STRESS!!!! Where's the sugar??

Cazzy34
Cazzy34 Posts: 159 Member
edited November 30 in Health and Weight Loss
OK, I have finally realised the main thing coming in the way of my weight loss! STRESS!

Every time I am feeling stressed I am reaching for the sweetest thing I can find, chocolate, biscuits, cake etc... and I can eat LOADS before I actually realise what the hell I'm doing!

I know that there is a link between stress and eating sugary foods, however I am at a loss as to how I can try to manage this!?! I seem to do it relatively unconsciously, which I know isn't good. (e.g. at my desk at work today I ate 2 bars of chocolate in 5 minutes!)

Any strategies, ideas, books, links that could help me curb this connection between stress and sugar as I clearly am not doing well on my own! (even with my health and science knowledge!)

Oh just for info, I'm a single mum with 3 kids, I work, I'm studying towards a degree and pretty much under constant stress! lol

AAARRGGGHHHHHH!!!! :p

Replies

  • BeckyPedersonDahl
    BeckyPedersonDahl Posts: 1 Member
    I gave it up one week ago and honestly, there isn't an easy way to do it. If you are as dependent on sugar as I was, there's no easing off of it. You gotta go cold turkey and get rid of all sugarry products in the house.
    The first three days were hard and I was in a rage the whole time. Now that the week has passed I have so much more energy. It's great.
  • megzchica23
    megzchica23 Posts: 419 Member
    I had this issue too. You have to give it up and let it go for a while before you just crave it. Now when I get stressed it isn't as bad. There are times I still want it but because I have curbed my addiction it just isn't the same. Now I drink sleepy time tea every night to help me unwind and relax before bed. At work instead of spending lunch in the break room, I relax with a book, a show, or I eat then go walk for 20 minutes. I also have tons of water. Instead of grabbing a snack all day at work I just drink water. I drink so much water now too which is good.
  • 100df
    100df Posts: 668 Member
    I try to log whatever I am eating before it crosses my lips. Sometimes seeing how it's going to put me over my goal will stop me. I try to keep in mind how I want to look in a year. If I keep eating over goal I won't be where I want to be.

    Where did the chocolate bars come from? I have more success if I don't have anything like that around. It's hard if you work near a store though.

    Do you have enough calories to fit some chocolate in? If I know I have a treat coming later it will stop me from eating something else. It is tough to fit into 1200 calories though and not be hungry.

    What has helped me the most is getting right back to it after I eat something that doesn't fit in my day. Don't use the chocolate bars to blow the whole day.
  • kathrynjean_
    kathrynjean_ Posts: 428 Member
    I have found a few good, individually portioned sweet snacks for these times. Just last week I found the BEST rich, chocolate pudding that I've ever had in my life - and one package is about 130 calories. Put some fresh strawberries on top and it's literally the best thing ever and reasonable for me to fit into my calorie goal. It's enough for me to have that taste and feel satisfied.

    Another thing that I do sometimes if I'm really stressed and really craving something sweet is to go for a walk to get it. A lot of the time, by the time I get out of the house and the fresh air hits, it's only a few minutes before I feel better. Then I decide if I still want the snack, and if I do, I pick something that fits in my calorie goals for the day.
  • Cazzy34
    Cazzy34 Posts: 159 Member
    Thanks.... I know the best way is to go COLD TURKEY as I have done this before and it worked great but the problem is keeping that going long term. The sweet box in work is right next to my desk and it is packed full of all sorts of chocolate bars, crisps and sweets, so its really easy to pick them up and eat. I think it might be worth moving the box to the other side of the office!!

    I've had a look at some behavioural techniques, but i'm not sure how successful they are?

    Maybe I need someone to hold me accountable which may force me into thinking twice, however I don't have much time to go to a diet type class!

    Maybe I need a complete re-think!
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    For me, pre-logging a snack helps. I do snitch foods when passing the pantry (2 M&Ms, a single pretzel, 3 chocolate chips), but now that I pre-log a chocolate/sweet snack in means I don't do that snitching. Right now I'm on a chocolate covered coffee bean kick. The extra caffeine helps fend off the 3 pm sleepiness.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories