Stress Eating

Today is one of those days that I will be running around like crazy.  I hate the days that lead up to the new semester because of all the preparation.  I know that sounds selfish and that I am in an occupation that is priviliedged in that I don't have to do a lot of physical work and I am in a stressfree enviornment.  I make the rules for my students and they respect me and I am entitled and I know this.  But, I still worry.  I guess I have performance anxiety.  You know, that first day of class when I stand in front of my students and introduce myself and tell them about the class and what I expect from them and on and on.  I am always afraid that I am going to fail.  I know I won't because I am good at what I do and I over prepare and I know bad teachers and have had bad teachers so I strive to be good.  But, the stress that I have at the beginning of the semester causes me to begin to nibble.  Like yesterday, I ate a cup, not a handful, a cup of nuts.  I also ate a bowl of chips, and a bowl of dried ceral and dip and celery and an orange and a banana.  Those were my freakin' snacks.  I don't do this except at the beginning of the semester.  I am going to have to ask, what do you guys do when the stress gets to you?  How do you avoid falling back into those same old patterns of handling stress by way of the mouth? 

I try, say try, to drink more water. Since you recognize the stress as a "momentary" thing, I think you will be fine and back on track quickly. Yesterday with my anxiety I didn't take a drink or eat b/w meals, but wow did I eat a lot of food at dinner. Luckly it did effect me like breakfast did, I ate slowly, chewed well, and savored each bite....but I had to work on doing all that. Good results.
Thoughts coming to you as you head out for the day, good luck.
Monica

Monica,

The stress has and will always be my Achilles heel.  I am going to learn to not let it control me.  A friend of mine said keep healthy foods on hand and I do but sometimes when I'm stresseed, I don't want healthy. LOL  This fighting obesity is a life long battle and people who don't know that I was once super morbidly obese say things like, what do you have to worry about, your small.  Yeah Right!  I am still fighting and will till my death.  And stress is one of those big battles.

yes Jeanie doesnt it  jlust make you so mad to hear someone say about obesity surgery that it is the easy way out.....i want to yell at them and tell them that no way is it a easy route. we have to change our ways just  like anyone else that wants to maintain a good healthy weight.  I dont know the secret if there is one. i fight with wanting the things we shouldnt have. you said nuts , well those are really good for you sweetie...so dont kick yourself for that one....most of the things i want are and over eat on or good for you in small helpings like protein balls but if i make a batch of them i dont stop till they are all gone . so one thing i have done about them is freeze them  4 in a baggie. that way i have to at least have time for them to thaw.....that is one thing that helps me is if i can make it to where i have to delay getting the satisfaction.  well as everyone else no set answers about how to deal with it ...we just have to...or wind up fat again and i know that you and i both know where we were before and would rather die before going back to that. .....good to see you back online. need to see a new picture. ...

I need to make me some of those balls to take to school with me.  I wonder how good they would taste with a chocolate coating?  I know the nuts are good but I made myself sick eating them.  I am going to buy healthier snacks.  I think, then, if I am over doing something, it won't be so bad.  Have you tried the cashew butter?  It is so good; like peanut butter but with cashews.  I cannot even buy it because I won't leave it alone. LOL

I was a stress eater pre-op but now stress doesn't affect my appetite at all. (yay) Maybe cut back on coffee if you drink it and add juices or fresh fruit? or some yogurt? or water as one of the ladies suggested? Best wishes.

I am normally pretty in control.  I guess for me, there has to be better planning for these times when I know that I'm going to become stressed. 

When I bring home snack foods, as soon as the bag, box or whatever is opened, I portion size, in those snack baggies they sell, and try to only have the appropriate amount, though there are times when I have had more, most of the time when I do that, I work out 15 minutes longer than I would ordinarily to offset.  Another thing I do is reach for the phone and call a friend, or finish something else that I know needs doing, all distraction methods, but hey, it's recognizing that we are doing it wherein begins the change, so you are aware that you need to do it differently and most of what you had was not really harmful, it was the amounts that you need to curb, I also believe that winter eating is different to begin with, more time indoors, less physical activities and I think the body just naturally wants more fat to fight off the cold, though we naturally want less fat. . .

Hope this helps some. . .  sure there are people further out with other ideas

That breaking everything down is a really good tip.  I agree, too, with the winter eating.  During the summer, I can go days without really wanting anything sustantial; however, winter seems to call for full meals. 

Aloha Jeannie..I hear you about anxiety and stress eating!! It think it's the old "need something to do with my hands" syndrome. I used to smoke, and when I quit, it was eating that escalated.....putting something into my mouth. Oral fixation, and all that.

Nowadays when I know I'm going to be under stress (like at work), I take along a small cooler sack with my favorite snacks.....nuts, dried apricots, Zone bars (dark dark chocolate...oh-yum), soy crisps (my VERY FAVORITE SNACK)...barbeque flavor, Eating Right brand at Safeway and 12 grams of protein AND the crunch satisfaction of potato chips but GOOD FOR YOU! (take a breath, Karen!) I also stick in a banana, apple or orange sometimes.

I snack A LOT and I think I really need to because I don't eat that much at meals, and I'm already 20 lbs. below my goal weight and kinda skinny.

Good luck to you, my friend.........you will do great!

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen