An apple a day… (source: pixel2013 on Pixabay)

Yes, I gained last week.  I’m not thrilled about that, but I understand it.  I’m taking steps, and that’s about all I can do.  What I need to avoid is slipping into that obsessive state of mind many people struggling with weight can slip into, one that feeds right into my anxiety issues and undoes any progress I might make.

You might have the same problem, or similar issues.  It’s a documented fact that mental health, anxiety in particular, can have a profound effect on the body.  Our anxiety doesn’t just trigger a stress response in our bodies, but anxiety can affect our ability to sleep.  Sleep deprivation affects hormone production, which affects weight gain as well.

It’s a double whammy.  Tons of fun, literally in my case.  It is essential to take care of your mental health as part of your overall health care plan.  I know there’s a stigma associated with admitting you need help.  There’s also a stigma associated with being as big as I am.  Pick one.

Anyway, getting anxiety under control doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds.  You may have a health care provider who prescribes medication.  If that’s the case, and the meds work for you, great.  Therapy can be helpful too.  Meditation works for some people.  If you’re in a position to minimize your triggers, that’s fabulous.

The thing is, when I mention anxiety I’m talking about a serious health condition, part of your body’s chemistry.  One way you can help to take control over your body’s chemistry is to govern what goes into it.  That is, change your diet.

Changing your diet won’t fix everything.  It won’t take away the external stressors in your life, and it won’t change the patterns of thought that exacerbate your anxiety.  Think of it as an extra bit of help, like a step up to find the next handhold on the rock wall.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not always good about following the diet plan.  I’m not only cooking for myself, and sometimes I get busy and can’t devote time to cooking.  I just re-read the guidelines for extra motivation, right before I go to the supermarket.

What I can tell you is that I do feel better, and I gain less weight, when I’m following these guidelines.  I try to avoid beef when I can, even though it’s on the “good” list.  The great thing is that most of them are foods I genuinely like.  Apples, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, and asparagus are all foods I gravitate toward naturally. They’re all part of a natural, healthy diet.

It can’t hurt to try tweaking your diet this way, assuming your allergies and other dietary restrictions allow of course.  It’s helped me, and it might help you.