“During the pandemic, home-schooling and the uncertainties of securing basic necessities or paying the bills, have escalated a lot of mental health concerns,” she said.
“Staying involved and connected with friends and loved ones is important.
“People have been stuck at home with easy access to food. To make matters worse, due to price spikes, most people had no choice but to purchase non-perishable foods, which are often highly processed and heavy in calories.
“These foods are very palatable and often trigger the overconsumption of calories even when people feel full.”
May says that as a survivor of binge eating disorders, she can share practical tips for those challenged.
1. Question Your Self-Belief
A lot of people lose faith in their capability to consume food in moderation. True health starts with shifting your belief system, by not labelling yourself as a food addict, and by breaking the chains the diet culture has wrapped around you.
2. Establish a New Reward System
As children, we were rewarded with lollies and cookies, and became emotionally attached to these. The solution is to give ourselves small, simple rewards that will not harm us. For instance, talking with your loved ones increases dopamine production. Spending just 10 minutes a day on the phone with someone you love can give you the same feeling that a cupcake will.
3. Plan Your Meals for the Week
Plan out the whole week’s meals. Write a shopping list before you go to the grocery store. This will help you save money and you can limit the less healthy food choices you have access to in the kitchen.
4. Self-Awareness Cures
The first step to conquering binge eating is to start journaling. This daily written meditation will give you a crystal-clear idea of your eating pattern and help you discover your triggers.
5. Manage Your Emotions
Eating gives people a sense of control. Practise mindful eating, especially when your emotions are telling you that a bag of chips will make you feel better. It may for a moment, but it will have the opposite effect in the long-term.
6. Practise Gratitude
Gratitude is a natural antidepressant that helps our brain release dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for making us feel good. Five minutes a day of practising gratitude can be life-changing.
7. Ditch Exercise and Start Movement
We have all been conditioned for many years to believe “no pain, no gain”. That’s the reason we throw ourselves into boot camps where we risk injuring our bodies.
Anchoring health with movement can help you choose a sustainable way of movement such as walking for 20-30 minutes a day, three days a week or do some stretching for 5-10 minutes, five days a week.
To find out more, email may@mayzaki.com
