I struggle with stress eating... help!!

wknmom

So I am sooo disciplined through the day. I have breakfast and pack the healthy, planned food for the day and take it to work with me. I work out at least 4 times a week, and I work out hard. I am strong and 'fit', for a gal that is overweight. When I get home, there is so much to be done (because I work full time and have three teenagers). I look at all that isn't completed, get supper prepared for my clan and then collapse. I have about an hour and half where I just want to eat-eat-eat!! And most often, I do eat-eat-eat. Then I get totally disgusted with myself and realize that I have just negated all my efforts through the majority of the day. I wasn't always this short on self-control. How do I get back to the person I used to be... who could just get the job done and not get discouraged and run to food? Sometimes I wish I smoked because that vice wouldn't make me fat. (not really - but I tell myself that).

twosons08

Hi Corinne,
I don't have the answer but I can totally relate to what you are saying...the end of the day is when all of my calories get consumed. I too am a working mom and I have two teenagers, not 3 :-)

I have started working out on my elliptical after dinner or I go for a walk and listen to my favourite songs to calm me down. Perhaps we can be friends and support each other through the evening hours.

annelisehagar

Hi ladies-

I'm on a totally different boat, stress causing wise, I'm a college student and usually eat my way through finals period. One solution I have used is to munch on healthy stuff (veggies, low-sugar popsicles) so I still have the sensation of snacking. Sometimes even looking at how many calories something has before I consume it will stop me in my tracks. But the most important thing I have realized is that if I do give in to whatever that craving is, I accept it, enjoy and think of the new day that is coming when I have a new opportunity to be the best me. Restricting too much usually just puts me in a worse mood about my eating. Best of luck and I'll be working on that too

vypeters

Is it the stress that's triggering you, or the stopping. I get the munchiest when I'm the least busy in my day. Time moves slower and there's more time to think about food.

I recommend:

A plan for what to do instead of eating. It's not enough just to NOT eat, you need a plan of what you will do instead.

A decision in advance as to what you will eat in that time. 10 grapes, for example. If you make yourself get up, count out 10 grapes and walk around while you eat them you'll break pretty close to even. It's easier to make a good choice in what to eat if you make it ahead of time.

Those are what work for me.

TheBitSlinger

Exercising is the only I way I beat the temptation to stress eat. That, plus the fact, I had to accept that I'm a food addict.

wknmom

Thank you for the advice. I will try planning a strategy for that time period.

kellyskitties

Sit a bowl on the counter and fill it with a healthy snack (raw veggies plus a treat if you can afford it - like a piece of cheese or lunchmeat or some dip). Munch from the bowl. I do this sometimes. I call it a rabbit plate. It's my stress/boredom/binge beater. If I run over on calories because of a celery and a lettuce core - who cares. If I run over because of a family sized bag of chips - that's a problem.

amy_kee

That sounds like a good idea about making a plan ahead of time for that time period when you are over eating.

Let me know of some of the ideas that you come up with Corinne.

TheSlinkyMinky

I can definitely relate. I've gained 30 lbs in the last year and a half since I started a new job working graveyard. I seem to do okay until about 3 in the morning when I'm tired and stressed and just want to eat half the crap in the vending machines. Bringing healthy snacks to work doesn't seem to help as I can keep eating, eating, eating to the point of being sick sometimes. I just get disgusted with myself.

Hearts_2015

bump for the tips!