Brief No.110: The Science Behind Overeating & Keeping Your Body Focused & Moving

Overeat, enjoy yourself, and stay conscious .

Holiday time, beginning with Thanksgiving is designed to be joyous and self indulging, period. From the thanks we give over a table spread of food to the gifts we receive, it can be a challenge to stay committed to the fitness and body goals we’ve defined for ourselves ( because we certainly aren’t letting society define them for us).  Instead of telling you what to do with your body, let us debrief knowledge to stay conscious and make wise decisions.

The Science of Overeating

The moral: If you’ve been monitoring your eating habits well this year, go ahead and wild out this Thanksgiving. Eat and drink good. “Short-term overeating is a common human habit associated with celebration.”  Andrew Prentice (Professor of International Nutrition, at the Medical Research Council)  says, ” this does no harm… it is when overeating becomes sustained over long periods that it becomes a health risk. The fundamentals of the energy balance equation dictate that long-term overeating will always lead to body fat storage and obesity.” The article continues by saying, digesting a huge meal forces the body’s organs to work overtime. Regular overeating causes increased cortisol and insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes.” Read more on the science of overeating here.

Strategies to deal with gluttony guilt:

  1. If you’re drinking, limit the type of mixer:  mix with diet drinks, tonic water, or freshly squeezed fruit juices. Or get gangster and drink it on the rocks.
  2. Plan an after meal activity: Take a walk, hit an exercise class the next morning, play a family game that gets everyone moving.
  3. Don’t eat fast: slow down and savor each bite.
  4. Fill you plate, but only eat 80%.
  5. Eat the bread, just go ahead and eat it.
  6.  When you’re full, if you find yourself picking at the pate throw the plate away ( Yes, I’m recommending you throw away the leftover food)
  7.  Leftovers? Pack them up in paper plates and serve them to the homeless in your town.

The Science of Focus

It’s very easy to let the cold weather, office parties, and Christmas celebrations overcome our regular workout and eating routine. Have fun and stay focused! Simply said. There’s untapped potential in our brains and we can gain control over what we create for ourselves by how we live day to day.

“Distractions are powerful drains on the brain’s ability to focus, and one of the best ways to get more from your mind is to give yourself the gift of uninterrupted stretches of time, “

says an article written for Time Magazine. During the holidays, remember your goals, be cognizant of “why” you’re eating, and try not to demonize yourself over enjoying life or the occasional slip up.

The Science of Movement

If you sometimes feel “grinchy” during this season for whatever reason or deal with seasonal depression, know that you’re not alone. Some of the best medicine for these feelings is physical movement. Stay active. While it’s unclear the complex dimensions of how moving your muscles can have an effect on mental health, exercise and working-out has been scientifically studied to be a long-term treatment that improves brain function and nerve cell connections; which helps relieve depression and helps regulate mood.

The challenge for being in these type of spaces is getting started. Start at home with basic movements;: stretch, jog, do a couple sit ups, and stay active until your confidence level in more advanced movements comes.

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