BEFORE YOU EAT THAT JUNK!!

Go through this little checklist that those of us who are prone to addictive behavior often use in order to avoid doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason:

1. Hungry? Am I truly hungry, or is this a craving ignited by something as simple as a whiff of good food being prepared?

2. Angry? Am I upset about something or with someone to the point that I just want to eat over it?

3. Lonely? Am I missing someone or something out of my routine, or grieving subconsciously over a recent loss, and could that be why I think I need that “comfort food?”

5. Tired? Did I miss some sleep last night, or am I overtraining, or have I been really stressed at work? Often, fatigue sets up exactly the same signals to the brain that hunger does. But, sleep or rest is NOT FATTENING!

To help you remember the checklist, it is H.A.L.T., for hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Make sure you are really hungry before you make that decision that might well set off a firestorm of destructive eating and other destructive behavior. Even just going through the checklist might buy you enough time to avoid something really dumb