The Natural Sleep Aid Blog

Chances are that when scanning radio stations in your car, you have already come across at least one station that is playing holiday music. This may be a very bittersweet experience in that the holidays are approaching and that it calls awareness to the fact that it is time to lose a few extra pounds that have managed to sneak on recently. While it is close to Thanksgiving, there is still ample time to look great in that new holiday dress. Following the listed recommendations will ensure a slimmer and sexier you in time for the holiday season.

1. Cut calories: by cutting calories by 500 a day, one can lose a pound a week. This can be achieved by simply cutting out a daily latte or rich snack. These snacks are often loaded with calories which can be devastating to a diet. If you always feel hungry, an appetite suppressant such as Hoodia Gordonii can help suppress cravings.
2. Hit the gym: adding exercise to your daily routine is a great way to reduce stress not to mention shed a few pounds. Since the weather is not as outdoor friendly in the winter as it is in the summer, since the gym is inside, there is no reason not to go.  Additionally, hitting the gym will help to build a stronger heart and body. Even the best diet pills can not provide the cardiovascular and stress reducing benefits a half hour at the gym can.
3. Get enough rest: Not getting enough sleep can actually backfire on you. Sleep deprivation is actually a reason that some people gain weight! Try taking a natural sleep aid for restless nights. Doing so will help to keep weight at bay an provide an increase in energy to check off everything on the to-do list.

There are times when you truly feel famished because you don’t have time to eat all day and by the time dinner hour rolls around you can barely contain your hunger. Hunger can also be an issue after an intense workout at the gym or if the body is lacking certain nutrients from a restricted diet. However, there are times that hunger is not the issue and eating is used to console emotional behavior. There are several reasons for emotional eating but once this habit is established it can be very hard to break.

When food becomes a comfort it becomes an addiction. Some of the biggest reasons why people turn to food are stress, anxiety, anger, pms, depression, loneliness, an eating disorder, or to cope with the loss of a loved one whether it be death or divorce. Food is no longer looked at as nourishment for the body but rather medication to help ease emotional tension. When you begin to recognize the different triggers that send this behavior spiraling out of control you can practice alternative ways of coping. You also treat the cause of uncontrollable eating, break the vicious cycle of self abusive, reduce various health risks, and regain control of your eating habits.

 There are several steps you can take to regain control of your eating habits as well as your thought process. The most important step is to try and see what things trigger this kind of eating. Track it on paper to see if there are specific patterns that you can break. Once you are able to track what prompts your emotional eating, begin comforting yourself with something other than food such as calling a friend, listening to music, exercising, or taking a relaxing bath. It is best to eliminate all junk food in the house so there are no temptations knocking at your door. Only go to the grocery store when you are satisfied both emotionally and physically so you don’t buy the wrong things to feed this behavior. Make healthy eating a priority in your life and eat a balanced diet everyday to help decrease cravings. Once you have switched to healthier eating try to recognize the signs between true hunger and emotional hunger. When you feel the need to eat wait about 15 minutes to see if your hunger passes, if not, pick a healthy snack such as a piece of fruit or a handful of unsalted almonds. Lastly, get regular exercise and sleep because they both help the body to release key hormones that help stabilize mood and well being.