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

UnderConstructionJ

Most DEFINITELY Boredom Eating for me...usually when I'm stressed I don't eat...but when I'm BORED I get a bad case of the munchies that is UNCONTROLLABLE! SMH!

aippolito1

Hmmm...a little of both. When I'm stressed, I usually want bad foods. When I'm bored, I just tend to eat a lot of anything that's around - healthy or not, it's more about portions when it comes to boredom.

emmamcblain

100% boredom eating. I'm quite good at handling my stress really, but if there's absolutely nothing to do one day, it can be challenge to not get the munchies when I'm bored.

kidbxrs

bored.......

toxicat

Definitely boredom eating. If I am stressed, I can just have a glass of wine, and I am fine.

jacksonpt

DEFINITELY emotional/stress eating, especially when I'm bummed out.

I'm pretty good at not being bored, so bored eating isn't much of an issue for me.

Goldenwoof

For me, eating when I'm bored has always been (and possibly will always be) a problem. I have no stress-related eating issues whatsoever. Just when I'm bored.

I used to eat whatever happened to be in the house, or send out for a pizza, just for the sake of eating. It was a way to pass the time. Since getting serious about this stuff, however, I've changed that. When I'm bored and think about about eating, I'll either drink more water or eat something healthy, like popcorn or some fruit or veggies.

But yeah...for me? Bored eating is a rough one to get away from.

UnderConstructionJ

I'm better with controlling it at home than work...I'll get caught up in t.v. or something and find that I don't eat as much. Especially since I typically don't buy snacks to keep in the house. One thing for sure I need to start DRINKING WATER when at home.

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

lorals05

Definitely boredom eating!

conlinmel

For me it is boredom eating....I have the most trouble on days when I have too much free time around the house to just sit and veg on the couch with snacks!!

Moonbyebye

I'd say a mixture of both. Stress can either make me want to eat a ton or nothing at all. Boredom I eat mindlessly and always feel guilty afterwards :-/.

boodlelibra

I started knitting when I watch TV. I just do scarves - no counting or paying attention needed. I make them for the guys at our local VA and the homeless shelter downtown and keep the basket right next to the couch. This definitely helps and when I do snack I can't eat buttery things (ahem, nasty delicious popcorn) because it makes the needles slippery!

babylemonade

Boredom eating...ugh

pretty_ribbons

defo boredom eating, being a SAHM means im usually on top of housework and stuff so when im at home and im all houseworked out i eat but since i have started "dieting" i have been dancing when i have nothing to do

Cosmos40

My sister told me to paint my nails when I'm bored or watching tv...you don't wanna smudge them by looking for something to eat!

firesoforion

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..

I do this too!!!

As for bored versus stressed, well it depends on whether I'm bored or stressed!

Seriously though, I can fall into boredom eating, but stress eating while writing my master's thesis (meaning that it was combined with just sitting at a computer all day) is where I gained almost all my weight. I knew it was happening, too, and what the result would be, but it just didn't matter (there were some technical problems with it, I had like 1/4 of the normal time, and b/c I was part of the first graduating class of that program there were a lot of unresolved issues, to the point where it was actually accepted literally at the last minute for me to be able to graduate on time, plus I was wondering what would happen when I graduated.). Actually it's funny because even now as I lose the weight, I think that it's less stressful to be losing the weight than it would have been to deprive myself while I was doing all that stuff. I managed to curb it a bit with tea (I read tea is supposed to make you less stressed), though I also drank coffee for that reason and to try to stay up and found out the hard way that that isn't for me. Coffee raises some people's stress levels. So yeah, tea! Herb tea, black tea, green tea, all of it.

As for bored eating recommendations: I have a rule of no food anywhere but the kitchen. That means no food while on the computer, no food while watching tv (well technically I can see the tv from the kitchen, but it's farther away, standing up at the doorway type of thing.) I also come on these boards whenever I have the inclination to boredom eat, it fulfills the need completely. Also, tea (green tea with lemon is supposed to help with weight loss anyway) or other low/no calorie beverages. Also I find that cooking helps (don't nibble though!). Apparently that's what my grandmother used to do when she was on a diet, cook all the stuff she wanted to eat and then just not eat it. It doesn't seem like it should work but it really does. If I'm not careful I'm going to wind up with a freezer full of brownies and cakes, LOL. But also trying cooking different healthy recipes is a great thing.

TinaDay1114

I work night shift and I find myself eating to stay awake...

THIS is my biggest problem. If I find myself mindlessly grazing, it's usually b/c I'm EXHAUSTED and trying to stay awake to get through my day. It's hard to get a good 8 hrs. sleep w/little kids and a full time job...but when I do, I don't do this.

Psychomasokism

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

^This,

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..

^and this.

I've only learned to try to keep busy and out of the house, but this is a HUUUGE issue for me. Midterms and finals make it worse. On the look out for suggestions! >.>

jeannicoleau

I am definitely a boredom eater. I actually find myself "grazing" if I sit in front of the TV for too long. For those who need the definition of "grazing" : It is when you get up grab a small snack, finish that and then get up again to grab another snack, finish that and just keep repeating the process.

BreakingUpWithObesity2013

BORED EATER!! Majorly...anytime im bored all i wanna do is EAT! So now when i get to the point that I feel like im going to be heading to the kitchen...i clean my house or organize something lol sounds stupid..but it works for me and let me tell ya...my house is CLEAN!! lol

skibunny24

Boredom eater. I more often forget to eat when I'm stressed, but if I start... I won't stop! Lol! I've pretty much broken the habits, but it has been hard, and I'm only 6 weeks in. I know I can keep up the good habits, but it really takes stocking healthy snacks, and appropriate quantities of those at work.

vox23

I am definitely belong in the boredom category. When I'm stressed I don't eat at all. Two extremes! I need to keep busy in the evenings. Sitting in front of the tv or my laptop is not a good thing

Slove009

Boredom eating. When I'm stressed I tend to take it out on things that are dirty. (Stress cleaner!) If I'm bored it's really easy for me to just sit and eat while watching TV or online. I started watching TV only when my husband is around because he never has had any issues with stress or boredom eating and keeps me from doing either pretty well!

TidoWyla

A boredom eater! If I stay busy I'm fine, but if I don't have anything to do or am just watching TV, I like to eat. PLUS I have a desk job, which is absolutely horrible for wanting to snack all day long!

itsuki

Definitely stress eating. When I'm stressed all I want is fried food and beer.

amoffatt

Boredom eating definately. When I am stressed I dont eat because I am usuall sick to my stomach, but when I am bored....look out.... :grumble:

summertime_girl

Mindless eating is my biggest. I don't eat when I'm bored, I don't eat when I'm stressed. I eat when someone sticks food in front of me, and I absent-mindedly grab a handful of chips, candy, whatever. Especially at parties, when there's a ton of food out on tables, and I can gobble up an absurd amount of food without even realizing it.

BrendaLee

I was going to say boredom, because that's always been a problem for me, but the more I think about it...I'd have to say stress eating. When I get really upset, I feel like saying screw it and eating whatever I want.

savlyon

boredom!!! I work out when I'm stressed. I can't possibly eat because my stomach is usually tight.

Boredom sucks!

lmelangley

Stress, unequivocably. If I'm bored, I pick up my knitting/crocheting and then don't want to get my fingers dirty. I usually snack on fingery type foods. But, when I'm stressed, I'm like the energizer bunny - can't focus on anything and just want to shove everything into my mouth.