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

JoMcDonald
JoMcDonald Posts: 44
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've always had a problem with the emotional ties of eating, if I'm upset food will comfort me. Breaking that habit has been one of the most difficult things I have done, but I think I am halfway there.

What do you find is the more difficult link for you?
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Replies

  • jnoring
    jnoring Posts: 93
    I am a bored eater, If I have nothing to do all eat something. Also I feel like I need to eat something while I watch T.V, or a movie. When I clearly dont!
  • likeaphoenix28
    likeaphoenix28 Posts: 176
    Stress eating, specifically when I'm feeling anxious, is the big one for me. Food is calming and sedating.
  • jennifer2977
    jennifer2977 Posts: 156
    Boredom. If I'm slow at work I will sit and snack all day. Same at home.
  • FitnessBarbie99
    FitnessBarbie99 Posts: 277 Member
    Boredom.

    I'm not living a high stress life, so stress eating would be quite rare for me these days.
  • Kate_UK
    Kate_UK Posts: 1,299 Member
    I tend to eat out of boredom more often than I do out of stress, but I'm quite happy to do both! :ohwell:
    I find curbing the bordom eating easier than the stress, because I'm sitting around thinking about it, but with stress eating its an imediate reaction and often I've done it before I even realised I was eating something if that makes sense.
  • JoMcDonald
    JoMcDonald Posts: 44
    I am the same way, when watching tv or a movie... that is a really hard time for me! Have you found anything that helps?
  • Dixiegirl532
    Dixiegirl532 Posts: 1
    Boredom is sometimes really bad but stress eating is definitely worse for me. If I'm anxious and stressed its like I loose all control.
  • cpow81
    cpow81 Posts: 114
    Boredom...especially at work. I end up snacking on too much crap and I'm not even hungry.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    I do both. Mostly boredom eating though. The difference for me is that I can eat healthy when I'm boredom eating. When stess eating, unfortunately, broccoli and grilled chicken don't make it better as well as nachos, chocolate and vodka.
  • JoMcDonald
    JoMcDonald Posts: 44
    I'm not working right now, and my classes dont start until the 17th... so I am home trying not to "fridge-raid"... it's not as easy as it sounds!!
  • genxrider
    genxrider Posts: 107 Member
    I am a bored eater, If I have nothing to do all eat something. Also I feel like I need to eat something while I watch T.V, or a movie. When I clearly dont!

    This. Which is why I now knit. Keeps my hands busy and full.
  • RoxRae
    RoxRae Posts: 60
    I am a bored eater AND an emotional eater. Double whammy!! I find myself wanting to munch on something when I'm bored and I really want to eat if I get mad or frustrated. Yesterday afternoon I found myself wanting something and I chewed the HECK out of a piece of gum! :)
  • grandmatbigsky
    grandmatbigsky Posts: 10
    Definitely e-mo eating... esp. if I'm angry. Stuffing something sweet in the mouth stuffs the anger down..maybe because I hate conflict. But then again...I'm faced with internal conflict over over-eating!! So it's best to calm down, face the issues with a heart quieted by prayer, and deal with what's really driving me. That takes time... and consideration; moreso than simply "stuffing" :):wink:
  • GG70
    GG70 Posts: 232 Member
    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..
  • traceracer
    traceracer Posts: 303 Member
    I can find any reason to eat! I eat when Im bored, depressed, sad, happy, anxious, ect.! I just love food! Apparently though, I have loved food more than myself. Now Im learning how to change that:)
  • JoMcDonald
    JoMcDonald Posts: 44
    so what has everyone done that helps them, when bored, not to eat when not hungry? I could use some tips :)
  • KyleB65
    KyleB65 Posts: 1,196 Member
    BOTH!!!

    One of the reasons I go to the gym 6 days a week is to not be bored at home in the evenings. In the past I could sit down in front of the idiot box at around 7 pm (after supper) and consume a 2 Litre bottle of Coke + big bag of chips and a 500ml container of sour cream based dip before heading to bed.

    Add stress into the scenario and you can add in a 2x trio stop at McDonald's on my way home for supper!

    Now I am not bored as I am active every day and when I am stressed. I go to the gym and hit the heavy bag or do some fast skip rope for a few rounds. Calms me right down!

    I would even make the argument that my gym membership costs me less than what I was spending on junk food per month!
  • FaithHopeBELIEVE
    FaithHopeBELIEVE Posts: 626
    boredome eating. When I'm stressed I have no appetite.
  • jnoring
    jnoring Posts: 93
    I am the same way, when watching tv or a movie... that is a really hard time for me! Have you found anything that helps?
    I chew a lot of gum now. Also I try to just avoid watching TV what-so-ever. I could probably be doing something more productive with my time.
  • JoMcDonald
    JoMcDonald Posts: 44
    I can find any reason to eat! I eat when Im bored, depressed, sad, happy, anxious, ect.! I just love food! Apparently though, I have loved food more than myself. Now Im learning how to change that:)

    I understand that completely, loving food more than yourself... sounds like you are definitely on the right path, though!
  • Brandib1985
    Brandib1985 Posts: 54 Member
    stress eating. I dont eat when I am bored usually but as soon as something even just a little stressful happens I find myself eating. Its so hard to break the habit . I think Food is my drug
  • Swtmelissa19690
    Swtmelissa19690 Posts: 4
    When I'm bored or stressed I always seem to crave sweets..Wish I could break that habit but have done pretty good with it the last few days.

    Melissa
  • utayah
    utayah Posts: 43
    In high stress situations I eat, but boredom eating gets me every time and is always the reason I've gone over my daily limit. To help myself, I chew LOTS of gum. I eat at work, during movies, tv, computer work etc.
  • Kate_UK
    Kate_UK Posts: 1,299 Member
    so what has everyone done that helps them, when bored, not to eat when not hungry? I could use some tips :)

    I'm teaching myself to crochet (with the help of youtube) if my hands are full I can't eat And wool tastes nasty:wink:

    -Not very well I might add!
  • rmsrws
    rmsrws Posts: 639 Member
    I am exercising my right to boredom eat as I type this!

    At work with nothing to do, so I thought I'd munch on a few multigrain crisps!
  • JoMcDonald
    JoMcDonald Posts: 44
    BOTH!!!

    One of the reasons I go to the gym 6 days a week is to not be bored at home in the evenings. In the past I could sit down in front of the idiot box at around 7 pm (after supper) and consume a 2 Litre bottle of Coke + big bag of chips and a 500ml container of sour cream based dip before heading to bed.

    Add stress into the scenario and you can add in a 2x trio stop at McDonald's on my way home for supper!

    Now I am not bored as I am active every day and when I am stressed. I go to the gym and hit the heavy bag or do some fast skip rope for a few rounds. Calms me right down!

    I would even make the argument that my gym membership costs me less than what I was spending on junk food per month!

    We are joining a gym for that exact reason - working out releases all that stress and tends to re-direct your thoughts to get back on track, or so Ive found... I'm really excited to be finally taking that step and joining.
  • mrsbeardtoyou
    mrsbeardtoyou Posts: 12
    I eat because I AM BORED. I now find myself reaching for lettuce or an apple when that happens. I can't seem to control the "habit" but I can surely control what I put in my mouth.
  • bellydancer123
    bellydancer123 Posts: 2
    Boredom. If I'm bored I will eat even if I'm not hungry. I start to crave sugary snacks. What I do now if I get bored, I go on this site and read on my progress and I surf the net reading others' weight loss success stories, to help keep me focused on my goal and away from the snacks!
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    Boredom is a form of stress, actually. If I get too stressed I stop sleeping and eating and turn into psycho-lady. But if I'm bored-stressed or just a little stressed, I eat like a pig and quietly hate everyone and everything. I hate being bored! I'm sure there's a clever psych major out there about to tell me my hatred for boredom is a sign of mental disease and that I should seek help immediately, and to you I say...no wait, I can't say that on this forum!
  • JoMcDonald
    JoMcDonald Posts: 44
    I am exercising my right to boredom eat as I type this!

    At work with nothing to do, so I thought I'd munch on a few multigrain crisps!

    I think now and then is fine - Im worried about restricting myself too much, and stressing out about not eating to the point that i want to give up. There has to be a fair amount of give and take.
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