to picking up a bad habit! So, stress-eating? I quit!
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