Many of us are happy to suddenly shed some pounds after the holidays, but unexpected weight-loss can have devastating effects on your overall health. Especially during a divorce, most infamously known as the “Divorce Diet.” While you may welcome fewer pounds, these losses are usually the result of too much stress and brought on by skipping meals or poor nutrition during a difficult time.
Many people going through a divorce say they feel so
stressed out that they do not have a desire to eat or often simply forget to
sit down for routine meals. The taste of food may make them gag and the idea of
cooking a healthy meal can feel overwhelming. This involuntary starvation only
adds to your stress levels and impairs your ability to concentrate and make the
best decisions. Good decision-making ability during a divorce is more important
than ever as you want to begin your new life as a single person or single
parent on the best foot possible. Here are some healthy ways to cope with this
added stress and ensure that you do not fall into the ‘Divorce Diet’ trap.
Do Not Neglect Medical and/or Psychological Care
If you normally have doctor or therapy appointments, it is
important that you make time to keep them. The stress of a divorce can cause
any person to neglect their usual self-care routines. Insomnia is often a
side-effect of divorce and combining that with a decreased appetite may cause
depression. Your medical or mental-health professional can help ensure that
your body is functioning properly, and the path ahead will feel much more
manageable when you are operating efficiently.
Eat Frequent, Small Meals
If the thought of food makes you feel nauseous or stressed,
it is understandable to skip meals. Instead, you should opt to take in smaller
meals more frequently throughout the day. Smaller meals are less daunting to
prepare and will ensure your body is receiving the sustenance it needs. Stock
your kitchen with healthy items such as nuts, cheese sticks, hummus, yogurt,
and vegetables that are easy to snack on. Try to eat something every few hours,
even if you don’t feel hungry. Simple grab-and-go foods are easy to digest and
keep your mind and body sharp.
Ensure Your Coping in Healthy Ways
Divorce brings a lot of challenging feelings and a wide
range of emotions. While there is nothing wrong with spending the occasional
night at home binge-watching your favorite show, but routinely seeking solace in
isolation can inhibit your ability to stay on task with your family and work
obligations. Also, avoid spending hours on social media and find constructive
ways to engage emotionally. Developing new hobbies or exercising routinely can
help boost your endorphins naturally while also sending signals to your body
when it is time to eat.
Do Not Allow the Divorce to Deplete Your Energy
Any weight you lose from meal skipping will most likely
reappear, and often be accompanied by even more unwanted pounds once the stress
of this life transition has passed. When you visit the grocery store be sure to
grab some nutritious snacks such as fresh fruit or even pre-packaged protein
bars so that you have a healthy supply of food on hand at all times. Eating consistently
and properly will be a huge help as you navigate the stress of divorce, but it
will provide the energy you need to manage it.
It is important that you learn as much as you can about divorce
early in the process. Information is power and will help you feel more
comfortable and make the decisions that will serve you and your children the
best. Working with an experienced attorney can help guide you through the
process of a divorce. Jenkins & Kamin LLP cares about their clients and
wants every stage of their divorce to go as smoothly and favorably as possible.
Jenkins & Kamin LLP is noted for its “team” approach by
pairing skilled attorneys, paralegals and other support staff to enhance each
client’s experience in difficult life transitions. Jenkins & Kamin, LLP
strives to personalize case strategies for each individual client, including
identification of every particular legal issue and effective explanation of the
law with respect to those issues. The
firm endeavors to achieve a resolution that is appropriate for each client,
while aggressively advocating on their behalf when necessary. Having a
dedicated and experienced team working with you in any family law matter is of
utmost importance to achieve the best result possible.
Jenkins & Kamin LLP represents clients in the following
aspects of family law practice: Marital Property Agreements, Divorce, Complex
Property Issues, Child Custody & Visitation, Child Support, Parentage,
Modifications, Family Law Appeals and Dispute Resolution Alternatives. To learn
more about the firm, visit http://www.jenkinskamin.com or contact one of our
offices in the greater Houston area.
