Beat the binge
By Robin Vitetta-Miller, M.S.
Sometime every day, a woman is having her moment of nutrition meltdown. For some people, starvation strikes in the late afternoon, triggering a trip to the vending machine to eat something -- anything. Others feel a snack attack coming on well before noon and start pilfering from their lunch bags, only to be ravenous again later. What might start as a craving can quickly spiral into a binge. Often, it's our emotions that make us eat more. Stress, boredom and anxiety are often misinterpreted as hunger. We think we need fuel when we really want comfort. Problem is, comfort foods (cookies, chips, cake, etc.) are typically processed carbohydrates high in sugar, fat and salt. Experts say we crave carbohydrates because they stimulate production of serotonin (a brain chemical that regulates mood and sleepiness and seems to calm anxiety and induce relaxation). A food diary is an excellent way to combat this. Writing down when and what you eat can reveal startling patterns: pizza before a big presentation, or potato chips on a lazy afternoon. Experts also agree that we've become so preoccupied with not eating, it's all we think about. Deprivation turns into obsession. Fact is, when you eliminate a favorite food from your diet, you only crave it more. The solution? Eat small amounts of such foods and you won't feel deprived. Or, find reduced-fat and -calorie versions.
