Does anybody else eat due to stress?

LishaCole

Conveniently, I don't stress eat. If I did I would have gotten much larger over the last couple of years. When my stress level reaches critical I deflect by watching Sci-Fi on netflix. No joke, I can't stop - it's ridiculous. I have to "check myself" and analyze my actions to ensure I am not mentally blocking my stressors by "escaping". Really when it comes down to it, I think stress eating is a "hormonal escape" while my issue is a "mental escape". They are both coping methods that lead to deficiencies in self regulation.

I actually -USED TO- have a tendency of not eating when I am stressed, which resulted in 3-4 days of 600-700 cal (mostly coffees and random snacks) and then binging hard for a few days. That is how I got here!

petreebird

Yep, and it's much worse now since I'm trying to quit smoking. It's really hard sometimes to say no to certain things..

I am right there with ya!! I was wearing the patches and was perfectly fine. After 6 weeks of wearing them and starting to forget to put them on, I stopped wearing them....now I can't think about anything but food from about 7 pm until bed, which is around midnight or so.

AND on top of that, I am an emotional eater from hell, and lately I've been feeling really crappy, so guess what...I'm snacking!! At least it's not too bad when I work out.

timgardiner

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!!

Yes ..... loads of us eat when we are stressed. Love, life, money, work, kids, cars, wife,/husband ...... you name it, it stresses us and we seek comfort in one of natures basic "life sustainers" ..... food!

It's natural, it's certainly effective, but unfortunately it's contraproductive if we know we are overweight and realise after the stress food that we maybe should have held back a bit longer. The best bit is, once we realise that, it slowly becomes a lot easier to find other stress relievers that don't add the calories on to our already over burdoned stress meter. Tell yourself in front of a mirror at least once each and every day that you are a winner, get a "new look" haircut, slim your wardrobe down, get a lover .... whatever!!! Just convince yourself that you are the best and NO-ONE can tell you differently. In other words, grab the world by the b***s and DARE it to contradict you!!!!

arcticbutterfly

The GF dumped me last week and the urge to eat 10 pizzas, two gallons of Ice Cream and 10 lbs of French Fries! But, I ain't gonna do it! Can't wait to see her face when I get the Hot Bod and she can't have none!

Im laughing, not at your loss but your comment! So funny : )
I hope you feel better!

mrseelmerfudd

yes last week was one such a week where family problems meant i ate junk non stop. and unfortunately ive a lot of stress in my life right now however, i need to get the weight off so being good from today on and getting me moving along again!

SPNLuver83

I used too... But since I've increased my cardio I've noticed that I really don't get that stressed anymore, and if I do, the cardio releases it!

talzybob

i do it all the time i am stressed and the moment thats becomming more apparent as ive gained about 2kg in weight instead of losing it. so im having to stop myself from buying the treats all together to go for the fruit in the house instead of the biscuits. its hard but we all do it so dont feel so down about it. if need be just try to go for a walk or even a quick jog to destress.

jamiem1102

I was incredibly stressed last night, and all I wanted was to go to Jack in the Box or Carls Jr to get something (ANYTHING) deep fried and delicious. It's weird because normally i don't have that urge.

caroleslaststand

I've noticed over the past year or so that it is related to sleep. If I'm not getting enough, I lose the ability to resist and have less ability to plan meals and log my food.

CrazyDaisysMommy

My husband was under considerable stress the past few months and lost close to 20 pounds. (He's not a big guy to begin with) I told him if he mentioned his weight loss to me one more time, I was going to do horrible things to his food. I WISH I lost weight when I was stressed because I'd already be at my goal weight! When I feel stress, I self-soothe with mounds of food. I need lots of exercise to manage my stress, and I've been fine for a while now, but this morning the stress reached Threat Level Midnight. I actually called into work to say I'd be late and then made my husband go out to breakfast with me. I didn't binge, but the need for my favorite food was pretty strong. Although, I think spending some time with my husband is really what calmed me down.

Aire1987

It´s the stress-eating that got me here. I find it so incredibly hard to stop eating while stressed. When I´m about to binge I get this pounding in my chest because my body knows what´s gonna happen next. Everything has to go down so fast too, it´s frightening to have that little control over myself just over something as basic as food.

When I´m being social I never have a problem with stress eating, but as soon as I am alone I can eat just about anything, and I will not stop until my mind is a complete mess, my tummy is aching and the adrenaline and endorphines are running through me like a drug.
Sometimes it can spiral downward for days, but now I was actually in a good streak and I thought about that today.
"Good job" I said to myself. Then I went straight home and had a binge.

Gah, Weightloss would be so much easier if I didn´t relate food to feelings. I envy people who view food solely as fuel for the body. I´m sure as hell gonna have enough fuel for my workout tomorrow.

Heartpath

A lot of the weight I have to lose now is because of stress.

I wish I could do more of what people who DON'T stress eat do when they get stressed.

MaraDiaz

Up to a point I do. When I get too stressed, I stop eating. And sleeping.

zyxst

I eat for stress... and sadness... and boredom... and happiness, excietment, confusion, sleepyness... when I'm angry, worried, unhappy, sick, scared...

What's hilarious is I'm more stressed out over how I'm eating (staying under cals, under fat, enough water, listening to ppl say i'm eating wrong, etc.) and exercising (not enough and I'm cheating out, too much and I'm a sweaty slob). In 2 weeks, I get to get stressed over my doctor nagging me about being fat.

ladyfingers39

Yes!!! Big time! My kids tend to do it to me....

nmj1988

if your her twin, then im your triplet lol

nmj1988

I eat for stress... and sadness... and boredom... and happiness, excietment, confusion, sleepyness... when I'm angry, worried, unhappy, sick, scared...

An emotional eater at its finest, and the love handles will agree :drinker:

Ahh, you're my twin.

if your her twin, then im your triplet lol

Josie_lifting_cats

I'm totally a stress eater.

I love stress. But too much and I don't deal well. I haven't found a good outlet for it yet.

MizzDoc

Yes I do as well. And I always feel guilty afterwards, which leads to more stress! :sad:

TealStar13

Haha yup. I sure do. It's sad. :ohwell:

BeautyFromPain

yup

SassyCalyGirl

I do the exact opposite-no eating when stressed or depressed.

buggs1958

Yes especially now as we are getting ready for inventory at work,hate it! But im gonna be good and exercise to the wii tonight.Maybe i'll burn some of that stress off.

NicolettetheGreek

Ummm. ME!! That is how I gained a teenager hanging off my rear. But, learning to do other things now, like look at Pinterest, clean (UGH) or pet my dogs. Working for me. Good luck fighting that demon!:grumble:

raineraven78

I either eat junk or not at all when I'm stressed. Either way I gain - weight - especially around the mid-section. Damn cortisol!

anna_love

YES