When it comes to diet and managing stress levels, there are two types of clients in which I work with. The first type of clients are the ones that either forget to eat or just can’t eat because they are too stressed to even think about food. Then there are the other type of clients which tend to go in the complete opposite direction when they are stressed, and eat anything and everything they can possibly get their hands on.

I think it’s important to realize that stress is not just in your mind. When stress is chronic, as it so often is in our chaotic, fast-paced world, our bodies produce high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol triggers cravings for salty, sweet, and fried foods. When we are feeling overly stressed we tend to gravitate towards the foods that will provide us with a burst of energy and pleasure within a few short minutes. Simple Carbs, Trans fats and anything with SUGAR and/or SALT, usually fit the bill perfectly in these cases.

I think it’s also important to note that Emotional Eating is not just brought on by stress. Sometimes we tend to overeat because we are sad, or because we are upset, and eating “fun foods” is a good way to escape our current reality (at least temporarily anyways).

Unfortunately filling up on sugary snacks and fried foods WILL NOT fix our problems. In fact, it will only create more problems long term if this is your solution to coping with day to day challenges and issues that may and will arise.

How To Stop Emotional Eating

There are numerous effective strategies in which I will use with my clients when it comes to slowing down and stopping Emotional Eating all together. Some of which I have listed below:

Food Journal – Ask any of my clients that work with me on their Nutritional Plans and they will tell you that prior to commencing their plan, I always ask for a 3 Day Food Journal from them so that I can learn their eating patterns and have a better understanding as to the problems they are having with their current diets. When I’m working with someone who is an Emotional Eater though I will take this one step further and ask them to write down not just what they are eating, but more importantly how much they are eating, when they are eating, how they are feeling when they are eating, and how hungry they actually were when they started eating.

Fight Boredom – When I sit down and review my clients’ journals there is one common theme I see time and time again. And that is that most people tend to shit the bed on their diets when they are bored and have too much time on their hands. Whether it’s mindless snacking in front of the TV at the end of the day, or sharing a couple bottles of wine with a friend over calorically induced appetizers, I feel that boredom can be detrimental to a one’s eating habits in the long term.

Therefore to help counter balance this boredom from occurring, I recommend to all my clients to keep busy. Now busy doesn’t necessarily mean working 24 hours a day either. You can still be busy while enjoying your down time. Rather than snack in front of the TV, eliminate snacking all together and only have small meals throughout the day and into the evening. Balance your protein, fats, and carbs accordingly in each meal so that you don’t have the urge to snack later into the day. By maintaining steady blood sugar levels all day long, you will feel less likely to snack, even if you have nothing else to do.

Get Support – One of the main reasons as to why so many clients choose to hire me for my Nutritional Plan Services is for the accountability that I provide to them. Sure, they can go and find a diet plan online somewhere. And yes, the diet plan they follow might even work exceptionally well. However unless you have someone to report to each week and submit your weekly results to, it can become easy to slip, cheat, or fall completely off even the best of the best Diet Plans out there today. Working with a professional also helps eliminate the guess work for you, so all you have to do is focus on following the plan that has been laid out for you.

Don’t Be Ashamed & Don’t Be Embarrassed

Finally, there is nothing and I mean NOTHING to be ashamed or embarrassed about if you are in fact an Emotional Eater. It’s actually one of the most common issues that I see on a daily basis. It’s important to acknowledge the fact that you might have an issue with food, and address this issue immediately before it gets too far out of hand. I’ve know of people who have developed Type 2 Diabetes, are dealing with Kidney Problems and have succumb to Heart Failure brought on by lifestyle and diet alone. Don’t allow yourself to end up like these people. Take control of your life by taking control of your diet and your nutrition.

Final Food For Thought…..

We are currently living through stressful times. COVID-19 is no joke. I don’t think there is a single intelligent person out there who hasn’t given any thought or concern to this Global Pandemic. And although drinking alcohol and eating junk food might bandage your current problems, they most certainly WILL NOT fix them for you!

Stay Safe. Keep Apart. And Continue To Eat Smart.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance