Eating for Comfort

By Team Beachbody

It's always there -- food as quick comfort. It's especially challenging during stressful periods when many of us turn to our comfort foods: ice cream, pie, cookies, and many other tasty treats that make us "feel better." Studies have shown that "comfort eating" occurs during stressful times even to those that are not active or trying to lose weight. For those on diets, it can often be worse.

The main reasons are probably emotional but there is some physical reality to the madness as well. Carbohydrate-rich foods increase levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin can minimize stress levels. Since many dieters are on low-carbohydrate diets to begin with, this can be an overwhelming emotional response. While there is nothing wrong with an occasional treat, especially one that relaxes you, giving in to this behavior can lead to more serious disorders such as binge eating, obesity, and malnutrition. Learning to recognize what is happening is the first and most important step because it happens to nearly everyone, even fitness expert and celebrity Denise Austin:

"Sometimes I'm an emotional eater, too, and when I get the urge to overeat, I combat it by going for a 10-minute walk around the block or drinking half a glass of grapefruit juice, which helps curb my appetite. I also recommend not eating while talking on the phone, since it's easy to consume a huge number of calories without realizing it while you're chatting away! Another tip to head off unplanned binges: Always brush your teeth after you eat. It makes finishing [a meal] feel final. Plus, food doesn't taste as good after you've brushed!"

Here are a few more tips to help you face the urge to eat for comfort:
1. Plan your meals. By planning what you are going to eat each week ahead of time, you avoid the chance of eating whatever is around, when thoughts will automatically turn to comfort food. Shop early and keep the fridge stocked with healthy options. Not only will you feel guilty going off your plan, but the feeling that you'll be wasting food should also help.
2. Shop on a full stomach. It's easier to fill your cart with healthy foods if your not craving anything during the time when you are shopping. Go to the store just after eating. You'll shop smarter and be burning off calories as well.
3. Keep a food diary. There is almost no better way to avoid eating unhealthy food than knowing that you're going to have to record it later. It's easy to eat and forget, but a much more conscious act when you know that you're going to be confronted with it again and again each time you look at what you've been eating.
4. Don't eat while you watch TV. Much like talking on the phone, this turns eating into an unconscious act. Not only do you get less enjoyment out of eating, but also the calories can stack up in a hurry.
5. Think about how what you are eating will make you feel once you've eaten it. A chocolate sundae may taste great going down, but most of us could probably live without the bloated feeling we get afterward. Comfort foods tend to be starchy, sugary, and high in fat, not the best combo to get that light and healthy feeling. A few seconds to ponder the consequences can do wonders for your resolve.