Snack Attack! Why Am I Still Munching? Part One

I was hanging out on the Oxygen Magazine website today looking around for some motivation to stop my mindless snacking, and I found a great article giving 10 reasons why you might be having some unnecessary snacking tendencies. I have actually realized that I munch more at work because I get a bit bored at my day job. Just figuring that out that was half the battle. Now I can say, "I'm just bored. What can I do instead?"

Here are five of the reasons Kate Trainor mentions in her article.

• Your cravings: Whether you desire salty or sweet, every woman succumbs to sinful cravings on occasion. “Usually, you end up eating four other things before you actually eat what you want,” says Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. She suggests stocking healthy foods in easy-to-reach, visible places, and hiding occasional treats on higher shelves. “Organize your kitchen, organize your life” is her mantra.
• You’re thirsty: Before raiding the refrigerator, “distinguish your hunger from thirst,” says Gerbstadt. Fatigue may also be a sign of dehydration. Women often confuse fatigue with hunger, says dietitian Natalia Rose, author of Raw Food Life Force Energy (Regan Books, 2006). In addition to drinking at least eight glasses of water daily, women “should be eating more water in their food,” Rose says. Fresh fruits and vegetables hydrate the body; conversely, processed foods and caffeine cause dehydration.
• You’re not getting enough sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential to healthy-eating habits. “If you’re getting less than seven hours of sleep, you’re less likely to lose weight,” says Gerbstadt. She explains that lack of sleep raises cortisol levels, a hormone that increases stress, blood pressure and blood sugar. Cortisol also increases appetite and cravings for sugar, while promoting weight gain.
• You’re sad: Depression, stress and anxiety can lead us to the kitchen for comfort. “Women need to tune into themselves and question what they’re eating,” says Rose. Women develop destructive habits if they eat “when lonely, stressed or have no one to come home to but the cat,” she adds. Rose recommends replacing bad eating habits with another indulgent ritual, like a “relaxing bath, meditation or breathing exercise – before setting foot into the kitchen.”
• Your medication: Some medications and supplements, like steroids, antidepressants and antihistamines can cause excessive hunger. Hormonal birth control, such as the pill, can also aggravate the appetite. Worse, increased estrogen eases the absorption of fat. If you take a medication that may cause weight gain or excessive hunger, ask your doctor about how to control your diet and suppress your over-stimulated appetite.

So do any of these give you that ah-ha moment? Keep these in mind so when you catch yourself reaching for that extra serving or snack, you can figure out if you're really hungry or if maybe you're just thirsty.

Check in tomorrow for Part Two!

Court

Source: Oxygen Magazine, Can't Get No Satisfaction by Katie Trainor, http://www.oxygenmag.com/easyweight