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Think First, Eat Second
by Linda Spangle, RN, MA
It's a trap! You thought you were hungry, so you looked for a snack. But in reality, it wasn't food that you wanted. Instead, you were hoping for a bit of relief from something in your day, and food was quicker and easier than dealing with the real issue.
Here are several common eating traps that can ruin your calorie goals. Whenever you get caught by one of these, think before you eat. Analyze what's going on, then take care of your real need instead of opening the refrigerator.
• Wandering around eating
If you feel restless, anxious or bored, you probably don't need food, you need input. To fill this gap, reach for something that provides more than just entertainment. Dig deep and discover a creative diversion or invent a new hobby. Read a challenging book, learn a new language, study astronomy or take a calligraphy class.
• Procrastination eating
Sometimes we'll do anything to avoid starting certain things. Whether it's clearing the kitchen counter, mowing the lawn or prepping for tomorrow's big meeting, food helps you gear up to face the task. To fix this, come up with a non-food “preparation ritual” such as doing ten minutes of yoga stretches or playing ball with the dog. Once you finish these “get ready to start” activities, go tackle your work.
• Eating to feel better
When you're tempted to eat because you feel exhausted or stressed, your teenager may actually have the solution. Pull out some music instead of food. Music reaches your soul in ways that can heal, calm and comfort you without harming your weight or your cholesterol.
To prevent slipping into eating traps, make an escape plan. From the ideas in this newsletter, pick an activity that fits for you, then write it on a sticky note and post it on your refrigerator or your computer.
Any time you're tempted to reach for a snack instead of handling the real issue in front of you, first do what it says on your note. Then proclaim victory over your challenge and skip the snack.
©2007 Weight Loss for Life, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with permission from Linda Spangle, RN, MA, Weight Loss for Life.
http://www.WeightLossJoy.com/
http://www.theWeightLossCafe.com/
This article may be distributed and republished. All article occurrences must include the copyright statement above and, in the case of web publishing, link to at least one of the listed URLs.
Questions? Want to share your use of this article? Send an email to: Linda@WeightLossJoy.com
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