Stressed, Anxious, Lonely, Tired, Bored…

I am aware that I overeat when I’m stressed, anxious, tired, lonely, bored, even happy or looking for a reward, but I can’t seem to change this frustrating pattern.

What would your life be like if you felt good about yourself and took good care of yourself? You are worth taking care of. Just think how your emotions affect the people around you and the things that you need to accomplish each day. Every area of your life will improve if your internal stability and self esteem improves. As you feel better about yourself, you are now in a position to make permanent lifestyle changes and lose the excess weight naturally. -Andrea Crouch I am very happy with my results from the program; I feel like my entire attitude towards food and my health has changed. Thanks Andrea for being an incredible counselor and for helping me to take control of my eating and my life. -Patrice

Power Up Your Diet.

At The Hungry Heart, we know how difficult it can be to keep from emotionally overeating.  Yo-Yo Dieting is another common practice we see amongst our clients.  We find that it helps to have as many tips in our back pocket as possible to keep our diet on track.  Here are 5 suprising superfoods that will keep you on the right track!

When the experts want to get leaner, stronger, and healthier, they reach for these 10 surprising healthy food superstars. Meet your new mealtime secret weapons.

Tomato Salsa

This low-cal staple pumps up the flavor of everything from chicken breasts to scrambled eggs. “It’s jam-packed with antioxidants, including lycopene, which may reduce the risk of some cancers, and beta-carotene, which may help fight heart disease,” says Joan Salge Blake, RD, an associate clinical professor of nutrition at Boston University.

Eat It Up: Beta-carotene and lycopene are more easily absorbed by the body when consumed with a bit of healthy fat, so add some chopped avocado to your salsa-topped chicken. Or add salsa to Low Sodium V8 for extra fiber.

Nutrition facts per 2 tablespoons: 9 calories, 0g protein, 2g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0.5g fiber

Whole Wheat Pitas

Give your usual turkey sandwich a healthy upgrade by swapping the bread for a whole wheat pita pocket. If you put veggies in your sandwich, it’s usually a few lettuce leaves and a slice of tomato or else the bread falls apart. “But with a pita, you can stuff it full of vegetables and still get a healthy dose of whole grains,” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of The Flexitarian Diet. Just be sure to check the ingredients list: “enriched wheat flour” means the pita is an imposter. Look for the words “whole wheat.”

Eat It Up: Go Greek by filling your pita with feta, hummus, diced cucumbers and tomatoes, arugula, and black olives. Or put a Mexican spin on your sandwich by adding low-fat refried beans, salsa, avocado, and chopped romaine lettuce. Rather have a snack? Make pita chips. Cut a pita into triangles, drizzle with olive oil, add a pinch of salt, and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until crispy.

Nutrition facts per 1 large pita: 170 calories, 6g protein, 35g carbohydrate, 2g fat (0g saturated), 5g fiber

Popcorn

“Because it’s super-low in calories, popcorn is the perfect food for those times when you don’t want to worry about portion size,” says Sharon Richter, RD, a nutritionist in New York City. And it’s loaded with fiber, which is crucial for staying slim. In fact, people who maintain a healthy weight consume an average of 33 percent more fiber daily than those who are overweight, according to research.

Eat It Up: Save calories (and money) by getting a basic air popper. One we like: Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Hot Air Popper by Presto ($25, bedbathandbeyond.com). Pop the kernels with a bit of salt and toss with nuts and raisins for a tasty trail mix.

Nutrition facts per 1 cup air-popped: 31 calories, 1g protein, 6g carbohydrate, 0g fat, (0g saturated), 1g fiber

Oranges

Apples get all the glory, but oranges are the unsung heroes of fresh fruit, says Susan Kraus, RD, a clinical dietitian at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. “They’re very low in calories and a good source of potassium, fiber, and folate,” Kraus says. Not to mention that a large orange has a day’s worth of immunity-boosting vitamin C.

Eat It Up: Add orange slices to a spinach salad topped with goat cheese, chopped nuts, and some slivered red onion. Or blend 1/2 orange, 1 cup yogurt, and 1/2 cup frozen blueberries for a delicious, nutritious smoothie.

Nutrition facts per large orange: 86 calories, 2g protein, 22g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 4g fiber

Plain Yogurt

“Yogurt contains the perfect ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and fat — the carbs give you instant energy, while the protein and fat are released more slowly, keeping you full longer,” Kraus says. In a recent study, dieters who consumed three 6-ounce servings of yogurt a day lost 61 percent more body fat overall than those who didn’t eat yogurt. The researchers believe that the calcium in dairy increases the activity of enzymes that break down fat cells. Look for yogurts that have at least 20 percent of the RDA.

Eat It Up: Mix plain yogurt with a teaspoon of cinnamon or top it with berries for an easy, low-sugar snack. Or use plain Greek yogurt for an extra protein boost in recipes that call for mayo or sour cream, like tuna salad, veggie dip, or salad dressings.

Nutrition facts per cup: 137 calories, 14g protein, 19g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber

Avoid Stress Eating.

There is an empty pretzel bag on your desk, and all clues—looming deadline, lack of sleep, a cranky boss—point to you; even if you don’t actually have any recollection of eating a full bag of Rold Golds. “Stress eating is completely unconscious,” says New York City nutritionist Lauren Slayton, founder of foodtrainers.net. You just keep putting something in your mouth and chewing and hoping for calm and comfort. To avoid wood-chipping through an entire sleeve of Oreos, you have to recognize your triggers and find replacement activities, says Susan Roberts, a professor of nutrition and psychology at Tufts University. “Drinking a cup of sweetened hot tea works for some people. Simply brushing your teeth works for others.” New York City diet expert Stephen Gullo points out that it’s possible to feed your stress with healthful snacks such as broccoli dipped in nonfat Greek yogurt with a few teaspoons of onion soup mix. Slayton says to “make a rule that when you eat, you focus on the eating,” and not, say, on your email inbox. It also helps to write down everything that you eat.

Hypnosis…What is it???

Hypnosis

Are you familiar with Hypnosis?

Some of us think of hypnosis and we imagine stage shows where an individual is standing on a chair acting silly or quacking like a duck. We may say to ourselves, “Oh, my goodness, I would never want someone to have control over my mind like that.”Actually, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, which means that the client has complete control over their experience.

Remember, those at stage shows are there for entertainment purposes and when given the suggestion to “quack like a duck,” would probably do so in their own living room as well. No one can ever make us say or do anything out side of our value or belief system when we are in hypnosis.

So what exactly is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is an “awake” state, where the physical body is relaxed, yet the mind is mentally alert. When the conscious mind is relaxed or at bay, the subconscious mind becomes open to suggestion. Hypnosis is similar to guided visualization, and allows us to become greatly absorbed in the experience and sensations of our ideas and imagination. If we can perceive it, we can achieve it.

For help with emotional overeating, contact us at The Hungry Heart.