Keto & eating habits during times of stress

(icky) #1

So although Keto is really amazing and everything and solves tons of problems…

It doesn’t solve all life problems, tho, haha.

So - this is the first super stressful week that I’ve had since I started Keto 10 weeks ago.

I’m definitely noticing changes in my eating patterns/ habits.

I’ve not eaten non-Keto, but I’ve eaten very weirdly.

I was planning to fast on Monday and Tuesday, but Monday turned out so horrifically stressful, I broke my fast in the afternoon.

Although I love fasting and find it easy and it gives me energy, for some reason (mental?) I just felt like “I can’t handle this much stress AND fast” and ate quite a lot of Keto food. (Definitely comfort eating)

I fasted for most of Tuesday but ended up eating Keto again in the evening (same reason).

It’s like the stress had just used up all my willpower, or something.

Today, I’ve found the stress is making me nauseous and giving me a lack of appetite, so I’m all over the place.

While I’ve managed to stay Keto so far, I do feel like I’m on a rocky boat and barely hanging on.

So stress is definitely affecting my eating/ appetite/ lack of appetite.

I’ve always comfort eaten during times of stress (and always figured that as a TOFI, I was “getting away with it” in terms of health).

During stress, the rationale of eating something sweet/ carby to “feel better” always seemed totally reasonable/ logical/ justified.

It’s interesting now, on Keto, watching my eating habits and appetite go totally weird and crazy due to stress.

How do you all deal with stressful weeks/ periods during Keto?

(Maha) #2

When I am stressed out, I follow my body’s signals. I don’t fast or will break my fast. If I think I want to eat, I try to identify if it’s because it’ll make me feel better emotionally or physically (am I really hungry or just pretending). Regardless, if I decide to eat, I know why and I don’t beat myself up over it. I’ve made the decision to satisfy a need. If I beat myself up over it, that is just adding to my stress. I stick to keto friendly foods - stuff I would eat anyway and not treat these times like, oh, I deserve this, and then binge on something less than friendly. Except with nuts, but that’s a different story. Then I let it go and focus on getting past the stress, knowing that once it’s gone, my body will be more relaxed and I can once again be back on track. And I try to get good sleep during these times, which I’m sure you know, isn’t always easy. But treating the stress as best as you can is how I get through it and I try to view it as a temporary blip on my very long journey (until natural death). Not saying it’s always easy (right now I’m emotionally stressed and wanted to start a fast today but couldn’t), but it is what it is, and you deal with it as best as you can and don’t give yourself mental punishments. I hope that helps.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #3

Exercise is a great way to reduce stress.

#4

Being in temporary circumstances where I’ve not really got many exercise options apart from morning yoga, I’ve really been learning about cortisol!

And I’ve had the sort of opposite experience… of “comfort fasting” - meaning that if I’m too emotionally distraught to eat and enjoy, I simply skip a meal - and don’t feel like eating anyway.

I take Ginger for cortisol reduction/anti-inflammation/fibrin reduction/enzymes, and also grassfed beef liver capsules, for the amazing B vitamins. They help me A LOT as am dealing with enormous stressors myself.

In the evenings before bed, I often take an herbal tincture like Skullcap or Motherwort - and also inhale a bit of Lavender oil by dabbing it on my wrists and sniffing it or sprinkling it on my linens. :purple_heart: