Stress Eating & YES, I Struggle too!
It is that time of year. We have stress all year round but come the holiday season, it can make us do things we really don't want to do - like overeat or just eat those snacky & sweet things way too much. Then we get down on ourselves & eat some more. Not a good scenario & a catch 22 for many.
A week or so ago, a lot of stresses I have been dealing with hit my mind all at the same time. I was fighting the "I want to eat any treat that I had in the house". Honestly, I don't keep a lot of treat stuff that I like in the house BUT I do freeze up some of my fav weekend treat cookies in case I don't get to the places I like over a weekend. I can't tell you how many times I opened & closed that freezer over a couple days. I also have nut butters in the house that I can overindulge in too so I have to watch that as well.
One thing I always promise myself at times like this is that I will give myself 10-15 minutes to think it thru AND I walk away from the food area to do that. If I decide to eat, I have to OWN IT!
So, what did I do? Those times I wanted to go for those cookies, I took those 10-15 minutes to think it thru. I also decided that instead of eating the nut butter I love so much, grab a portion controlled hand of almonds & really chew thru each one so eating the portion lasted long enough to help me thru. I also "distracted myself" by getting away from the kitchen & doing computer work & making sure it was searches or research that kept me long enough to get thru the need to stress eat.
We all have our own ways of dealing with stress eating. For me, this works. What is your "go to" to help you thru stress eating?
BTW, my sis posted this article, Clear Your Head to Connect with Anyone: The Doorknob Principle. It is similar to my strategy of waiting 10-15 minutes to stress eat & making myself think it thru. This is about doing the same thing with our actions. In stressful times, I think this is a great idea.
Here is part of the article:
If you find yourself focused on the past or the future and want to “live in the moment” a little more, the next time you come home, don’t just automatically open the door. First cleanse your head of all of the extraneous thoughts and baggage. Do this by consciously clearing your head. Forget about the traffic jam you were just in, the angry customer who couldn't be pacified, how your son was a horror all day, or what you’re going to say at tomorrow’s meeting. Pause and focus on the doorknob. What color is it? It is wood or metal? Does it feel cold? By examining the doorknob you’ll help flush out the mental noise.
Now focus on who is on the other side of the door. It is your spouse? Your children? Whoever is on the other side of that door is probably one of the most important people in your life.
Your thoughts? I think this is a GREAT IDEA!!!!! Going to implement!
Categories: Motivation/Support, Weight Loss, Awareness, Healthy Eating, Tips, Dieting, Challenges, Holiday Eating, Acceptance, Food
Tags: stress stress reduction stress eating challenges awareness motivation healthy eating holiday weight help eating support tips Weight Loss
I love your Sister's idea! I might start focusing on a door knob the next time I want to eat like a pig. Last weekend was terrible. Weekend's are just a terrible time for me no if's and's or but's about it.
I appreciate you sharing your weakness that helps me to know others also go through the same thing I do and how you handle it. I unfortunately haven't handled it at all...I just eat when those times hit and that is not good!
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Sheri - you will get there. You have come so far.. this is just another step & you will find your way!
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I got a LOT better with controlling my stress eating but honestly I have no idea how because it seems to me my brain totally shuts down in those 'I love my fridge better than myself' moments.
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Ewa, I think we can all understand that feeling when the brain just leaves us & we have no idea how that chocolate got all over our face or with me - cookie crumbs!
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When I walk through the door at night there is nobody -- no one. I must come face to face with myself. That isn't always easy.
One thing that works for me is that I keep all move food at my business, and no food in the house. When I leave my gym each day I take my dinner out of the fridge and carry it home with me. Once that's gone, there is no eating option. And since I ride a bike, and live 30 minutes from town, fast food or junk is not an option. It's not exactly discipline, but it serves me well.
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Roy - I guess that would work - WOW!!!!!
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Jody, I think Roy just found a solution to our problem. How about starting our own businesses?
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I know Ewa - wow - I am not sure I can go that far but could keep a lot of the really tempting stuff at work!
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I thought this could solve other problems we talked about also but you are right about keeping tempting stuff at work --- no new business for me then, I guess,
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Ewa, I hear ya now..... hmmmmmmm, wish we could solve that other stuff for sure!
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Roy's comment brought to mind a secretary I worked with who always complained of being fat, but could tell me, to the second, how long it took her to drive to In and Out for fries! Concrete, practical tools are important in any fitness plan.
Eating warrior style minimizes many eating problems for me although it adds some also, but from my point of view the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. For stress eating I turn to high volume low calorie foods like popcorn.
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Dr. J - yes, great idea on the food!
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These are great tips! I struggled with a little emotional eating over the Thanksgiving holiday while my mother and MIL were here and it continued through the week after they left.
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Jess - by your blog, sounds like you are getting back to it. Yup, family can be stressful!
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I have a new "go to" to help with stress eating and it's helped a great deal! I recently bought an iPad and one of the first apps I downloaded is for Audible. My stress eating challenges fall into the evening and often now, I'll just go upstairs and put on an audiobook.
The Doorknob Principle is a great idea. It will help with prior and future stress! When I put my hand on that doorknob, I usually just brace myself for I never know what I'm walking home to..hehehe
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Julie - great idea!!!! I love that!
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I do my "cleansing breath" as I pull into my garage and try to shake off anything negative that might have happened while I was out. It really does help.
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Cammy - YES! Love that. I need to do that more!
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Great tips! I am not an emotional eater but I do other unhealthy things when stressed...like wine or coffee...I know bad but I think this will help with that as well....
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I think just thinking it thru Sian really helps me. I am not a wine drinker - with that, I might go to far!
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I focus on the doorknob...but only when I go to someone else's home!
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Anne - funny you!
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Hi Jody. Great tips! I haven't been struggling with stress EATING lately, but I have keeping my stress level under control. I've managed to get myself ridiculously worked up over small things. I'll use your tips to get myself back on a more rational path if it happens again. Have a great day.
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Roz, I do the same thing - we are all human.. those stupid little things that drive us crazy!
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