The #1 complaint from my hurricane Sandy battered clients
this week has been: "Hurricane Sandy
made me fat."
According to the New
York Times, the most damaging aftereffect of the super-storm is tight jeans.
They are terming this tragic condition the "Sandy Five" (similar to
the "freshman 15," an
expression used to refer to the weight gain often associated with the first
year of college). Experts say this is a very common side effect of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and that it is not uncommon for people to
gain weight after a storm.
My words of wisdom to my clients: Often the strongest
cravings for foods occur when people are emotionally wrecked. We went through
an historic epic catastrophe and we are only human. If we can find comfort in food then let it
be! Yes, emotional eating can sabotage
our hard earned weight-loss efforts, but the good news is we can start fresh
and take steps to get right back on track with our weight loss goals.
How you dealt with this challenge: You came to your appointment. You did not use the
storm as an excuse to skip your regularly scheduled visit. That is to be
commended! And now you need to forgive yourself and start fresh. Let's focus on
making positive changes and on moving forward.
