Psychology or biology? ? The highs and lows of comfort eating
You got up late, grabbed a quick cuppa whilst throwing on your clothes, half done make-up and out the door. Your lippy and hairspray are in the car to be applied at an appropriate set of traffic lights and the first comfort fix of the day is the 
stomach settling chocolate bar you remembered to lift before grabbing your keys.
Is that you? Because it certainly fits me.
I’m neither psychologist nor biologist, so the questions which follow are thrown open to experts and others alike. I have always wondered if our eating habits are triggered by a chemical action or a mentally stimulated reaction or just plain old bad planning. Whatever excuse you care to make the outcome, for me anyway isn’t good.
So the morning confectionery hits the spot and kick starts the day with a high, the brain springs into action, you now look and feel fantastic, by the time you clock on there’s no stopping you. So what is actually happening inside at this precise moment? (calling all experts) my interpretation is:- the stomach says “satisfied” the brain says “happy” but sadly as we all know the crash has already begun to take place.
Mrs Organised meanwhile, (oh did I forget to mention her before?) well…. that’s her that got up early enough to look gorgeous before leaving the house, having popped something wonderful in the slow-cooker for supper, walked the dog and prepared a wholesome packed lunch….
Busy lives, working wives, snack munching Mums late for school, whatever the reason it’s the rollercoaster of a daily 
eating disaster zone. We all know it’s not good but how can we change? Enter the psychologist, no not me, I was too busy eating chocolate to pay attention in lessons. Answers hidden on the inside of a confectionary wrapper…..oh and maybe behind a silly smile that tells of a naughty secret.
It will take it’s toll, I can see that in my own dear Mother. I may be getting away with it now at the sweet young age of just Forty something but give it a few years and I will be saying….”if only”….In our senior years we tend to lose our appetite and go for the sweeter things which are usually the quick filling things too, I see my dear Mum with a couple of pieces of cake on her plate for tea, the savoury side of her diet has been substituted over the years and now only sugar packed pickings manage to stir a smile on her face at meal times. Trying to excite her with meat and a few veg just isn’t happening….now it’s definitely swaying towards the psychological, don’t you think?
Diet will always be an emotive subject for debate, so next time you reach for a comfort fix, just ask yourself…..how long will it last?
Pass the sauce….
Olivia xx
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12 Responses to Psychology or biology? ? The highs and lows of comfort eating
All that jazz – All in A Day
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Helps me remember that I am not perfect and as such will have days that are imperfect like today – I’ve had nothing for breakfast despite having the perfect breakfast cereal from Abel and Cole in the cupboard
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I am definitely the chocolate munching queen, with a day filled with crashes and burns… *sigh*
same here, I am a chocolate lover and I specially love eating the dark ones.
Yesterday & today, I’ve wolfed two rows of jaffa cakes, had brainfreeze from guzzling lucozade, stuffed my face with grapes, had two black jerry yogurts (yum), a packet of crisps dipped in soft cheese, an animal bar and a bag of jelly babies. My excuse is I’ve had a difficult week including hospital & dentist appointments and just split up with my on/off boyfriend for about the 6th time. My teeth are getting more sensitive though so I reckon I’m going to have to eat more savory than sweet in future.
I couldn’t begin to describe what I have eaten inthe last day or so, but yesterday for lunch I had 2 sugared dooughnuts with real raspberry jam in and they were sublime…
think I may have started something here……confessions of great sugar loaded sins….didn’t mean to send everyone on a guilt trip…..I love my indulgences and am not giving them up for nothing
Olivia
xx
As it happens, I do not have a sweet tooth, for the most part. Chocolate does little for me when I pass it in the shop, except if I happen to have gone shopping while hungry.
I am also lucky that I don’t work for a living or have a busy household (if you want a nice but impoverished life, send your kids to boarding school!
), which means I always have time for breakfast. My breakfast is usually two rashers of bacon and a fried egg. I consider this to be far more healthy than cereal or toast.
On the other hand, I do know many women who seem to be addicted to either/both chocolate and carbohydrates, because that is how they have fed themselves for so many years. As yu say, Olivia, it does eventually catch up with you.
As it happens, I do not have a sweet tooth, for the most part. Chocolate does little for me when I pass it in the shop, except if I happen to have gone shopping while hungry.
I am also lucky that I don’t work for a living or have a busy household (if you want a nice but impoverished life, send your kids to boarding school!
), which means I always have time for breakfast. My breakfast is usually two rashers of bacon and a fried egg. I consider this to be far more healthy than cereal or toast.
On the other hand, I do know many women who seem to be addicted to either/both chocolate and carbohydrates, because that is how they have fed themselves for so many years. As yu say, Olivia, it does eventually catch up with you.
I find that a chocolate and a nice coffee (not an instant) helps me when I have a bad headache or a migraine. I always think that it strange, because all the info states that these can actually increase the chance of a headache or worse a migraine.
I have to have a gluten free diet … one of my ultimate fave things to do is go out to a garden and then have a nice afternoon tea which involves earl grey tea and a yummy slice of cake. Since being gluten free my little joy has been dulled some what as I wait I ask the waitress – ‘I don’t suppose you have any thing that’s gluten free do you’ let’s hope they don’t see the pleading look in my eye
Often I then watch as family or friends indulge and I sit there with my little pot of tea … LOL
I also find walking past a bakery hard as just love, love, love fresh bread! There are some great gluten free alternatives out there, but it’s just not the same…
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If you find yourself crashing and burning swap your sweet and starchy snacks for protein and fat (cheese, salami, nuts,that sort of stuff). You don’t get the same blood sugar spikes and crashes.
Interesting read, I was glued reading your post. Thanks for sharing.