Nourish & Flourish: Prayer and water vs. stress eating

Stress eating is a problem among men, fitness writer and Samaritan Ministries member Don LaTorre recently wrote in his Layman’s Fitness newsletter, but he thinks he has cracked the code.

Admitting that stress eating has been a problem for him, Don listed three mistakes he has made and the counteractions that he’s taking.

1. “I wasn’t praying.” Don said he hadn’t been bringing the causes of his stress to the Lord. The promise of Philippians 4:6-7 helped him, though: “... do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
2. "I was only stress-eating ultra-processed food.” Instead of eating fruit or vegetables, he was “grabbing tortilla chips, cookies, and pastries.” “These ultra-processed foods are designed to be delicious, (but) the soothing balm they provide is very short-lived,” Don wrote.
3. “I wasn’t drinking water when I had the impulse to eat.” When he’s not sure if he’s hungry or stressed, Don goes for a glass of water first. “If I’m still hungry, then I know it’s hunger. If not, then it’s probably stress.”

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes and is not meant as medical advice. It is the opinion of the writer. The information is not meant to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health professional.