Help! Overwhelmed and hungry and stressed

crystalhuskey

Ugh! I'm a magazine editor, and I have five days until deadline. I'm stressed, and I'm freaking hungry and I want Zaxby's. But this is what happens every time I start doing well with my weight loss. I get hungry and stressed and overeat. But I don't want fish and I don't want salad. I want chicken fingers and fries dangit! OK, I feel better writing it down. I need to go grocery shopping, but on deadline week, I hole up in my office and don't eat until I'm starving and then eat crap. (I see a pattern of bad choices...)

That is all.

vismal

I think you actually have a good handle on exactly where your sticking point is. My advice is, since you seem to have identified the problem, is to remind yourself that stress is what is driving your hunger. Eat the fish and salad despite wanting the less healthy options. Also, there are low calorie ways to make chicken fingers and fries. No it won't be exactly the same but I have come up with low calorie substitute recipes for many of my favorite high calorie meals.

maidentl

Are you trying to eat too little? What's your calorie goal?

Liftng4Lis

Maybe you can bring a lunch and snacks from home so you won't be tempted to eat "crap". Personally I see nothing wrong with chicken fingers or fries if they fit into your calories. Not daily of course but hey a girls gotta treat once in awhile.

crystalhuskey

So basically, do what I tell my kids to do. "I don't care if you don't like the fish, eat the fish because we're not having anything else for supper!"

LOL.

I'm not trying to eat less than what I should, but half the month I get so busy that I don't plan my meals well. Especially breakfast/lunch. I gained most of my weight this way: wouldn't eat breakfast or lunch, then eat a ton of food between 4 p.m. and midnight. So I should not do that!

StaciMarie1974

Zaxby's has AWESOME salads. My favorite is the blackened blue salad. Mixed greens, tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, blackened/grilled chicken breast. It comes w/ toast & fried onions. I leave off the onions and keep the toast. About 500 calories for the salad + toast. Does not include dressing. They have a light ranch but I keep a light italian that I prefer in the office fridge.

SezxyStef

So basically, do what I tell my kids to do. "I don't care if you don't like the fish, eat the fish because we're not having anything else for supper!"

LOL.

I'm not trying to eat less than what I should, but half the month I get so busy that I don't plan my meals well. Especially breakfast/lunch. I gained most of my weight this way: wouldn't eat breakfast or lunch, then eat a ton of food between 4 p.m. and midnight. So I should not do that!

Meal timing is irrelevant...it's the amount you are eating.

If however you know you have this stress at the same time every month start preplanning your meals. Have them ready to go in the fridge so you can grab and go.

My mornings are busy always, so I do one of two things...have a smoothie with protien powder or have made my egg burito/grilled ham/cheese or egg/bacon sandwich ready to go as I leave the house and either eat it in the car or at my desk.

Kalikel

Magazine people and accountants. Every month, they run around like crazy and complain about deadlines and "end of month"...as if they didn't know it was coming, lol. Every single month. You guys are too funny.

If you want to overeat, you should. You should only diet if you really WANT to be thinner.

Good luck with your deadline. (But you'll make it. You guys always make your deadlines, which is another thing you forget every month.

crystalhuskey

Haha, Kalikel, you are absolutely right! Unfortunately, I have to wait until OTHER people meet their deadlines before I can begin working on mine. Then everything comes in at once and it's madness.

PS. Having salad and grilled fish. Thanks everyone. I really needed the encouragement.

nicsflyingcircus

I ate Zaxby's last week. Five buffalo fingers, 2 oz fries and about 1.5 oz onion rings (was 4-5 rings). No dipping sauces. Was fantastic and squeezed it into my calories, lol