Last updated 15:35, Sunday, 18 May 2008

THIS week, I’m looking at comfort eating.

It can easily develop under particular circumstances.

For example, you might be having a stressful time at work and you believe the only way to make yourself better is having chocolate or crisps.

You might feel that you have tried everything to lose weight but it hasn’t quite materialised so you decide you drown your sorrows in a tub of Ben and Jerry’s. Comfort eating is a psychological term that develops through time and in some cases can causes major problems.

One of the problematic aspects of comfort eating is your brain’s ability to ignore what you have just had and you convince yourself at the end that you haven’t eaten much.

What kind of foods does comfort eating cover

Generally it’s all the junk foods, crisps, chocolate, ice cream etc. Food that is high in saturated fat, full of sugar and can cause all kinds of problems with the body.

WHAT EFFECT DOES THIS HAVE ON THE BODY?

It can have a terminal affect in a short term and in the long term it could cause death.

Because of the high content in fat arteries can be clogged up, blood pressure can increase and this might lead to a heart attack. The other major illness is obesity and as we all read obesity is on the increase. Calorie intake creeps up on you very quickly

The government has discussed binge drinking for a while and the problems it causes, comfort eating is very similar. A Saturday night away from the drink is good but if you have replaced the alcohol with junk food you are basically binge eating.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE TO HELP ME BEAT COMFORT EATING?

Like binge drinkers, comfort eating requires a major detox.

Your body will fight back and it’s all about having that determination to stick with the plan you have.

A plan is very important, set out you daily nutritional plan so for the first week you have a complete dietary sheet. Be sensible never say I will never eat chocolate in this week, reduce it gradually.

Now that the plan has been devised, let’s consider your lifestyle. Training needs to play a big part of your life so start a gym or do something that will make you get out there five times a week to train. Yes, five times a week. I find it amusing how the government standard is only three times a week.

I believe that everyone can get out there for 30 minutes each night, whether it’s playing with the kids, taking the dogs for a walk or whatever it takes to drag you away from that cupboard.

Change the times you go to bed, instead of falling asleep at 11pm, go to bed for 10pm at least then you are giving you body that chance to gain eight hours sleep.

Lack of sleep can trigger comfort eating.

Take a picture of what you look like now and place it on the front of your fridge, cupboard and that secret little hiding place you have.

This will remind you of the person you don’t want to be anymore.

Think of healthy alternative snacks. From chocolate to fruit, from crisps to nuts, just give it some thought and you’ll beat those cravings very quickly.

I CRAVE JUNK FOOD VERY LATE AT NIGHT, HELP!

Going to bed earlier will reduce this craving but it will be hard in the first couple of weeks.

It’s important to have a healthy dinner that fills you, this will keep you feeling fuller for longer which will deter that craving.

If that doesn’t work then understand that if you eat the same junk food as before you will feel the following:

DEPRESSED, UNMOTIVATED, FAT, UNATTRACTIVE, TIRED, AND ANGRY?

You might not be any of those things but in the end you are letting yourself down and there is no greater feeling than accomplishing something in life so make this another achievement.