In my particular case, I am not a stress eater. In fact, quite the opposite. But while this may appear at first to be a blessing instead of a curse, it does make my usual approach to food much more difficult. Oftentimes, when stressed, I will have to contend with low level nausea at the mere idea of food. This renders me unable to eat some of my usual high protein options, instead reaching for simple carbohydrates, which my stomach handles much better. I do still try for the Greek yogurt in the morning, as I have several medications that I need to have on board every day. But to take them requires food, so there you go. Tea is another staple of my life, so I'm glad I'm able to still drink it without it making me sick!
So when stress hits, and we're off our feed, what is the answer? Let's look at some potential options.
If stress eating is your bane, don't vilify yourself for wanting the comfort foods. Deprivation just leads to binging, which is pointless sabotage. Instead, try for some basic modifications to those foods to at least make them healthier. Is mac and cheese your balm? Add some broccoli and cauliflower to it, and maybe some ham for protein. Or how about mashed potatoes smothered in gravy? Make them with low sodium chicken broth; it'll have lower fat than cream, and more taste, too. How 'bout that delicious wedge of chocolate cake? Go ahead and indulge, but make it a slender slice, and top it with a few handfuls of fresh berries, which are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C.
When stressful times hit, appropriate amounts of rest are vital to everyday functioning. Don't skimp on sleep, even if it means bailing on some social outings. If your sleep is interrupted due to the stress, do some creative image meditations, and at least rest your mind and body. Melatonin can assist in restful nights, along with bedtime routines. However, medical sleep aids should only be a last resort, and supervised by a physician.
Exercise is tough to do when stress rears its ugly head. Extra fatigue and increased pain levels suck motivation faster than a Sham Wow on a water spill. If the idea of heading off to the gym makes you want to crawl into a hole, skip it. But don't let your body off the hook completely. Go for a walk to clear your head, pop a favorite dvd into the player and do the treadmill/elliptical/bike. Lift some weights, concentrating on pouring your stress into each rep. Or turn on some guilty pleasure music and dance your uh...anatomy...off. Not that I would ever even recognize the song, but um, let's just say I've heard that stuff like Rihanna's Pon de Replay can be catchy and boppy enough to get you moving. You don't have to run a marathon or work out for several hours to be effective. Just move.
Part of our stress can easily be attributed to feeling out of control of our situation. In keeping control over our basic health, we remind ourselves that we do have the power to achieve our goals of better health.
Cheers!
