Stress Eating

I have a boss who is major OCD -- so I can do 15,000 things right, but she will find one minor nitpicky thing wrong (actually happy to glad) to point out during the work day.

Of course, this causes me to stress out, which usually means eating. 

Any advice on how to combat the stress?  I can't go for a run (and I work in the executive building, so I really can't do too much in my office), but I need to get an outlet for my stress.

Help! 

Can you get up and walk around a little bit?  That tends to help me get away from the desire to 'eat'.

That, and grumbling under my breath tends to work at times : -)  (And makes the folks I work with think I'm nuts *G*) 

Kellie

Here's a few ideas...

Can you close your door and throw down a few push-ups or sit-ups? Pushing your body a little will ease some of the stress, and you'll get a little adrenaline rush on top if it, and feel good!

If you find the need to chew, how are you with "negative foods", like celery, lettuce, raw peppers or broccoli? These all contain less calories than it takes to actually digest them, so they're considered "free foods". No dressing allowed!

Do you blog? Even if you keep it private, venting and pounding the keyboard a bit sometimes helps ease the stress.

Have a big glass of cold water as quickly as your pouch allows. Seriously! And savor it. By the time you fini**** you'll have to pee, take the LONG way there, and the LONG way back. By the time you're back in your seat, alot of that stress will have faded. (and have added to your required intake!)

Take 10 minutes and work on a crossword puzzle or word search or SuDoKu. 10 minutes isn't alot of time out of the day, but it can help challenge your mind in a completely different way than work does, and eases that area of your brain for a bit.

I'll think of more, but this is what I do during the day to help.

You've got some great suggestions here so I will go a little bit off center.

Very inelegant but can be effective - in your mind's eye, picture her standing there in a dirty diaper.  (Kind of hard to take her too seriously LOL)  Also, be aware that it has nothing to do with you - it's all about her and the demands she makes on herself (if she can't find something wrong it can only mean she's missing something which can only mean she's a TOTAL failure to her way of thinking)  Just knew she's at least as miserable inside as you are.

Don't know about you, but if I closed my door and tried to hop 25 times on one foot - it would sure take my mind off Miss Obnoxious Cantanerous Diva. 

Laugh as often as you can.  More and more we are learning that laughter is healing for the mind, body and spirt.  "A joke a day" mentality if you will.

Good luck

Thanks.  I love your suggestions.  I tend to eat lunch at my desk, so I get interrupted a lot.  I think I am going to shut the door and try to do some mini aerobics (jumping jacks, wall pushups, etc.).  I am going to have to wait a hour on the water (since I am just now eating lunch), but that would be a good way to get in my water.  I am usually knocking down Dt. Mt. Dews all day to keep me pumped up.  I know it is bad, but I need the caffeine to keep me going.

I love the diaper suggestion.  Of course, I am sure that giggling will not get me any prizes.  lol

It is funny how easy it was for you guys to come up with suggestions, when all I could think about was a candy bar (which I didn't eat..hurrah!)  I need to start thinking of more constructive ways to burn off stress.  Exercise is ideal, since then I can get my exercise knocked out, too. 

I did invite a friend to workout at the gym after work today.  She is usually too busy, but I guess I could go by myself.  It is hard to make myself go lately, but it may be better than the chocolate or Prozac for stress.

Thanks again.  You guys are the best!

Don't get down about the Diet Mt. Dew, although there is alot of sodium and a few calories in that. I knock back AT LEAST 6 coffees a day, and I'm working hard at getting fluid in to counter that. But it does keep me up and moving, for sure.

Let us know how it works out!

Great suggestions.  My idea is to imagine the pounds of fat that you would gain if you give in to the stress eating on her body instead of yours!!!

That is a very good visual.

 I am lucky enough to work from home, so I do not have all the crows picking at me and all the drive-bys...even so, I still need to get up every now and then and vent myself, cause there's idiots out there...so I have programmed into my day a 5 minute break each hour to get up, walk outside the house and breathe deeply...I realize that may be a bit difficult in an office situation, but if you have a door and can close it - DO IT!!!   If nothing else, for your sanity to give you a few minutes to breathe and regroup.  It will make a huge difference!

taking deep breaths is a good one as it combats the actual physical reaction to stress, and relaxes the body