With the holidays coming, watch out for comfort food

Wise words from Susan Mitchell:

As the holidays approach, I hear a great deal more about food, families, and relationships. Many people gain several pounds over the next three month ‘eating frenzy’ that goes from now through the Super Bowl. Yes, some weight gain comes from eating food you normally pass up but other pounds can come from trying to cope with the flood of emotions.

Do you see yourself here? Do the holidays elicit strong emotions (which can be both happy and sad ones) that lead you to eat for comfort? It’s very common. After all, food is legal, ubiquitous and not looked down upon.

Susan is right. When stressful family "situations" arise, it is tempting to hit the bottle but being drunk around the in-laws or extended family isn't always the best idea. But food, which is often in abundance at family gettogethers, can also provide comfort. But it doesn't take much to add pounds on to oneself, and this is weight that is very difficult to lose. Doing this over the course of a few years can lead to serious and unhealthy weight gain.

What do you do about it?

Well, the easy answer is to stay away from people who stress you out. But that is not necessarily feasible when it comes to close family. The next best thing is to recognize what is happening and look for alternatives. A long walk serves multiple purposes. It gets you away from the pests that are driving you nuts and burns off a few calories.