i haven't blogged in awhile...i have been on a mission to correct some old emotional eating habits that came back to haunt me. the past couple months had been more stressful than the norm and i was comforting myself with food-which led to guilt-which only fed the vicious cycle of emotionally eating.
the entire time i was binging and then trying to make up for my binging by restricting calories i noticed that although working out each and everyday, often times 2-3 workouts a day i was still having trouble losing weight...i guess that tends to happen when you are eating pizza, tacos, and burgers after limiting oneself to diet sodas and gum :)
then 2 weeks ago i went on vacation. a couple weeks prior to the vacation i decided to resort back to what i know works for me. its a lifelong struggled to practice healthy eating or improve my relationship with food. most people have a list of "off limit" foods that lead them to binge, when in reality everything is okay in moderation.
therefore, i prepared healthy foods so that when i got the urge at home and at work i would have healthy options to satisfy my snack attacks.
by eating mini meals of celery and peanut butter, watermelon, string cheese, almonds, apples, carrots, turkey, egg whites, low fat yogurt...the weight started falling back off.
i cannot emphasize enough the importance of preparing healthy, nutrient filled snacks either each evening, or if time does not permit at least once a week. also ensuring these snacks are eaten frequently to optimize the calories your metabolism can burn.
one tip is to ensure that the healthy foods you prepare for snack attacks contain something you have been craving. it does no good to make a bunch of spinach salad if you know you are not going to eat it. therefore, buy and prepare foods that your body is telling you it wants and needs. last week my body was craving mangos, this week it is craving grapes.
just as you listen to a loved one, listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs.