Our Brain and Our Chocolate

Aside from enjoying my fair share of chocolate this season between my birthday, Valentine's Day, Easter, (let's see, what other reason can we have to eat chocolate!), I am hunkered down in that state when you are totally sick of winter, sick of the cold, wanting to just be free of the coats already. Semi-coma; wanting to just curl up in bed at night cozy and warm.

I thought it hilarious, the other day, while researching some material on the brain and eating behavior, that I found an article talking about how women react to stress by eating more chocolate, and how this differs from men. I guess I thought it hilarious, because it seems to state the obvious; we know that! It is such a big part of everything and anything we know about eating habits! When stressed, people over, or sometimes, undereat. But certainly, eating things like chocolate, ice cream, whatever your fancy, (usually sweet), is comforting.

Duh! You are saying to yourself. So what is the big deal? Why can most of us do this from time to time, no biggie, reach for the Ben and Jerry's and feel a slight twinge, and move on, vs. those who get stuck in the remorse. The obnoxious roomate again! That simple act of eating to comfort, throws them 'off the wagon' so to speak, from their usual eating habits, or 'diet'. (Dare I say, if anyone is 'dieting since New Year?!)

So just some musings. It is quite possible in fact, that the impulse to reach for chocolate, is not just driven by the 'Hallmark Industry', but our biology. Our brain. Wouldn't that be a comfort. Perhaps it is evolutionarily driven? Hard wired into the deepest parts of our brain to drive this behavior? What if you went with this and turned off those nasty self critical voices, so that you could enjoy the moment and move on?

The most recent research in the field is pointing to more and more evidence that eating disorders and disordered eating originates in the brain. So is it your fault? If you get away from self blame, what happens with your feeling of responsibility? Can you take more, or less?

Unfortunately this doesn't come with a 'free pass' for continual overeating as the consequences land on our hips or gut; and no one elses'. But there is a paradox here. Time and time again, I hear from people who end up having trouble getting back to their 'healthier habits', when they eat the foods they believe they 'shouldn't.' The nasty voice makes them tune out completely and at times, barely enjoy the next spat of overeating as there is the overlay of guilt. Hey, if you are going to eat the food I say, you might as well enjoy it! Guilt takes away the taste, no fun in that!

So it is worth asking yourself how you react to this craving for chocolate. Or cake, ice cream, chips, whatever your own particular food you find soothing. What is your own dialogue and then reaction with food? Does it take more time to go back to a way of eating that you feel is healthy for you, or less time?

See what happens if you can be a bit more forgiving. Play with it. See if that helps you move on. Back to less sugar if that is your usual tendency, or wish, for your usual diet. Play with it, and get back to me. But know at least, while you are doing it, that in fact, yes, women reach for chocolate when stressed. It is universal. It is in our brain.

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Comments

[fcsakes]

For those times when I'm not able to resist the urge, I have a whole drawer full of Fast Break candy bars and Reese's peanut butter cups, my current favorites. Woe unto me if I take one bite.

Most of the time, I just open the drawer and inhale.

[MizJ]

I am reading this post while chewing on a Hershey with Almond bar.