Dieter's Digest

Food Fix

One of the many aspects of our lives, which causes us to gain weight, are our "blue moods". It is very common for a person to reach for the comfort of their favorite food when feeling a little sad or bored, in the hopes that it will turn the day around.

Foods really have little power to brighten our day. We need to change the way we deal with our moods. When we become aware of "feeling down", it is time to take action. If we have not eaten in five or six hours, the necessary action may indeed be, to eat a well-balanced meal.

However, if we have recently eaten and are not truly feeling "hunger" we should try another action.

Life can be very demanding and in our hearts we know that we need to be "fixed". Too often in our past the fix has been to treat ourselves to chocolate, a plate of cookies, a pint of ice cream or a good stiff drink...

All of these things will help us gain weight and prevent us from reaching our goals. We have to find a new way to fix ourselves. The next time you want to grab a food to fix your mood, try watching a good movie instead. Or, get up from wherever you are and do something you need to do, but have been putting off, like the vacuuming or the laundry, something to give you a sense of accomplishment.

When you are in a funk, dig out your old favorite music and put your feet up for awhile. Let the music

wash your cares away. Or maybe you just need to pick yourself up out of your rut and go have some fun. You may not want to, but go anyway and you will feel better. Take care of yourself, and you won’t reach for food to "fix" yourself anymore.

Our bodies do respond to the sugar, carbohydrates and caffeine in our diets. That little "pick-me up" feeling is our body responding chemically to the substances we ingest. However a super-low can follow these boosts, in a vicious cycle which begs us to eat again for another boost.

Exercise, on the other hand, brings on similar good feelings, without the return to a super-low. It is a well-known fact that exercise can lift your

sprits, open your creative reservoirs and give you more energy than you know what to do with.

Everything begins with a choice. Some choices are harmful and some beneficial. Choosing exercise rather than chocolate cake, is a healthful choice. Start making the right choices today and you can change your life. If you need support in making the right choices in your diet, sign up today for “Why Weight? Diet Successfully Now!” at: www.myfoodbuddy.com