And the thing is… when you’re chowin down on chocolate (and everything in sight) you don’t even want to stop. So how can you?
If only logic helped
Ever find yourself standing at the kitchen cupboard grabbing yet another piece of chocolate, and then another, and then… just one more! But each bite only seems to spark a hunger so fierce you’re positive it’s like there’s no way you’ve ever eaten food before.
Sure, it’s just elevated cortisol and lack of sleep and your hormones and blah blah blah… who cares?!?
When you’re in that moment, chowing down everyyyyything you can get your hands on, science doesn’t mean sh*t. All you know is – you can’t stop.
But why me?
You want to gorge because every bite is an alluring escape from whatever pressures you put in your mind (oh and sure, that damn cortisol). That thing you are avoiding doing – yeah, you don’t wanna do that. Maybe it’s boring work, important work, or emotions that need recognition. It’s all avoidance problem solving at its best.
So when you’re in that moment of no logical reasoning, how do you get out of it?
- GET OUT – move away from temptation. Go outside and move somewhere ASAP.
- GET HELP – Call your bff/fam/whoever the second you recognize it. We cannot hold ourselves accountable in these moments. The habit first has to be created to reach for support or a healthy distraction.
How to do all that when you don’t really want to stop?
DAILY visualize how you will react to stress. Imagine yourself calling a friend when you start opening up the jar of cashews again (am I the only one with a raw cashew snacking problem? My god they trigger me to eat the entire kitchen.) DAILY visualize yourself putting on your shoes the minute you realize you’re tense.
Habits are set by triggers – and they work – so put your trigger of an actionable positive response habit in site. Put your running shoes in the kitchen!! Below your snacking cupboard maybe? Put a giant pic of a phone on your cupboard. Only walk to the kitchen with your cell in your hand so you can call someone. You need a habit TRIGGER it ain’t gunna happen on its own. When you’re in that moment not thinking clearly, you need a set in habit.
Number three… create something!
Creating anything you enjoy (like baking something ) can put you in the zone and stop you from eating (of course, there’s licking the bowl, but that’s besides the point). Why? Because making something is firstly allowing yourself to let your creativity and pent up energy out and secondly you feel productive – the one thing that stops stress is doing something else and getting a reward.
Have a friend who could use this? What’s one positive reaction habit you can create? Share with friends who stress eat – talking about our goals makes it all the more likely we’ll stick to it!
Creamy & Rich Dark Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients
- 1 can Coconut Cream 80% fat
- 1/3 cup Dutch (24% fat) cocoa
- 1/2 tsp Natural Vanilla Extract
- 1 tbsp honey
- dash salt
- 1/4 tsp espresso optional
Instructions
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Make the day before or refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours. Blend all the ingredients on high speed for 2 minutes or in a food processor for 30 sec-1 min.