Diet for stress

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 313, 14 November 1989, Page 13

Diet for stress

Because stress can drive business people into eating to compensate or as diversion, a knowledge of sound eating practices is as important as good time management.

Executive Programme Co-ordinator Fleur Lowery of Weight Watches advises, "Sit down and try to figure out which events, people and conditions throw you off-balance and cause you to react by over-eating." She offers a six-point plan: • Make a list of events. This will help restore your sense of well-being and control.

Realise that you must take care of yourself before you can be useful to others. • Keep responsible hours. Consider getting to the office a half hour early. Much can be done in that time with no ringing phones and interruptions. • Be absolutely organised. Keep a diary with you at all times. Use one with a longrange calendar as well

as a daily and weekly calendar. • Know when to say "No". Don't take on more than you feel comfortable handling, and be realistic on your expectations of yourself. • Look hard at your experiences. When your body feels stressed, exercise frees pent-up annoyance and frustrationi It helps you relax and regular exercise maintains fitness and increases energy. • Be selective with your food. Seek dietary advice, read an approved guide or take a course such as Weight Watchers. This way you can learn to judge the best foods for a balanced eating programme and not react to stress by eating the wrong foods or too much. When choosing a weight loss plan use the following criteria: Is it safe? What will it cost? Is it suitable for the whole family? Will it teach sound longterm eating habits? When you're caught up in the hectic pace of a busy working day, sound nutritional eating habits provide a psychological stress cushion. Taking good care of yourself makes you feel pampered and in control. This way you'll be less likely to overeat when stress intensifies.