Categories

If you're been watching the stock market or glancing at your 401K, you know things aren't as great as you'd like them to be. And for many of us, eating seems to be the best way to handle the stress of tough economic times. But, invariably, this stress eating makes us even more stressed out. Now, instead of just worrying about our savings, we're now worrying about the way we look. The good news is that there are ways to stop this cycle and start getting a hold of your life again. You can lose weight without losing your mind.

Identify Your Triggers

When you are reaching for that extra donut, you might think you're doing so because you're hungry, but chances are good you're actually reaching for the sweet because you're upset. By taking the time to figure out what makes you want to eat more than you should, you can stop the process of binging and start listening to what your body really needs. For a few weeks, it's a good idea to write down everything you're eating in a journal or in a PDA. Next to each of the foods you eat or the meals you take in, write down what your mood is right before you eat. You might begin to notice you react strongly to anger, but not to sadness – or vice versa. Thus, whenever you notice you're angry, you might want to be proactive. You may start to go for a walk instead of going to the fridge for support.

Have Good Foods Around

If you're going to eat when you're stressed, the least you can do is only have healthy foods within reach. Instead of having chips in your cupboard, make sure you have bags of baby carrots ready to eat or bowls of grapes to nibble on. This way, you can still eat, but without taking in a lot of fat or calories at the same time. It's also a good idea to make sure you always plan out your meals and have them ready to go when it's time to eat. If you're not planning ahead, it's all the more tempting to simply go to the store or to a restaurant to pick up a not-so-healthy meal. Once a week, plan out your meals and write them down so you always know what's ready to be eaten.

Give In Once in a While

Occasionally, you might really want that piece of cake or that candy bar – and that's okay. Remember that being perfect shouldn't be the goal of any eating plan. Your goal should simply be to eat as good as you can, as often as you can. Try to approach your eating habits as being something you are worried about 80% of the time. The other 20% of the time doesn't matter as much. And the more you do this, the better you will feel – no matter what the economy does.

Have a Support System

The best way to cope with stress is to have other people and other activities in your life that fulfill you. Have other places to turn besides a bag of chips or another season of your favorite television show.