Alternatives to Stress Eating

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Boingo1
Boingo1 Posts: 205 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I get anxious/nervous in times of stress. It seems the only thing that calms that feeling is stuffing food in my mouth.

I'm looking for good alternatives to relieve stress without food. I'm looking for do-able ideas.

I already work out, so that's not a fix. Usually happens when I can't just leave and go for a walk. I know those are popular ones.

Anything else work for you?
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Replies

  • Boingo1
    Boingo1 Posts: 205 Member
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    wow! No one? that sucks! LOL!
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
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    Well, no answers maybe because I think generally exercise is the best answer for me. Do something to keep busy.
    Chew sugarless gum?
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
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    Meditation? Go for a walk (not necessarily exercise, but a slow meander outside in the sunlight)? Distraction always seems to work well for me when anxious too; read a book or watch a movie.
  • aStrongerSteph
    aStrongerSteph Posts: 161 Member
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    LOL I get online and go to mfp...I must be stressed A LOT!
  • Kaathmandu
    Kaathmandu Posts: 129
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    Hey Boingo :-)
    I know what you mean - my response to almost any emotion is to eat!
    The thing with stress is that the body produces adrenaline, to get ready for "fight or flight" - very useful if your stress is caused by approaching Tyrannosaurus rex - not so helpful in lots of our modern work situations. But if you can go for a walk, or run up and down a flight of stairs, or some such energetic thing, you use the adrenaline and feel better. If you can go get something to eat, you can take the walk and not the food. Doesn't have to be a full workout session - ten minutes of star jumping in the Ladies will probably do it - and you may get a giggle out of feeling ridiculous and laughter always reduces stress.
    Other than that, have celery sticks on hand so that if you have to eat, it is not going to do much damage.
    Good luck!
    :-)
  • tladame
    tladame Posts: 465 Member
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    Video games! My 3-year-old downloaded 2 apps (without my knowledge) onto my Nook, and bless her, I'm now hopelessly addicted to them! If you don't have a device to download apps, you can play them online. They are a great stress-buster, and they take up enough time that you forget everything else for a while. It definitely keeps me occupied. Reading helps me too.
  • richfaber
    richfaber Posts: 31 Member
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    I use a fire extinguisher approach with a food that is not very dense in calories and I can eat a lot of. Egg whites is huge. You can dress it up with a little cheese and spices. I challenge you to eat 210 calories of egg whites at a sitting (one container). V8 low sodium is another good one, down a can and all is better again. Apples are portable as are bananas. Stay away from fat and salt on the snacks.

    Also remember that 99% of the things we worry about never, never happen. Let it all go and focus on a few important things you can actually influence.
  • newmein2013
    newmein2013 Posts: 674 Member
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    Start a project that you can pick up & put down anytime.

    Read a book

    Write a poem

    Start a weight loss journal with your emotions, successes, setbacks, etc.

    Listen to music

    Call a friend or relative you haven't spoken to in a while

    Look through cookbooks or online recipes

    Look up some exercises online that might be new to you or you've been wanting to try

    Take some progress pics
  • Zomoniac
    Zomoniac Posts: 1,169 Member
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    Crywank.
  • erinnstreeter
    erinnstreeter Posts: 82 Member
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    This is going to sound so 1950's housewife, but - when I have uncontrollable urges to eat, I go brush my teeth. Something about the mint and having clean teeth dissuades me from wanting to eat. Now, if I'm truly hungry, this won't stop me from eating; but it does help me figure out when I'm just bored or stressed as opposed to actually in need of food.

    Some of my friends drink a green and mint tea combination, and that seems to help them.

    When I'm stressed, things like reading, exercise, and massage help, too.
  • CarmenSRT
    CarmenSRT Posts: 843 Member
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    If only back slapping the person causing the stress were legal, but alas....:laugh:
  • Lize11e
    Lize11e Posts: 419
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    Something that was working for me that I have to get back to doing is analyzing WHY I want to eat. Google Roger Gould, he talks about emotional eating and offers enough free information to help. For a while I would follow his steps which (basically) are:

    1. Am I really physically hungry? If no, go to #2.
    2. Why do I want to eat? Last night for me it was because I was cold and wanted hot soup. A better alternative would have been a cup of hot tea.
    3. What could I do to help this feeling other than eating? This one is personal to you. Could be get up and do some housework, could be call and talk to a friend, anything really to get your mind off of the emotional hunger.
  • betoarango
    betoarango Posts: 222 Member
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    This is going to sound so 1950's housewife, but - when I have uncontrollable urges to eat, I go brush my teeth. Something about the mint and having clean teeth dissuades me from wanting to eat.

    LOL Never thought of it that way, but when I want to stop eating for the night i brush my teeth and feel no cravings or hunger...
  • Boingo1
    Boingo1 Posts: 205 Member
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    Thanks all. Very very helpful!!!
  • Boingo1
    Boingo1 Posts: 205 Member
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    Except for :

    "Crywank"

    Because I do not know the meaning...

    LOL
  • AmyJMadison
    AmyJMadison Posts: 143 Member
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    Yep the reading thing is good... keep a novel in the pantry and tell yourself you can ONLY read it standing at the kitchen sink like you would when you were sneaking a treat! So you sneak in the kitchen... open the pantry which is part of the habit already but walk away with 2 more pages in your head instead of a snack. You get your treat and zero cals.
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
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    I took up hand sewing quilt pieces one can not sew with sticky fingers.
  • Siobhan1983
    Siobhan1983 Posts: 24
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    I love to munch at night. To stop this I've started drinking tea.

    I have a cup or two of Vanilla Tea (0 cals) with Splenda (0 cals) and a tbsp International Delight Hazelnut Cream (40 cals)

    The creamy sweetness of it makes it like a treat for me, and I look forward to my cup of tea every night while I watch TV after dinner. I drink it super hot so it takes a long tome to drink, and once I am done a cup or two, it seems to satisfy my craving.

    This may help when you are feeling stressed out.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
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    Except for :

    "Crywank"

    Because I do not know the meaning...

    LOL

    Masturbating while crying
  • kayraven
    kayraven Posts: 7
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    Play games on your phone
    Go online read smth about diets, nutrition, healthy LS, clean eating
    And there's my personal favorite - Thinspo. I mean, I look at a skinny/fit girls' photo and I am not hungry anymore instantly.

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