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July 20, 2021 by Lanette Barnett Leave a Comment

How to Manage Emotional Eating

People use different coping strategies when dealing with stress and other overwhelming emotions. Some people use substances such as drugs and alcohol, some smoke cigarettes, and some charge a lot of money to their credit card. And then there are those people who take comfort in their favorite foods.

Emotional eating often leads to weight gain and the development of health issues such as type two diabetes and high blood pressure. If left unchecked, emotional eating can lead to a life-long reliance on eating as a coping mechanism.

If you or someone you love is an emotional eater, becoming more mindful of eating is how you can manage your food issues. Here are some ways to become a more mindful eater:

Keep a Food Journal

Most emotional eaters are completely unaware of the kind or amount of food they eat on a daily or weekly basis. It’s important to start tracking what you consume as well as how much so you can recognize the real issue you may be having. This is not an exercise in harshly judging yourself, it’s simply so you can recognize the link between your emotions and eating habits.

For instance, you may see that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty okay days, but Thursday was when you got yelled at while you were at work and also got a speeding ticket, and ALSO ate fast food for lunch and dinner and ate almost a gallon of ice cream. Once you see this pattern over and over, that you tend to eat on those days you are stressed, angry, sad, etc., you will be able to start making positive changes.

Make Portions

When we eat emotionally, we don’t stop to think about the amount of food we are eating, we just shove it in as quickly as possible so those carbs can start making us feel better. The next time you find yourself eating based on your emotions, try and catch yourself and meter out a fair-sized portion. For instance, don’t sit in front of the TV with an entire bag of potato chips, take out a small bowl’s worth and put the rest away.

Try Not to Eat Alone

When we are alone, we can eat with abandon. But when we eat with others, we tend to have more awareness about what and how much we put in our mouths. When your day is stressful, instead of going out to lunch by yourself, where you’re apt to hit 2-3 drive-throughs, invite some other people out. This may help you to use more self-control.

These are just a few of the ways you can begin to recognize your emotional eating and gain control over your food choices. If you would like to speak to someone about the emotions you are dealing with and learn healthier coping strategies, please be in touch. I’d be more than happy to discuss how I may be able to help.

Filed Under: Depression, Nutrition, Women's Issues

June 3, 2021 by Lanette Barnett Leave a Comment

National Men’s Health Week

Men. They’re strong. Courageous. Ready to go to war for the country and family they love. But men are also susceptible to disease and poor health outcomes. In fact, men are more likely to experience health issues simply because they have been brought up to believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness, and putting others first should be their priority.

Luckily we have National Men’s Health Week, which runs between June 14th and June 20th. Leading up to Father’s Day, this week is a great way to celebrate the men in your life and encourage them to take better care of themselves.

Here are some things you can do to show the men in your life you want them to start prioritizing their health. And if you’re a man, here are some things you can start doing to take the very best care of yourself:

Make That Appointment

If you or your loved one has been putting off getting that check-up, now is the time.

Commit to Working Out

If you don’t exercise or do so just once in a while, why not make a commitment to work out on a regular basis. To start, it doesn’t matter what you choose to do. Ride a bike. Swim. Lift weights. Kayak. The important thing is to pick an activity you love so that you will do it consistently.

Eat Right

Make this the week you throw out the processed garbage and start eating right. That means eating plenty of animal protein, organic fruits, and veggies, and don’t skimp on healthy fats!

Be Happier

Your health and well-being are just as much about your happiness levels as about what you eat or how much sleep you get (did we mention you should be getting at least 7 hours each night?). Be sure to make time to partake in your favorite hobbies or activities. Start that woodworking project again. Take tap lessons or learn how to scuba dive. The more fun you’re having in life, the healthier you’ll be!

SOURCES:

  • https://nationaltoday.com/national-mens-health-week/
  • https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/ihs-blog/june2020/national-mens-health-week-focuses-on-prevention-and-early-detection/

Filed Under: Men's Issues, Nutrition

Lanette Barnett



(580) 541-6377
lbarnett@lanettebarnettlpc.com

1175-J S. Aspen
Broken Arrow, OK 74012

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1175-J S. Aspen
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(580) 541-6377
lbarnett@lanettebarnettlpc.com

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