Stress Eating and Chocolate

BreR7906
BreR7906 Posts: 47 Member
edited November 17 in Getting Started
Hello everyone. As some may already know I love my chocolate! Keeping control of not over indulging it is a challenge all on it's own. However, as I have been mentally keeping an eye on my habits the past month or so it seems chocolate and I become inseparable during stressul moments. Which can then turn into mindless snacking and, of course, calorie increase. I guess my question here is how do you manage your stress level when what you really feel like doing is grabbing a bag of your favorite comfort snack, wrapping yourself in a blanket and just plopping in your favorite spot and just pigging out so to speak? Any advice, tips and opinions are appreciated. Thanks and have a great night!

Replies

  • Ljpage95
    Ljpage95 Posts: 9 Member
    edited April 2015
    I try to keep something boring and not overly appealing on hand like a yogurt or an apple. Often times when I MUST have chocolate (aka wanting to stress eat), I'll bargain with myself and think 'You need to eat this apple first'. If the whiny little kid response is 'I don't wanna eat the apple', then I know I'm not really hungry.

    Also, like tonight, when I raided the kitchen cupboards several times seeking chocolate, I allowed myself a cup of decaf coffee with a splash of good coffee creamer. It's far fewer calories than the chocolate I would eat otherwise, but it's a satisfying sweet comfort food for me and it eliminated my chocolate craving. All for about 60 calories. And think, I sip coffee rather than gorging on cake.
  • princess7955
    princess7955 Posts: 1,277 Member
    following! I am the same way - When I'm stressed, I go for the chocolate (with a glass of wine!).

    I like the ideas posted above...keep them coming!
  • BreR7906
    BreR7906 Posts: 47 Member
    Being a stay at home Mom food has become my comfort over the years. Especially since my husband and I quit smoking 7 years ago. Thank you, Ljpage95 for your suggestions. Makes me wish I was a coffee drinker. Lol. I also limit myself to one yogurt a day. Otherwise it would all be gone in a day. I love yogurt! I only wish I could control my chocolate addiction as easily. Lol. I really like the test idea with the apple and whiny response. I'll definitely be keeping that in mind! Thanks. :)
  • dawnmcneil10
    dawnmcneil10 Posts: 638 Member
    Coffee is my high stress item. I actually learned that it's not the drink it's the smells. When I'm highly stressed now I'll stop at a coffee shop (cafe or starbucks usually) open the door close my eyes and take a deep breath. Sometimes I just simply reload my gift card, sometimes I grab some almonds and sometimes I get myself a coffee treat.

    The power of smell might surprise you. For instance what if you got a chocolate flavored lip balm? Would the smell make your mood improve? Glass of chocolate milk might work too.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I'm stressed, blue, and lying in bed at the moment. Today I bought two chocolate covered pretzels, and logged them. Tonight I have some chocolate frozen yogurt and dark chocolate I'll eat and log. I guess I just make a lot of room for it, or don't buy it in large quantities.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I go to the dojo and have a good workout. Nothing helps stress better than spending a couple of hours on the mat. :)
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I save room for a lil something everyday, (usually chocolate). I find that pre logging my day helps stay on track.
  • BreR7906
    BreR7906 Posts: 47 Member
    dawnmcneil10 wrote: »
    Coffee is my high stress item. I actually learned that it's not the drink it's the smells. When I'm highly stressed now I'll stop at a coffee shop (cafe or starbucks usually) open the door close my eyes and take a deep breath. Sometimes I just simply reload my gift card, sometimes I grab some almonds and sometimes I get myself a coffee treat.

    The power of smell might surprise you. For instance what if you got a chocolate flavored lip balm? Would the smell make your mood improve? Glass of chocolate milk might work too.

    I did just that. I stopped with the candy chocolate and started drinking chocolate milk when I wanted something chocolate. I figured that was a safe change. Then my nutritionist told me that my relationship with chocolate milk really should have more distance between us. :( I'll have to try getting a chocolate balm and try that. Thanks. :)
  • BreR7906
    BreR7906 Posts: 47 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    I'm stressed, blue, and lying in bed at the moment. Today I bought two chocolate covered pretzels, and logged them. Tonight I have some chocolate frozen yogurt and dark chocolate I'll eat and log. I guess I just make a lot of room for it, or don't buy it in large quantities.

    I hope you're feeling better now than earlier and I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. :)
  • BreR7906
    BreR7906 Posts: 47 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    I save room for a lil something everyday, (usually chocolate). I find that pre logging my day helps stay on track.

    Thanks! I actually had pre-logged dinner today and loved how much that helped. I plan to do that every day!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    BreR7906 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    I'm stressed, blue, and lying in bed at the moment. Today I bought two chocolate covered pretzels, and logged them. Tonight I have some chocolate frozen yogurt and dark chocolate I'll eat and log. I guess I just make a lot of room for it, or don't buy it in large quantities.

    I hope you're feeling better now than earlier and I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. :)

    Aw. Thank you. I'm out of bed...still looking forward to chocolate frozen yogurt and popcorn :)
  • BreR7906
    BreR7906 Posts: 47 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    BreR7906 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    I'm stressed, blue, and lying in bed at the moment. Today I bought two chocolate covered pretzels, and logged them. Tonight I have some chocolate frozen yogurt and dark chocolate I'll eat and log. I guess I just make a lot of room for it, or don't buy it in large quantities.

    I hope you're feeling better now than earlier and I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. :)

    Aw. Thank you. I'm out of bed...still looking forward to chocolate frozen yogurt and popcorn :)

    Out of bed is a step in the right direction, right? It can only get better from there. Especially when chocolate frozen yogurt is involved! Yum! ;)
  • Blazing_Brunette
    Blazing_Brunette Posts: 217 Member
    Try Nutella on a couple pretzels to have that chocolate fix ...
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