Bulldog Weight Loss How to Address Emotional Eating in Pets
Weight loss
Weight loss: Gain control of emotional eating
Find out how emotional eating can sabotage your weight-loss efforts, and get tips to get control of your eating habits.
By Mayo Clinic StaffSometimes the strongest food cravings hit when you're at your weakest point emotionally. You may turn to food for comfort consciously or unconsciously when facing a difficult problem, feeling stressed or even feeling bored.
Emotional eating can sabotage your weight-loss efforts. It often leads to eating too much especially too much of high-calorie, sweet and fatty foods. The good news is that if you're prone to emotional eating, you can take steps to regain control of your eating habits and get back on track with your weight-loss goals.
How the mood-food-weight loss cycle works
Emotional eating is eating as a way to suppress or soothe negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness and loneliness. Major life events or, more commonly, the hassles of daily life can trigger negative emotions that lead to emotional eating and disrupt your weight-loss efforts. These triggers might include:
- Relationship conflicts
- Work or other stressors
- Fatigue
- Financial pressures
- Health problems
Although some people eat less in the face of strong emotions, if you're in emotional distress you might turn to impulsive or binge eating, quickly consuming whatever's convenient without enjoyment.
In fact, your emotions can become so tied to your eating habits that you automatically reach for a treat whenever you're angry or stressed without thinking about what you're doing.
Food also serves as a distraction. If you're worried about an upcoming event or stewing over a conflict, for instance, you may focus on eating comfort food instead of dealing with the painful situation.
Whatever emotions drive you to overeat, the end result is often the same. The effect is temporary, the emotions return and you likely then bear the additional burden of guilt about setting back your weight-loss goal. This can also lead to an unhealthy cycle your emotions trigger you to overeat, you beat yourself up for getting off your weight-loss track, you feel bad and you overeat again.
How do you get back on track?
When negative emotions threaten to trigger emotional eating, you can take steps to control cravings. To help stop emotional eating, try these tips:
- Keep a food diary. Write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you're feeling when you eat and how hungry you are. Over time, you might see patterns that reveal the connection between mood and food.
- Tame your stress. If stress contributes to your emotional eating, try a stress management technique, such as yoga, meditation or deep breathing.
- Have a hunger reality check. Is your hunger physical or emotional? If you ate just a few hours ago and don't have a rumbling stomach, you're probably not hungry. Give the craving time to pass.
- Get support. You're more likely to give in to emotional eating if you lack a good support network. Lean on family and friends or consider joining a support group.
- Fight boredom. Instead of snacking when you're not hungry, distract yourself and substitute a healthier behavior. Take a walk, watch a movie, play with your cat, listen to music, read, surf the internet or call a friend.
- Take away temptation. Don't keep hard-to-resist comfort foods in your home. And if you feel angry or blue, postpone your trip to the grocery store until you have your emotions in check.
- Don't deprive yourself. When trying to lose weight, you might limit calories too much, eat the same foods repeatedly and banish treats. This may just serve to increase your food cravings, especially in response to emotions. Eat satisfying amounts of healthier foods, enjoy an occasional treat and get plenty of variety to help curb cravings.
- Snack healthy. If you feel the urge to eat between meals, choose a healthy snack, such as fresh fruit, vegetables with low-fat dip, nuts or unbuttered popcorn. Or try lower calorie versions of your favorite foods to see if they satisfy your craving.
- Learn from setbacks. If you have an episode of emotional eating, forgive yourself and start fresh the next day. Try to learn from the experience and make a plan for how you can prevent it in the future. Focus on the positive changes you're making in your eating habits and give yourself credit for making changes that'll lead to better health.
When to seek professional help
If you've tried self-help options but you still can't control emotional eating, consider therapy with a mental health professional. Therapy can help you understand why you eat emotionally and learn coping skills. Therapy can also help you discover whether you have an eating disorder, which can be connected to emotional eating.
Dec. 02, 2022- Duyff RL. Reach and maintain your healthy weight. In: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2017.
- Whitney E, et al. Weight management: Overweight, obesity, and underweight. In: Understanding Nutrition. 14th ed. Belmont, Calif.: Cengage Learning; 2016.
- Braden A, et al. Eating when depressed, anxious, bored, or happy: Are emotional eating types associated with unique psychological and physical health correlates? Appetite. 2018;125:410.
- Spence C. Comfort food: A review. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. 2017;9:105.
- Hensrud DD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 25, 2018.
English Bulldog Growth & Weight Chart: Everything You Need To Know
English Bulldogs are wildly popular, lovable dogs known for being Englands national dog breed! English Bulldogs are short in stature and stocky. If youre the lucky pet parent to an English Bulldog, you may be wondering exactly how large will my English Bulldog grow and when do they stop growing?
Everything you need to know about English Bulldog growth:
English Bulldog Growth & Weight Chart
The height and weight numbers in the chart below are all estimates. If your English Bulldog is slightly below or above the following numbers, dont worry! Continue to take your English Bulldog to regular veterinary appointments for personalized recommendations on food, exercise, and other recommendations for your English Bulldog puppys optimal health.
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Male English Bulldog Growth and Weight Chart
| Age | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 month | 4 - 7 lbs |
| 2 months | 9 - 12 lbs |
| 3 months | 13 - 18 lbs |
| 4 months | 18 - 24 lbs |
| 5 months | 30 - 33 lbs |
| 6 months | 33 - 37 lbs |
| 7 months | 38 - 42 lbs |
| 8 months | 42 - 45 lbs |
| 9 months | 43 - 47 lbs |
| 10 months | 45 - 48 lbs |
| 11 months | 46 - 49 lbs |
| 1 year | 51 - 55 lbs |
| 1.5 years old | 51 - 55 lbs |
| 2 years | 51 - 55 lbs |
Female English Bulldog Growth and Weight Chart
| Age | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 month | 3 - 6 lbs |
| 2 months | 7 - 10 lbs |
| 3 months | 12 - 15 lbs |
| 4 months | 18 - 22 lbs |
| 5 months | 22 - 25 lbs |
| 6 months | 26 - 30 lbs |
| 7 months | 30 - 33 lbs |
| 8 months | 33 - 36 lbs |
| 9 months | 35 - 37 lbs |
| 10 months | 35 - 38 lbs |
| 11 months | 37 - 40 lbs |
| 1 year | 40 - 44 lbs |
| 1.5 years old | 40 - 44 lbs |
| 2 years | 40 - 44 lbs |
At what age is an English Bulldog fully grown?
English Bulldogs will rarely grow taller after theyre a year old but may continue filling out in chest size and increase in weight until theyre about two years old. A full-grown male English Bulldog weighs about 50 to 55 pounds and stands 14 to 16 inches tall. A full-grown female English Bulldog weighs about ten pounds less at 40 to 44 pounds and stands at 12 to 14 inches tall.
(Image Source: Canva)
How big should a 6-month-old English Bulldog be?
According to Care.com, puppies reach about 75% of their adult height at six months old. This will be around 10-13 inches tall for a male English Bulldog and approximately 9-11 inches tall for a female English Bulldog.
As for weight, a 6-month-old male English Bulldog will weigh about 33 to 37 pounds, while a 6-month-old female English Bulldog will weigh around 26 to 33 pounds.
Pro Tip: Check out this ultimate pet parent guide that details 39 dog care tips on health, puppy-proofing practices, training, dog safety, and more!
How much bigger will my English Bulldog get?
The English Bulldog growth and weight chart above can give you an estimate of your English Bulldogs full size, but this will vary per dog. If your English Bulldog is over two years old, they are probably fully grown. Any additional weight they put on may be excess and should be discussed with your veterinarian.
An English Bulldogs paws can reveal a lot about their final size. Take a look at your English Bulldogs paws compared to their legs and body size. Do their paws look big next to the rest of their body? They may still have room to grow as this is a classic puppy feature!
Lastly, if you purchased your English Bulldog through a breeder, reach out to them about your English Bulldogs expected weight and height. Your English Bulldogs parents and their previous litters should provide plenty of information for your breeder to give you a more precise figure for your puppys estimated adult size. A dog rarely grows to be larger than their parents, so this will provide you with a general idea of their final adult size.
What is the size of a full-grown English Bulldog?
According to the Bulldog Club of America Bulldog Standards, an English Bulldog should appear stocky but symmetrical with no excessively prominent features.
English Bulldogs are especially prone to gaining extra weight and may exceed these weight estimates. If your English Bulldog weighs more than these full-grown figures, consult with your veterinarian about your English Bulldogs ideal weight at his or her next vet appointment. If your pup is a bit overweight (or underweight), dont worry! Your veterinarian will be happy to discuss food type, quantity, frequency of feedings, and treats to get your English Bulldog back to their ideal weight.
(Image Source: Canva)
How do I make sure my English Bulldog is healthy?
English Bulldogs may require extra attention due to some genetic health problems that are common for the breed. For example, English Bulldogs will require regular at-home baths, this cleaning is specifically to prevent infections under their skin folds. English Bulldogs are also highly prone to putting on excess weight, which is detrimental to their health.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that 55.8% of dogs are classified as overweight or obese, leading to rising numbers of weight-related disorders like type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis in dogs across the country. A healthy diet and exercise are essential to maintain a healthy weight due to the English Bulldogs propensity to gain excess weight.
English Bulldogs also have brachycephalic syndrome, this condition just means that their airways, specifically in their nose, are shorter than the average dog which gives them their squished nose look. The English Bulldog is one of the most severely affected dog breeds and brachycephalic syndrome can lead to difficulty breathing, respiratory distress, heatstroke, and difficulty exercising due to their breathing restrictions. All of this can make weight loss even more difficult for the English Bulldog breed. Because your English Bulldog may have a harder time breathing than other dogs, your vet can recommend safe ways to allow them to exercise and enjoy life without getting overheated. If your pup has a particularly bad case and has difficulty breathing even when not exercising, you can talk to your veterinarian about surgery for Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome which is a common procedure done to help English Bulldogs and other brachycephalic dog breeds, like pugs, breath more easily.
Taking your English Bulldog to regular veterinary appointments to keep them healthy and happy is one of the best things you can do for them! Not only can your veterinarian provide personalized advice to keep your pup healthy, but they can screen for common English Bulldog health problems, like skin infections, hip and knee problems. Preventive veterinary care is necessary for your English Bulldogs lifelong welfare to make sure they can live a long, joyful life with you and your family.
Unfortunately, veterinary care can be pricey. Veterinarian treatments for health issues, like hip and knee problems, can easily cost thousands of dollars. Treating medical issues, like accidents or sudden illnesses, can be expensive, but this should never be the deciding factor in treating your English Bulldog.
95% of pet parents consider their dogs part of the family, and doing the right thing for your English Bulldog should never be limited by treatment costs. Pet insurance reimburses you up to 90% of your veterinary bills over a pets lifetime so that you can focus on whats truly important, your English Bulldogs wellbeing and happiness!
Final Considerations
As pet parents, we do our part by providing quality food, exercise, and care at home, but we also need to take our dogs in for regular veterinary appointments. A professional can provide you with personalized recommendations for your dog, as well as testing to detect any health issues early on. Prevention and early detection are vital in keeping our dogs healthy and happy!
English Bulldog puppies grow into silly, lovable, and wrinkly dogs with a lot of personality. Compare and enroll in a top English Bulldog insurance plan here and gain the peace of mind that you'll always be able to do the right ting for your pet. At Pawlicy Advisor, we always want the health care decisions you make for your pet to be based on what you and your veterinarian think is best for them rather than being limited by financial restrictions.
