Stress, Sugar & Shopping!

The Triple "S"--Stress, Sugar and Shopping.  

They all go hand-in-hand for me and my experiences of going through on average about 3 Whole30's a year since 2015 has helped me realize this.

Whole30 is a 30 day elimination diet (and I use the word, "diet," loosely) aimed at helping you evaluate your relationship and habits when it comes to food.  You eliminate processed sugars, grains, legumes, alcohol, and dairy--all of which are known to cause some bad reactions in the body.  (Are you thinking, so what do you eat?)  Well...quality meat, fish, eggs, good fats, veggies and fruit. Whole30 isn't only about how these foods physically affect your body, but also how some foods have a psychological hold on you (sugar for me!)  After the 30 days, you reintroduce those foods one at a time, very systematically to see how they affect your body.  You can then find your own food freedom and see what foods are worth it to you and know how they will affect your body.  You can always go back to a Whole30 when you need a reset if you realize you are going overboard and not feeling amazing like you should.

When I'm in the midst of a Whole30 and find it to be a high stress time of year for me, I want to turn to sugary coffee drinks (a Grande white mocha with coconut milk to be exact) and especially sweets like chocolate chip cookies.  I also find myself mindlessly shopping online because of the high I get when I order a cute new outfit or even just a new rug for the living room.  It makes me "feel" better, but in retrospect...does it really?  No, it doesn't.  When I find myself wanting to turn to sugar or shopping when in a high stress situation, I now deal with it by using a meditation app and breathing techniques, hot green tea or just being outside helps.  It feels SO much better and doesn't come with a sugar hangover or a lighter check book.

So...how do you deal with stress?  Have you ever really thought about it?  I didn't until Whole30 entered my life, and it has changed my life for the better.