Feeling tired? Chocolate calling your name? Read this.
Feeling tired? Eaten all the chocolate in the house? Understandable.
Not only are so many people becoming unwell at the moment, or having to take care of their sick family members, I’m finding that many of us are experiencing a collective tiredness. Am I wrong?
When you’re tired, you may find that your eating habits can change significantly. Easy meals and takeaways can be a welcome relief and sweet treats call our names more often than usual.
This can lead many of us to feelings of guilt, and hopelessness around our eating habits and perhaps even our body’s changes.
The result of this is that many of us will either simply give up on our attempts to eat well altogether or go even harder into that next diet again leading to this continuous cycle of on again off again.
Let’s go back to the original trigger:
You’re tired.
Did you know that it’s natural when our bodies are tired to crave foods that will pick you up? Sweet things, carby things, happy things. Our body also almost always craves what uses up the least amount energy which is why those quick meals are so appealing during these times. I know, it’s not rocket science.
We also feel hungrier overall when we’re tired. I felt it myself recently as I devoured my usual breakfast and then had two muffins for dessert. This is a primal, and very natural survival response that our body uses to protect us. So where does this lead us?
Compassion.
It’s ok to eat all the muffins, it’s ok if all you wanted to do was eat cheese toasties today, it’s ok if takeaway was the most bearable option. IT’S OK. Eating these things is not the problem, it’s what we do most of the time that matters. The problem lies in the feelings we allow ourselves to feel once we give in to our body’s natural responses. The guilt, the shame, the fear.. THESE are the problem, not the muffins. These feelings are what can cause the downward spiral of restriction and binging over and over again.
If you can’t take afternoon naps, if your sleep just isn’t happening at the moment no matter what you try, just do the best you can and be compassionate with yourself. There’s a heck of a lot going on right now.
My advice, is to listen to your body. If it needs something sweet you can make that choice. You’re in charge. Every day is a new day and hopefully tonight you can get a better night’s sleep. Take care of yourself. Enjoy life’s pleasures and just take things one day at a time.
That’s what Empowered Eating is all about, putting YOU in the driver’s seat. If that sounds like something you’d like to achieve around food – please check out my Emotional Eating resource and roadmap and remember, I’m here for you. Reach out to me any time!