Identify Your Food Psychology and Triggers

One problem that keeps us stalled in our weight loss goals is the emotional component of hunger. Sometimes our body isn’t necessarily hungry, but those food psychology triggers get tripped. We find ourselves in a challenging personal situation. The first instinct is to reach for the nearest processed, sugary and/or high-fat snack or fast-food meal.

Do you know what brings on strong cravings for you?

It’s different for everyone, and the tolerance will vary from one person to the next. But these types of situations can definitely put the kibosh on your weight loss and healthy eating plan if you’re not prepared to meet them head on.

Stress eating. Pure stress... a day filled with activity and no breaks. Rushing around, having to solve problems on the fly. Encounters with aggressive people... mistakes being made, mishaps, putting out fires. We all have stress to deal with. When you’re faced with it, and you’re trying to eat less and stay on plan with healthy choices, what do you do? Those cravings are powerful... you’re starting to feel snappish, slightly sick, with a headache coming on and a ravenous feeling.

The best way to approach meals and snacks on a potentially stressful day or week is to be prepared. People who often choose the wrong foods that cause weight gain do so because they don’t have a healthy eating plan in place.

Stock your kitchen with healthy take-along meals and snacks. Make this a lifestyle, not an occasional habit. Buy a lunch box and some small containers to fill with fresh veggies and fruit, healthy protein like hummus, hard-boiled eggs or lean meat, wholegrain breads and crackers.

If you do this on a regular basis and establish a routine (example, packing the food bag in the evening each night before bed, so you can grab it and go in the morning), you’ll have healthy choices when hunger hits on a stressful day.

Emotional eating.

Some people do well once they change their eating habits and approach to food prep. They’re on track with losing weight, exercising and getting fit. But what happens when something triggers strong emotions?

accident. Marital discord... the big, scary kind. Your relationship is ending... you just found out a close family member has a serious illness.

Usually this is the breaking point for people who are trying to lose weight. When circumstances disrupt your life, it’s hard to fit in time for exercise, let alone stocking and prepping healthy foods. You’re likely to go straight for the most fattening foods available.

“Comfort food” is called this for a reason. Your nervous system wants that sluggish, satiated feeling that you get from mac and cheese, pizza and cake. But we know that ultimately this affects the number on the scale, the blood test results.

when life is spiraling out of control is to increase consumption of lean protein. The body needs more protein when our nervous system is being assaulted and overburdened. Once you’ve curbed that ravenous feeling with some healthy protein, try to resume your plan to fill up on fresh produce.

Continue exercising even if you don’t think you have time anymore. You might need to modify or downgrade the plan, and that’s okay. Example: maybe instead of driving to and from the gym for an hour-long session, your workout now consists of jogging a quick mile each afternoon. Even, so, it’s worth continuing to exercise and get stress hormones out of your system.

Big problems in your family... a sudden car

Is there a way to stay the weight loss course when your life seems to be falling apart? Recognizing the stress for what it is could be the first step. Start by acknowledging the feelings. Give yourself permission to feel them in the first place. What is stress? Your muscles are holding onto tension. One way to rescue your healthy eating plan

Insomnia.

Insomnia can be another weight loss saboteur. Sleep patterns take us in a cycle. If we get thrown off balance, being stuck awake for much of the night can make us lethargic and unmotivated during the day. After a night of poor sleep, by 1 pm we might be feeling like eating a big, greasy cheeseburger and then drifting off for a nap.

Keeping up with a moderate healthy eating and exercise plan will help us feel tired at the end of our day. It’s more difficult if you haven’t slept well the night before. But resisting the urge to nap and expelling your stress in a healthy way can stop the insomnia pattern from contuing.

If you get hungry before bed and can’t seem to fall asleep because of it, try a small snack of crackers with plain yogurt dip or something similar.

Best foods to keep in the house to stop emotional trigger and stress related cravings:

Nuts. In small amounts, nuts can be a healthy and filling way to nourish the body and stave off cravings. Sprinkle walnuts atop your fresh salad. Mix a tablespoon of peanut butter into plain yogurt. Keep nuts in a container in your car or purse, and snack on a handful when you need to refuel.

Hard boiled eggs. These make a great take-along snack. Store one or two per Ziplock bag in the fridge, to add to your lunch box in the morning.

Cooked, lean meat like chicken or turkey breast. Cold cuts tend to have a lot of sodium and sugar added. Your best choice is to buy packaged meat from the butcher’s section of your grocery store. Cook and store, then portion out as needed for lunches and dinners. Dice up and add to a salad. Enjoy on whole-grain bread with healthy fixins like lettuce and tomato.

Plain, nonfat Greek yogurt. (If you’re eating low-carb choose full-fat). Nonfat Greek yogurt is surprisingly filling, due to the straining process in making this type of yogurt. Add a sprinkle of garlic powder and dill, with a bit of salt and pepper. Enjoy as a healthy dip with carrot, celery and cucumber slices.

Tuna and salmon. Cans of tuna, or cooked salmon that’s portioned out for a quick lunch, can be a lifesaver when you’re eating for healthy weight loss. These fish are packed with nutrition and good fats for neuro and brain health. Enjoy with a fresh salad and a few wheat crackers for lunch. Or serve with whole grain brown rice and a side of colorful veggies for dinner.

Beans and legumes. Stock your pantry with cans of nutritious, delicious, filling beans. Portion out some in containers and make a quick burrito with a whole-grain wrap, for dinner. Blend up with olive oil, lemon juice and seasonings to make a homemade bean dip.

Hummus and bean dip.

When you don’t have time to make food from scratch, a tub of healthy hummus or bean dip can be a lifesaver. Add some to small containers and pack a lunch/snack of sliced veggies and whole grain crackers. Stop hunger in its tracks... deliciously and nutritiously.

Rebuilding From Trauma With Amanza Smith

This month, we spoke with Amanza Smith, star of Netflix’s “Selling Sunset.” She talks to us about reaching out for help and finding strength in traumatic experiences. A model, luxury real estate agent, interior design specialist, and, most importantly, a parent of two, Amanza recently opened her inbox to collaborations at teamamanza@gmail.com.

Dennis Postema: Can you walk us through your life journey, starting with your childhood?

Amanza Smith: I always wanted to share my story. I want to help others who have been through similar experiences. Hopefully, my sharing gives others the courage to talk about their experiences sooner rather than later. There are a variety of outlets you can go to for help. You do not have to struggle.

I did not share my story for years, even to friends or family. There were periods when I self-medicated. I experienced bouts of depression. I did not know why my anxiety was so severe.

From ages three to eleven, I was sexually molested by my stepfather and his father. My mom was also very mentally and physically abusive, so there was just never a safe space when I was a kid growing up. I never felt safe enough to talk to anybody about what was happening. There was nowhere for me to turn.

When I moved to Los Angeles, California, at twenty-four years old, I thought I was ambitious, courageous, and spontaneous.

Now that I am aware of my complex post-traumatic stress disorder, I realize I was always running away and trying to start over. I abused substances in my twenties to self-medicate.

I thought I was fine.

You don’t know at the time. I thought only war veterans suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. I didn’t know what complex PTSD was.

I knew I had a crappy childhood, but I didn’t know all of the effects it had had on me.

Dennis: When did you realize the severity of the abuse you suffered?

Amanza: When I became a parent, everything started clicking. I saw things differently. I thought about what I would do if this or that happened to my child. It opened my eyes to how severe my abuse had been and how many issues it caused.

I lived with my mother and stepdad growing up. I didn’t tell my mom what had happened with my stepdad until I was nineteen years old. When she found out, they separated.

For so many years, I longed for a dad. I pretended the abuse didn’t happen for years to maintain the relationship. My stepdad walked me down the aisle at my wedding with my ex-husband. At that point, I had not even told my then-husband about what happened. I knew he would never want to be around my family if I did.

When I was pregnant with my oldest child, Noah, I knew I would never allow her to be alone with my stepdad. I knew that no matter how much I shoved down what had happened, I could not let her be alone with him. I started thinking of all these scenarios. How uncomfortable was this going to be? How could I manage this without my husband aware to keep her safe? I thought maybe we just wouldn’t visit my family often.

When I thought about it like that, it started dawning on me.

But it wasn’t until I was six or seven months pregnant with Braker, my second child, that it really hit me, like, “Holy shit.”

I was with my stepdad, my best friend, and my best friend’s children. My stepdad was talking to my friend’s kids. I pictured everything that had happened to me happening instead to my daughter.

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. It felt like I was having a heart attack. I wanted him to stop talking to my friend’s daughters, to stop touching them, and I thought, “Holy shit, I am not OK. What if all this happens to my daughter?”

Every ounce of anger that I should have felt from a young age exploded in that one moment.

I flew back to LA, told my husband, and started meeting with a therapist for the first time. I wrote my stepdad an email, telling him we would no longer be part of his life, explaining my reasons, and told him that his father had also molested me.

At that moment, I had woken up.

From there, I found my biological father on social media and reached out to him.

To this day, I am in trauma therapy weekly.

I recently saw a neurologist. They are going to scan my brain to figure out where it is most affected by this trauma based on how bumpy the brain is and how much or how little blood flow is going to different sectors of the brain. They’re going to prescribe me supplements to heal the most impacted parts.

For nine years, I took medication for anxiety and depression. I stopped taking the medication over a year ago, but there are still parts of my brain that need healing. I’m very excited to try these supplements.

Dennis: How have you built up your mental health? How do you help others do the same?

Amanza: Medication was necessary for me. I am a firm believer in pharmaceuticals. Many people need them, and it’s fine to take them.

One day, I ran out. I procrastinated on getting more. A few weeks passed, and my body adjusted. At first, it was difficult, but I managed.

I was in therapy for all nine years that I took medication for anxiety and depression, whether through a spiritual life coach, a trauma therapist, or a psychiatrist. I went to trauma camp for a week for intense therapy. I have worked hard and talked to many people to get a clear view of what has been going on in my brain, so I no longer needed the medication. Now, I am able to talk myself down from the ledge, breathe through it, and pray. Those methods work for me.

There are stretches, sometimes for several days, where I’m feeling down or triggered.

Recently, I had a situation with my preteen son I was not prepared for. He had lied to me. I reprimanded him and came up with a consequence. It triggered things in my head about his dad being gone. I wondered if I was too soft on my son, and I struggled to come up with a good consequence for what he had done.

On top of that, I was upset with my kids’ father because I am parenting them alone. I felt like I had failed because my son had lied—which, kids lie, it’s totally normal.

Despite my feelings, I did not allow myself to fall too low. I slept in late the next day. I felt physically tired, but there was no reason for me to be that tired. I am starting to recognize when I am feeling low, and then I can stop myself from sinking deeper into it.

Dennis: What are some healthy coping mechanisms you use?

Amanza: It’s not the healthiest thing, but once in a while, I love to bingeeat ice cream, watch movies, and sleep. It’s not the worst thing if you aren’t doing it every single day.

As for actual healthy coping mechanisms, I do breath work and meditation. Breathing techniques are really simple. Recently, I started taking acting classes. In my first class, the instructor taught me some breathing techniques to be present during a scene. I thought, “This is almost like therapy.”

Notice yourself breathing. Focus on your breath. Think, “I’m breathing. There is air going through my nose. It’s filling up my lungs. It’s coming out of my mouth.”

You can feel your body breathing. If you focus on it, all of the chatter in your head disappears, and you are present in the moment.

I always have meditative, calming music playing in the background.

When I wake up, I pray. “Thank you, God, for another day.”

That’s the very first thing in my mind.

Everyone has different beliefs, and that’s OK. Whether you believe in the universe, God, Spirit, Allah, or whatever else, have faith that life is going to be OK, everything happens for a reason, you’re going to get through it, and sometimes you have to let go.

I have a tattoo on my neck that says, “Let go, let God.”

Over time, I have learned that I am not in control of everything. I accept what I’m not in control of, and I work through the rest the best that I can.

Affirmations are another important coping mechanism. When my children were little, we’d sit at breakfast and they’d repeat affirmations. I’ve seen videos of parents teaching their children affirmations like, “I am beautiful, I am brave, I am smart, I am confident, I am enough.”

You have to tell yourself those things and teach them to your children.

When negative thoughts or self-doubt pop into my head, I write them down on a piece of paper, wad it up, and toss it in the trash. Doing that gets the nasty thoughts out of my head and resets my brain.

Dennis: As a parent, model, entrepreneur and so many other titles, how do you stay mentally and physically fit while holding your life together?

Amanza: I have been genetically blessed in terms of physical fitness. I know I should work out, and I have tried multiple times. I get into a groove, I feel amazing, and then I fall out of the groove.

There is a person I am and a person I want to be. The person I want to be wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and makes a smoothie or fasts until they work out.

But I’m not quite there yet. Just as I believe in manifesting other things, I have thought about being that person enough that I think one day she’s going to appear.

Right now, I’m still in survival mode. I’m not able to live every day how I want to because some parts of me are just trying to survive through being the mom and the dad, working, filming a television show, having design jobs and real estate clients, and all of the regular adult things we all have to do.

How do I do it?

I don’t know.

When my son lied to me, I think part of why it worked was because I’m so busy that some things slip through the cracks.

I believe I was given some form of a superpower. God knew I would use my platform for the greater good, so He has gifted me with the ability to manage a lot and keep a solid head on my shoulders so I can motivate others. Maybe that’s what keeps me going. That’s what I believe, because I honestly don’t know. I think it stems from my childhood. I know how to deal with things more smoothly because of my experiences.

Maybe it’s because I just don’t have a choice.

Some days I wish I could tell my children, “Parent yourself because I can’t do it today,” but that’s not who I am.

I’m not saying my mental health is any better because of it, but it lends itself a bit to how I wear so many hats, weaves and cornrows.

Dennis: What would you say to somebody who is afraid to speak out or get help? How would you encourage them? What steps should they take?

Amanza: It depends on the situation.

When I was a child, I did not know that there was anybody to tell, other than a parent, who I thought wouldn’t believe me or wouldn’t do anything. panic attack, I was thirtyfour. That’s when I outed my stepdad to my exhusband. I wish I had done it sooner.

I didn’t want to be stuck with either parent because I didn’t really have a good one. At the end of the day, I felt like it didn’t matter if I told anybody.

There are anonymous hotlines you can call to get support. If, God forbid, you are thinking of ending your life, there are suicide prevention hotlines, anonymous hotlines where you can report any type of abuse—whether it’s sexual, mental, physical or emotional—and there are resources online.

The sooner you talk about it, the sooner you start to heal. If somebody has hurt you, it is not your responsibility to protect them. It was somebody else’s job to protect you, and they didn’t. Get it off your chest. You might just call an anonymous hotline and maybe that’s it— maybe that’s the first step for you.

Everybody deserves to feel good. When I had my first

You may wonder how your family or their friends will react. It’s not easy, but it definitely helps.

Dennis: What upcoming projects are you looking forward to?

Amanza: Season six of my show “Selling Sunset” is coming this spring. I am releasing a makeup line called Z by Amanza.

Mary Fitzgerald—my best friend—and I are going to do public speaking with Natasha Graziano in the future, so look out for that! As a child, I was told I talked too much, so now, I’m like, “If I can get paid to talk, it all makes sense.”

Reach Amanza on Instagram, @amanzasmith, or email teamamanza@gmail. com to reach out for collaborations.

(800) 277-7398

Here’s a fascinating topic on the subject of weight loss. How many of us are plagued with cravings while on a supposed diet? And how many of us actively ignore those cravings?

We have different reasons for craving certain foods at certain times. The closer you pay attention to your body and what it’s trying to tell you, the healthier you can be.

Craving salty chips? All of your favorite snack foods contain MSG - a highsodium food that puts stress on your kidneys.

A craving for salt could mean your body is low on minerals.

Some call these electrolytes - the essential sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium and other positively-charged metals that are present in certain foods. Our body needs minerals to function properly.

Instead of binging on junk food brands, try a healthier option for getting salt and minerals:

Homemade pickles (made with garlic, dill, no sugar added)

Seaweed snacks - check the label and choose ones with simple ingredients. NO MSG!

Celery and peanut butter. Veggies like celery, that are grown in the ground in rich, fertile soil contain essential minerals your body needs to thrive.

Seafood. Selenium-rich seafood is wonderful for the body. A nice meal of mussels marinara over brown rice or wheat pasta, will provide the missing minerals your body may be craving.

Root vegetables - carrots, beets, turnips, potatoes (sweet and white). Drizzle with olive oil and roast for tonight’s dinnerwonderful for the health. Just go easy on portions as many root veggies are also high in sugar.

If you’re craving fatty foods, like cheeseburgers and bacon...

Your hormone health may need a boost. Fat is needed for hormone, brain and nervous system function. As we age, do we need more fat? The answer is likely yes... but which kind?

Different fats affect the consistency of the blood. We have long been taught that eating too much fat clogs the arteries. But how to get your body the essential fats it needs to be healthy?

Limit the amount of fat you eat. A meal that’s high in fat from fatty meats and cheese is delicious, but throws off the body’s balance.

Limit saturated fats. Avoid if you’re in the obese category, and looking to lower your percentage of body fat.

Choose healthy fats like olives and olive oil, avocado and avocado oil; coconut and coconut oil; nut and seed oils like sesame, sunflower, and pumpkin seed oil and their seeds.

Eat fat in smaller portions, and combine with healthy plants for better absorption. This is generally why we eat and enjoy salads with oil-based dressings.

Eating small quantities of saturated fat along with bitter greens is a win for your health.

Mediterranean dishes like sausage and broccoli rabe, escarole and sausage, or a side salad of dandelion salad make perfect sense. The two (fat and bitter greens) cancel one another out, and work to balance the body’s blood chemistry.

It’s even possible that small amounts of saturated fats may help us absorb the vitamins and minerals present in green, leafy and bitter vegetables.

Craving sugar and sweets.

If you’re craving sugar, it’s likely that your stress levels are high and your body is looking for that brain chemical cocktail that brings about calm feelings.

Instead of reaching for something sweet, try a lean or healthy protein snack or small meal first. Afterward, it will be likely that the strong urge for sugar has subsided. Still really want something sweet? Your body might benefit from a small amount of fruit.

Unlike processed sugar which goes straight to the pancreas and liver and taxes the organs of your body when you eat it, real fruit contains fiber to slow your digestion. That means eating real fruit won’t send your blood sugar levels soaring and lead to diabetes down the road.

Also, certain fruits have certain health benefits. Examples: raisins are high in iron. Bananas contain potassium which balances the sodium levels of your body’s cells. Bananas and apples also balance the gut.

Adding limited amounts of fruit to the daily rotation can be a good thing. Try half of a fruit like a banana, apple, peach or pear. Save the other half to share with a friend or enjoy later.

Identify Your Physical Signals that it’s Time to Exercise

Are you hoping to manifest a healthy lifestyle and kiss the word “diet” goodbye forever? One way is to make daily exercise a permanent part of your life.

Too many people get the bare minimum of exercise. Many don’t exercise at all. Why not?

We miss opportunities to move our body and use our muscles. We drive when we could walk. We outsource physical tasks that we can easily do ourselves, and burn calories in the process.

We make excuses. “It’s raining.” “I have a sniffle today.” elliptical, stationary bike) at least 3 days each week.

We aim too high with our exercise goals, then fall short and don’t exercise at all. Maybe you sign up for Zumba, but it’s canceled... so you stay home and read a book instead.

One way to transform your exercise routine from a dreaded obligation to a cherished daily ritual, is to get to know your body’s signals that it needs exercise.

Most of these, we see as “symptoms” that are beyond our control. Maybe we even talk to our doctor about these mysterious afflictions that we develop.

Tired, lethargic or sluggish feelings, especially after eating. We often feel tired after eating too much, or after we’ve had something sugary. Foods that contain processed sugar cause a rapid rise and fall of blood sugar; the energy boost, followed by a crash.

Taking a brisk walk for about a half-hour has been shown to lower blood sugar. This is especially effective after a meal. A post-lunch or post-dinner walk outside is a great way to slip some daily exercise in without having to make a big production of it. Just put on your sneakers. Get out there and walk.

Cold hands and feet.

Tight, achy muscles. This type of physical pain is becoming more prevalent with daily use of computers and phones. Next time your neck feels stiff or there seems to be a knot in your shoulder, search YouTube for some different stretches you can do to release muscle tension. Yoga, Pilates or just some classic stretches all count as exercise to help you become more fit and healthy.

Digestive issues.

Our bodies give us all kinds of signs, every day, that it’s time to exercise.

Feeling cold in your extremities could be a sign of poor blood circulation. Instead of viewing this as a static medical condition, see it as a need to get your blood flowing. Then, do that by engaging in heartpumping physical activity. Strive for 20 minutes of cardio exercise (running, treadmill, stair master,

Did you know that lack of movement can create or exacerbate digestive trouble? In a sedentary state, it takes longer for your body to process what you ate. This can cause constipation, bloating, and a sluggish and tired feeling. Running and even walking at a brisk pace can stimulate digestion. (Think of what happens when you take your dog for a walk.) Certain stretches, like those you’d do in yoga, also work to move things along.

Headaches.

A headache can be caused by any one of a variety of problems; including elevated blood pressure, hormone fluctuations; caffeine withdrawal; upset stomach or general tension.

Both stretching and cardio exercise can relieve headaches. The instinct when we have a headache is usually to curl up in a dark room and sleep. But believe it or not, a headache can also be a sign that your body can use some exercise. Try it and see how you feel. If it doesn’t work, drink that coffee or take that nap. Either way, you’ll have moved your body and burned some calories, which is a very good thing.

Insomnia

Before you put a call in for that prescription or reach for an alcoholic drink to ease you into slumber, ask yourself an important question.

If I can’t sleep at night, is it possible that I’m not getting enough movement in during the day?

Exercise can be the cure for anxiety, mood swings, and insomnia. Try going out for a 30-minute jog each night for 4 days straight. Pay attention to how well you sleep at night. (Side note: try to get your exercise in before 7p.m. Any later, and you might rev up your energy to the point that you’ll have trouble settling down when it’s time for bed.

Seek the Opportunity to Exercise; Make Fitness Part of Your Day’s Work

Do you feel like you don’t have time to exercise? Are you tired and sluggish in the afternoon? Do you have trouble falling or staying asleep?

Humans have lapsed into a sedentary lifestyle. In fact: if you do ordinary things that count as “exercise” in your daily life, people look at you funny.

Imagine a woman going into the store and carrying out a 40-lb. bag of dog food in both arms. People would look twice and think it odd. Many might offer to bring her a shopping cart. Big, strong, manly men might even offer to carry the bag for her.

But why? Carrying objects, taking the stairs, walking from the end of the parking lot to the front door of the building... these are opportunities to exercise and keep your body fit and strong while doing things that you need to get done in your life.

Instead, we look for the shortest route. We roll it out on a cart instead of using our muscles. Then we get home, glance in the mirror at our beer belly and flabby arms, and think, “I’ve really got to get to the gym.”