Enjoying food is one of the sensual pleasures of life and comfort eating is something we all do to a degree. But if you are spending all of your spare time on the sofa watching television munching through packets of biscuits and chips then you are heading for trouble. This kind of comfort eating is giving no comfort, just causing your weight to rocket.
It’s time to take action. If you are feeling depressed, visit your doctor, as a small dose of natural, non-addictive antidepressant might help you to turn a corner and move on.
Talk to a good friend or write down your goals in life and take a small step towards achieving them every day.
Comfort eating only makes you feel worse long-term. Chocolate increases blood levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin, so it provides a temporary feel-good factor — but there is a sting in its tail, as it also causes weight gain. Eating lots of sweet things can also result in peaks and troughs in blood sugar levels, which may worsen mood swings and tiredness.
Regular exercise is a great morale booster. Try a walk or a swim when you feel like a snack coming on.
Recognise trigger foods that make you want to eat more and don’t buy them.
Regular comfort eaters need to know that this is something we can all identify with. Share this problem with someone — eating will not solve your emotional needs, but discussing them is a great step forwards.
Recipe of the Week
Orange Glazed Turkey Breasts
Serves 6
Ingredients
3 teaspoons olive oil
680g turkey breast
3/4 tsp. salt
1/3 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 cup orange marmalade
3 tbsp red vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp peeled & grated fresh ginger
1 large navel orange cut into wedges
1 1/2 tsp. parsley
Method
Heat oil on medium temperature in a nonstick skillet until hot. Place turkey breasts in skillet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook turkey until slightly browned on the outside and have lost the pink colour on the inside. This will take about 4 minutes on each side. While turkey is cooking, mix marmalade, vinegar and ginger in a small bowl. Add this mixture to the skillet containing the turkey, heat to a boil. Garnish with the orange wedges & parsley to serve.
Weight Watch:
About Milk
Many people do not realize just how much fat there is in full cream milk. So to reduce the amount of fat you consume, use skimmed milk as opposed to full fat. One cup of full fat milk contains 8 grams of fat and 150 calories. The same amount of skimmed milk has only trace amounts of fat and 86 calories.
Ask Alva
When I wake up in the morning I always feel tired and weak and it takes me a while to get going. I go to the gym 4 times a week, just to keep fit. I do 20 minutes walking on the treadmill, followed by 10 minutes jogging and some exercise to flatten my belly. I weigh 85 kilos, my height is 176 cm and I am 46 years old. Could you please provide me with some advice? Yousouf
You are about 10 kilos overweight, and this can sometimes contribute to people not sleeping well at night. However, I wonder what other measures you are taking to reduce your weight, apart from the exercise program you have embarked upon?
If you are on a very low calorie diet, this could certainly make you feel tired and weak. Alternatively, you may be anaemic (low iron in the blood) — but I cannot diagnose on your behalf. The best thing is for you to discuss your problem with a doctor.
If you are overweight, you must first get rid of the excess fat before you can see a difference to your tummy through exercise. Exercise will condition the muscles below the fat, but will not get rid of the fat.
Begin by following a sensible, balanced diet, and if you e-mail to [email protected] I will send you my Healthy Eating Guide which will help you to do this. Alva
