Stress Eating: How to Deal

rai8759
rai8759 Posts: 296 Member
in Motivation and Support
I am a stress eater. When I'm under pressure I stuff my face. I know there are others on the website. How do you deal? I really need a new coping mechanism.

Replies

  • januadiaboli
    januadiaboli Posts: 117 Member
    I do a couple of things. I don't keep anything in the house that I used to eat when stressed. I've been "replacing" my stress eating with exercise ... when I feel I need to eat because of stress, I'll go do yoga or go for a run for about 20 minutes. If I'm still hungry after that, then I'll have a healthy snack. It doesn't always work, especially when my husband brings home potato chips and the like, but it's certainly helping!
  • _Punjab
    _Punjab Posts: 67
    I'm also an emotional eater. I find that two things really help.

    1) I can't stress enough how much eating small meals several times a day (every 2-3 hours) has changed my life. It keeps up your metabolism, keeps you full, stops you from overeating, and REALLY curbs cravings.

    2) Plan ahead. Make sure you have something health (that you also love) so that if you are going to eat when you get stressed out, you're not doing it with something that's going to ruin all of your hard work!


    Then of course there is always the exercise advice. I hate to exercise so much, but it really does make me feel so much better when I'm stressed out. Once you get into the routine of replacing stress eating with stress exercise, you'll probably feel so good that you'll kick the habit with ease.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    I am a stress eater. When I'm under pressure I stuff my face. I know there are others on the website. How do you deal? I really need a new coping mechanism.

    Honestly, I had to just learn not to do it. I distract myself with something not related to the stress (read a book, watch a show on Netflix, get on Pinterest, ect). By calming my brain I seem to calm down my cravings. Was it easy to do at first? Heck no and I still sometimes slide into old habits when things are really bad (like the night where one of my best friends was missing and I was trying to help find him and keep his wife calm AND I had the start of a migraine).

    I also find hot tea to really help. It calms me AND the act of drinking it works on the craving. Especially if it is a full flavored tea.
  • morkiemama
    morkiemama Posts: 894 Member
    I started out replacing it with healthier foods (e.g. veggies) or water. It didn't always work so hot. :P

    I have completely gotten rid of it now (for about a month) during a time of VERY high stress (so I think it is a good test) by sticking to a running program. I am completely addicted to running now and I love it. It keeps my stress under control. If I feel like I'm spiraling, I go out for a short run (if it is supposed to be my rest day) or a long one! It makes me feel great and I get such a high. It is way better than food.

    I would try replacing the food with some sort of stress reliever. I recommend running. I used to hate it. Now I love it. However, if that doesn't appeal to you. Go for a walk, pop in an exercise DVD, take a bath, listen to relaxing music with a nice scented candle... something! :)

    I haven't had a binge from stress yet and I've got the first part of my CPA exam looming on Thursday (among other life stressors). I should mention that I have major test anxiety. We'll see if the pattern holds closer to test day, but I have hope that it will. :)
  • AnnaBeach7
    AnnaBeach7 Posts: 10 Member
    I allow myself a satisfying filling mini-meal when I need to stress eat. For me it's usually something like oatmeal or an English muffin with turkey and a little melted cheese ....something satisfying. Its the foods that actually seem to fill me and make me almost sigh with comfort. I stay away from trigger foods during those times. My trigger foods are usually salty carbs. Once I start, I am never satisfied so I have a hard time stopping. I eat my satisfying food, count it, and move on.

    I think the worst thing you can do is say no to eating during these times. Stop. Think of what healthy food choice will sit with you best. Eat and enjoy it. Count it, and move on. Once we allow ourselves to eat , these situations of emotional eating become less and less.

    Good luck.

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