The Divorce Diet Melts Off the Pounds

From a scientific point of view, the Divorce Diet seems unlikely to aid in a person’s weight loss goal for the simple reason that it can be an unhealthy way to lose weight, but many researchers are debating that theory and state that the Divorce Diet is a foolproof way to lose pounds and re-gain one’s healthy weight.

What is the Divorce Diet?

Survivors of a painful divorce know it all too well. The stress of going through a painful divorce causes people to lose a lot of weight, and fast. Yes, this diet works. There is no doubt about it, but there is also no doubt that this diet strategy is painful. The stress that accompanies a painful divorce is heart wrenching. But a sudden drop in pounds with very little effort accompanies it.

According to James Harris, who is a psychologist and the current managing director of the Eating Disorder Program at the notable Presbyterian Hospital located in Dallas, Texas, "There's no magic in it …a person going through trauma like divorce is often burning off more calories” and at the see time “eating less calories and that makes weight come off quickly.”

Why Do People Lose Weight During Divorce?

The reason people come into this position is stress. A leading professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Daniela Schreier, states that divorce is at the top of the list of one of the most stressful life events people go through. Dr. Schreier also noticed a trend in divorcing clients who drop large quantities of weight quickly. Dr. Schreier notes that this usually occurs during the preliminary shock period of the healing cycle of divorce - when people demonstrate symptoms of "acute stress syndrome" after their spouse or partner seeks a divorce or divulges an affair.

Stress and Weight Loss

Survivors of the divorce diet state that stress dissolves away the pounds in a way that worked like no previous starvation diet ever could. These veterans comment that it goes well beyond the usual theory of calories in and calories out.

Thorina Rose, who is a graphics designer in San Francisco, said it happened almost within days after learning of her husband’s affair with another women. Ms. Rose was already petite but after going through her divorce she quickly lost twenty pounds with no effort. Ms. Rose decided to keep a journal of her painful divorce and published it in "The Heartbreak Diet", a memoir of the harrowing experience.

Failing to Eat

Maybe people fail to remember meals because they are preoccupied dealing with the issues of the divorce. Maybe it is because they are busy making arrangements for their new life. Whatever it is, many divorce survivors state that they merely forgot to eat. And sleep is affected too. With little sleep, few meals and excessive stress, the body’s metabolism is affected.

Not All Divorcees Lose Weight

Not all people lose weight during divorce, however. Dr. Schreier commented that some people actually have the contradictory reaction. For these people, food actually becomes an origin for comfort and because of it, they can gain weight.

The acute stress of divorce can trigger eating disorders and weight extremes such as weight loss, and then sudden and unhealthy weight gain.

Exercise Can Help

Assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Lona Sandon, stated that exercise could become a lifesaver for many people. "It can energize you, relax you, and ease stress and depression," Ms. Sandon said.

The key to long lasting weight loss, however, is slow weight loss. And the good news is that neither Dr. Harris nor Ms. Sandon regards the divorce diet and its accompanying quick weight loss as a serious health hazard.

And for those that are going through the difficult time of a divorce and heartbreak, the "divorce diet" gifts the sufferer with a notable consolation prize after the demise of their relationship.

As Ms. Rose puts it, "I felt miserable. But I looked hot."