Mood can affect a person's weight loss. Eating that is triggered by emotions is often referred to as emotional eating, and since a person is eating due to his emotions rather than hunger, the food is probably not a necessary part of his healthy diet. Also, the foods that people choose to eat when their eating is triggered by their emotions are generally fatty, sweet and full of calories, according to MayoClinic.com.
Basics
Some people turn to food as a way to cope with their negative feelings. Generally, this type of eating results in the person eating too much and eating calorie-rich foods. These types of eating behaviors can impede a person's weight loss, especially when they become a cycle. One example of this is a person who overeats because she feels bad, and then she feels bad because she overate, so she eats more.
Causes
People engage in emotional eating when they need a distraction from both small and large stressful events. Some of these possible causes of mood-induced eating are relationship problems, stress at work, problems with health, financial struggles, being unemployed and feeling fatigued, reports MayoClinic.com. Therefore, for people whose mood negatively affects their food intake, it is important for them to learn positive ways to deal with their moods in stressful situations so they can continue to reach their weight-loss goals.
Considerations
Fatigue or sleep deprivation has been shown to cause a person to feel hungry and overeat, notes HelpGuide.org. Also, lack of sleep can negatively affect mood, making it harder for them to effectively deal with stress and anxiety. Therefore, when a person is trying to lose weight, getting enough sleep can be a valuable tool to use to achieve weight loss goals.
Tips
To maintain weight loss despite a person's struggles with emotional eating habits, some tips can be applied. Junk foods and unhealthy snacks should not be brought into the house. Healthy snack foods should be made readily available and kept in easy snacking form, such as berries, apple slices or baby carrots with hummus.
Sugary sodas and drinks should not be kept on hand; instead, they should be replaced with water bottles that are full of cold water.
Also, remaining active will provide a person with distractions other than food, such as taking a walk, socializing with friends and playing with his pet, suggests MayoClinic.com. In addition, being active will help a person more productively overcome his negative moods.
Physical Activity
Weight loss will only occur if a person eats less calories than she burns each day; thus, the more a person works out, the more calories she will burn. Participating in an exercise routine that is regularly scheduled and involves other people will help a person maintain her commitment and experience weight loss. Joining a group fitness class, going to the gym with a partner or walking in the morning with friends are all exercise routines that involve others who will encourage each other to remain committed, even when a negative mood makes the person want to avoid exercise.
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