I am an emotional
eater. Not only do I love food, but I
love the comfort of food. I love how some food makes me feel. I get excited over food; over new recipes;
and over feeding other people. I also
get an instantaneous craving for chocolate and coffee and starch when I am
overwhelmed and anxious. I am not sure
how my body got programmed this way, but anxiety can trigger emotional eating
in me faster than you can say, “Merry Christmas.” A great deal of research indicates this is
not exactly a healthy mindset when it comes to food. Let’s explore this further:
This is an emotional time of
the year. We are celebrating the coming of
Christ: Yea for expectation! Yea for anticipation! A new year is coming! Rebirth is coming! Everyone loves a baby, a birthday party, and
a reason to have a good time. This is a time to celebrate. Food is a normal part of a celebration. We all have certain attachments to food and
memories associated with certain recipes.
I have mentioned before in my book, “Christ Walk,” that I cannot think
of my Neenie’s squash casserole recipe and not smile. I eat this recipe with joy. I do not have a single bad memory of a family
event that included my Neenie’s squash casserole recipe. It may not be the
healthiest recipe, but it is one of the most joyful ones for me. With moderation, I continue to, and will
always enjoy squash casserole because of my memories. I do not think that joyful eating is
necessarily a bad form of emotional eating.
You can eat MINDFULLY, but joyfully at the same time.
This season is also filled
with anxiety, depression, and feelings of being overwhelmed. We are filled with the anxiety of pleasing
others. We are filled with anxiety of “getting
it all done.” This is the busiest time
of the year and we all have a very difficult time in slowing down to appreciate
the best gift of all in Christ’s birth.
Rates of depression skyrocket during this time. Between the waning sunlight, the cold temps
and the frustration with seeking joy, people who suffer from depression are caught
up in overwhelming feelings. All of
these issues can lead to emotional eating.
This is not a healthy form of eating.
This is eating that is not mindful.
This is eating that seeks to feed feelings with food, but often leaves
us feeling emptier and more frustrated than when we put that first bite into
our mouths.
It is more important than
ever during the holidays that we focus on the mindfulness of our eating
choices. I do not buy-in to
dieting. And I will enjoy the holidays—food
and all. But I will also savor each bite
and mindfully engage in whatever I am enjoying at the time so that it is a part
of the celebration and not just a by-product of an event.
Mind-fullness in eating
ensures that we are aware of what we are eating. It ensures that we are aware of HOW MUCH we
are eating and WHY we are eating as well.
I have also found that in order to curb poor emotional eating habits, it
is important that the food choices I make are healthy ones. I have found that the more processed food I
eat when I am emotional, these foods fuel the emotional roller coaster. If I have focused on food choices that are
low in processed carbohydrates and refined sugar, but high in protein, this
helps to balance the body’s blood sugar to ensure that our emotional chemicals
are not being fed by the food we eat.
What we choose to eat, will impact how we feel.
Along with healthy food
choices, I have found that exercise helps to clear my anxiety during this
time. It is often more difficult to get
in a rigorous fitness routine, so I focus on some sort of exercise every
day. Even if that exercise consists of a
walk around the block, I have done something.
Every activity that takes me outside, or increases my heart rate, helps
to clear the anxiety from my system.
Whatever you choose to do, choose something in which to squeeze in some
sort of physical activity. I chase my kids out of the house almost every day—I should
chase myself out of the house too!
Finally, during this
emotional season, it is more important than ever to remember prayer. This time is not about a secular approach to
Christmas. This time is about the coming
of Christ. This time is a reminder that
we are saved by this miraculous gift from God.
This time is a reminder that we are all a part of God’s celebration of
the greatest gift of all: eternal life.
Enjoy every moment, every bite of it, with joy and thanksgiving. #christwalk1 #Christmas #fitchristians
No comments:
Post a Comment