[sierra]

How do you cope?<br><br>
Running of course, but when thats not an option at the time, what do you do when you are stressed and want to inhale everything in sight!<br><br>
If I ate everything I wanted to right now, I would gain back everything I have lost in the past 5 mos!<br><br>
So, please, share your techniques for not overeating when stress takes over!

 

[Hippo]

I'm bad at this too.<br><br>
Pouring myself a 32 oz cup of water or ice tea and slugging it down helps sometimes... get the kidneys so busy I forget to eat.<br><br>
Drinking beer doesn't seem to help though.

 

[sierra]

Uh oh.......... <img alt="surprised.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/surprised.gif">

 

[merigayle]

not having bad food accessable. Unfortuantly my DH has been buying tons of it lately and it is very hard to control myself.<br>
Luckily since it is summer, i can eat a lot of fruit which seems to help me with the sweet cravings.

 

[sistergoldenhair]

I struggle with this, but do much better than I've been in the past.<br><br>
We never want the healthy stuff during stressful times, do we? So, I don't bring any junk foods or comfort foods that I'd want in a situation like that into the house. Ever. If I "need" it that bad, I have to go get it.<br><br>
I either do something else about stress (journal, yoga, go for a walk, etc.), or if I'm feeling like my mouth wants to be busy sip tea or chew sugarfree gum.<br><br>
I allow myself a weekly splurge so I don't crave things.<br><br>
I try to create the right balance in my life to prevent stress getting out of control in the first place. Of course, this isn't always possible.

 

[fatmantrying]

DUDE!<br><br>
That is ultimately <i>the key</i> to most food issues.

 

[sierra]

I agree. We dont keep anything sweet in the house anymore. I use apples and fruit generally. It does help, sometimes. But last night, I just wanted to eat, it didnt matter what it was. I had to fight not eating an entire box of cereal.......<br><br>
SGH, some good ideas. maybe I should get some gum to keep on hand, that might help.<br><br>
Thanks for the suggestions

 

[altoids]

Sometimes, delaying gratification helps.<br><br>
For example, I say I am going to drink a glass of water/cup of tea first. Sometimes just putting it off helps defuse it. Sometimes I say I can have whatever, after I eat a salad, or after I have some carrot sticks.<br><br>
Some times if I feel like I just want to <i>eat a lot,</i> I will feed myself something with satisfying amount of bulk or crunch, that won't do so much damage. Like a bunch of popcorn, or a huge stir-fry of mostly vegetables.<br><br>
OH, yes. For some reason, large quantities of steamed broccoli or steamed cauliflower can function as a comfort food for me.<br><br><br>
If it is an emotional reaction, it can help to stop, identify what you are feeling, and then let yourself intensely <i>feel the feeling.</i> Instead of just covering it up.<br><br>
Obviously, I am not consistent in applying these strategies. But I try.

 

[drgenie]

I agree with altoids. I've been eating like a demon this week, all comfort foods, definitely from stress. What I am trying to do is, make different comfort foods in an effort to retrain myself to want them instead of garbage, like that curried lentil thingie I had crockpotting the other day. When the freakfest started, I kept picturing myself coming home, changing into my pj's, another comfort thing, and snuggling down on the couch with a big spicy bowl of this basically healthy dinner. I'm starting to like spicy foods as comfort foods, I'm not sure why, but it's better than crap, which I eat PLENTY of.<br><br>
I also like altoids' idea of not only sitting quietly and allowing yourself to feel the feeling, but something I read in my yoga magazine: saying something to the effect of "I care about this suffering" or something that shows compassion toward yourself. Our feelings are real, the fears, anger, frustration, whatever it is, and often it's deeper than what it seems. Getting to the root of that, according to stuff I've read, will help you to comfort yourself without feeling that you have to stuff the feelings down with a pile of food. That's what we're really doing, you know. Same thing as getting drunk or getting high to not have to deal with the discomfort of feeling crappy.<br><br>
I struggle with this constantly, but the mindfulness stuff I am just starting to study and try and sometimes it helps, it takes focus and patience, but I think it can work.

 

[sistergoldenhair]

I'm currently reading a book that nails what altoids and drgenie are saying. According to the author unhealthy emotional eating habits are all about not being comfortable experiencing painful feelings. So, if you can, rather than dive headfirst into ice cream or chips, grab a pen and try to write about the feelings or sit and breathe deeply to try to be with them and get more comfortable being uncomfortable.<br><br>
Easier said than done sometimes, but worth the effort.

 

[drgenie]

Ooh, that sounds like a must-read, what's the book, SGH?

 

[sistergoldenhair]

"The Rules of 'Normal' Eating" by Karen R. Koenig<br><br>
It isn't just eating "rules" at all. It has suggestions for correcting eating behaviors, but goes a lot into behavioral theory getting past the eating (symptomatic) and to the "stuff" responsible for the eating behaviors.

 

[drgenie]

Hmmmm....I have a couple clients who could benefit from this too, I may have to order that one. Thanks!! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[merigayle]

what about boredom eating?

 

[sistergoldenhair]

I don't know -- I am never bored except in situations where there doesn't seem to be food around (waiting in line, long meetings, etc.)

 

[merigayle]

hmmm. this is when i am watching tv before going to bed or if i have a nice long gap inbetween appointments and no paperwork, etc left to do. I have a closet full of 100 cal snack packs at work, which usually do the job, but much more to munch on at home <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif">

 

[sistergoldenhair]

tv at home = drink tea or chew gum, or do something with your hands (knitting, cross-stitch, jigsaw puzzle, sudoku)<br><br>
gaps between appointments = post here<br><br><img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[merigayle]

who knew the PRT could be a diet plan! whoohooo. <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">

 

[fox-runr]

I think it's nearly impossible to overeat watermelon.

 

[sierra]

Some great tips here. Thanks everyone!<br><br>
Oh, and while working yesterday I found strawberries on sale! a small container of them for $1!!!!!<br><br>
I bought 6 of them and ate one while driving home from the lake! (They're low cal, right! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">)<br><br>
So now I have 5 more in the frige just waiting to get eaten! They are great snacks!