which is harder for you - boredom eating or stress eating?

JoMcDonald

I've always had a problem with the emotional ties of eating, if I'm upset food will comfort me. Breaking that habit has been one of the most difficult things I have done, but I think I am halfway there.

What do you find is the more difficult link for you?

jnoring

I am a bored eater, If I have nothing to do all eat something. Also I feel like I need to eat something while I watch T.V, or a movie. When I clearly dont!

likeaphoenix28

Stress eating, specifically when I'm feeling anxious, is the big one for me. Food is calming and sedating.

jennifer2977

Boredom. If I'm slow at work I will sit and snack all day. Same at home.

FitnessBarbie99

Boredom.

I'm not living a high stress life, so stress eating would be quite rare for me these days.

Kate_UK

I tend to eat out of boredom more often than I do out of stress, but I'm quite happy to do both! :ohwell:
I find curbing the bordom eating easier than the stress, because I'm sitting around thinking about it, but with stress eating its an imediate reaction and often I've done it before I even realised I was eating something if that makes sense.

JoMcDonald

I am the same way, when watching tv or a movie... that is a really hard time for me! Have you found anything that helps?

Dixiegirl532

Boredom is sometimes really bad but stress eating is definitely worse for me. If I'm anxious and stressed its like I loose all control.

cpow81

Boredom...especially at work. I end up snacking on too much crap and I'm not even hungry.

sjohnny

I do both. Mostly boredom eating though. The difference for me is that I can eat healthy when I'm boredom eating. When stess eating, unfortunately, broccoli and grilled chicken don't make it better as well as nachos, chocolate and vodka.

JoMcDonald

I'm not working right now, and my classes dont start until the 17th... so I am home trying not to "fridge-raid"... it's not as easy as it sounds!!

genxrider

I am a bored eater, If I have nothing to do all eat something. Also I feel like I need to eat something while I watch T.V, or a movie. When I clearly dont!

This. Which is why I now knit. Keeps my hands busy and full.

RoxRae

I am a bored eater AND an emotional eater. Double whammy!! I find myself wanting to munch on something when I'm bored and I really want to eat if I get mad or frustrated. Yesterday afternoon I found myself wanting something and I chewed the HECK out of a piece of gum!

grandmatbigsky

Definitely e-mo eating... esp. if I'm angry. Stuffing something sweet in the mouth stuffs the anger down..maybe because I hate conflict. But then again...I'm faced with internal conflict over over-eating!! So it's best to calm down, face the issues with a heart quieted by prayer, and deal with what's really driving me. That takes time... and consideration; moreso than simply "stuffing"

GG70

I do both and I am surely a procrastinating eater too.. If I don't want to do something I will just eat something instead of getting to it.. bad bad habits..

traceracer

I can find any reason to eat! I eat when Im bored, depressed, sad, happy, anxious, ect.! I just love food! Apparently though, I have loved food more than myself. Now Im learning how to change that:)

JoMcDonald

so what has everyone done that helps them, when bored, not to eat when not hungry? I could use some tips

KyleB65

BOTH!!!

One of the reasons I go to the gym 6 days a week is to not be bored at home in the evenings. In the past I could sit down in front of the idiot box at around 7 pm (after supper) and consume a 2 Litre bottle of Coke + big bag of chips and a 500ml container of sour cream based dip before heading to bed.

Add stress into the scenario and you can add in a 2x trio stop at McDonald's on my way home for supper!

Now I am not bored as I am active every day and when I am stressed. I go to the gym and hit the heavy bag or do some fast skip rope for a few rounds. Calms me right down!

I would even make the argument that my gym membership costs me less than what I was spending on junk food per month!

FaithHopeBELIEVE

boredome eating. When I'm stressed I have no appetite.

jnoring

I am the same way, when watching tv or a movie... that is a really hard time for me! Have you found anything that helps?

I chew a lot of gum now. Also I try to just avoid watching TV what-so-ever. I could probably be doing something more productive with my time.

JoMcDonald

I can find any reason to eat! I eat when Im bored, depressed, sad, happy, anxious, ect.! I just love food! Apparently though, I have loved food more than myself. Now Im learning how to change that:)

I understand that completely, loving food more than yourself... sounds like you are definitely on the right path, though!

Brandib1985

stress eating. I dont eat when I am bored usually but as soon as something even just a little stressful happens I find myself eating. Its so hard to break the habit . I think Food is my drug

Swtmelissa19690

When I'm bored or stressed I always seem to crave sweets..Wish I could break that habit but have done pretty good with it the last few days.

Melissa

utayah

In high stress situations I eat, but boredom eating gets me every time and is always the reason I've gone over my daily limit. To help myself, I chew LOTS of gum. I eat at work, during movies, tv, computer work etc.

Kate_UK

so what has everyone done that helps them, when bored, not to eat when not hungry? I could use some tips

I'm teaching myself to crochet (with the help of youtube) if my hands are full I can't eat And wool tastes nasty

-Not very well I might add!

rmsrws

I am exercising my right to boredom eat as I type this!

At work with nothing to do, so I thought I'd munch on a few multigrain crisps!

JoMcDonald

BOTH!!!

One of the reasons I go to the gym 6 days a week is to not be bored at home in the evenings. In the past I could sit down in front of the idiot box at around 7 pm (after supper) and consume a 2 Litre bottle of Coke + big bag of chips and a 500ml container of sour cream based dip before heading to bed.

Add stress into the scenario and you can add in a 2x trio stop at McDonald's on my way home for supper!

Now I am not bored as I am active every day and when I am stressed. I go to the gym and hit the heavy bag or do some fast skip rope for a few rounds. Calms me right down!

I would even make the argument that my gym membership costs me less than what I was spending on junk food per month!

We are joining a gym for that exact reason - working out releases all that stress and tends to re-direct your thoughts to get back on track, or so Ive found... I'm really excited to be finally taking that step and joining.

mrsbeardtoyou

I eat because I AM BORED. I now find myself reaching for lettuce or an apple when that happens. I can't seem to control the "habit" but I can surely control what I put in my mouth.

bellydancer123

Boredom. If I'm bored I will eat even if I'm not hungry. I start to crave sugary snacks. What I do now if I get bored, I go on this site and read on my progress and I surf the net reading others' weight loss success stories, to help keep me focused on my goal and away from the snacks!

MaraDiaz

Boredom is a form of stress, actually. If I get too stressed I stop sleeping and eating and turn into psycho-lady. But if I'm bored-stressed or just a little stressed, I eat like a pig and quietly hate everyone and everything. I hate being bored! I'm sure there's a clever psych major out there about to tell me my hatred for boredom is a sign of mental disease and that I should seek help immediately, and to you I say...no wait, I can't say that on this forum!

JoMcDonald

I am exercising my right to boredom eat as I type this!

At work with nothing to do, so I thought I'd munch on a few multigrain crisps!

I think now and then is fine - Im worried about restricting myself too much, and stressing out about not eating to the point that i want to give up. There has to be a fair amount of give and take.