Stress Eating Topic
Mockingjay13
02/23/16
I am a very busy college student with a heavy course load. I often find myself stress eating (especially around midterms, finals, when projects are due), and I know I'm stress eating but can't stop myself because it sort of makes me feel better. I can sometimes distract my mouth with gum, but am currently out of gum and so have just been chowing down.
What are some recommendations for preventing stress eating? (other than avoiding stress-causing things... Not possible!)
Marudori
02/23/16
Hey, same! I find distracting myself with other things effective- like theres an app called Sing thats kind of like a karaoke and personally i find it fun and helpful for destressing! Maybe you could find something like that that isnt time consuming or inconvenient- journaling helps me a lot too (: I also have my roommate be accountable for me (although its not very effective bc we're both stressed haha). Working out definitely helps put things out of my mind, and you can add elements like listening to certain songs only while youre running so it becomes like a treat
The most helpful for myself is putting myself in a small study space (without food ofc) and closing the door bc it helps me focus on hw and studying (or even if im distracted i get too lazy to go get food).
These are just my experiences, and they dont always stop me and Im still struggling. Hope we both find more effective ways to destress healthily (:
Kimbofire
02/23/16
I stress eat at work and there is nothing healthy on the break room table. When I get cravings I try and drink a class of tea or water. The only place I ever eat so much sugary carbo things is at work. I'm starting the keto diet this week.
Dietitian
02/23/16
Stress eating is a tough one since it serves as a coping mechanism. Aside from sugar-free gum or an herbal tea, you could try these things:
- Have healthier chewy foods for snacking. Non-starchy veggies are great for this purpose - clean & cut them and put into plastic baggies or containers: celery strips, sweet pepper strips, carrots, zucchini (summer squash), and cucumbers are just a few ideas.
- When the stress is really upramped, can you get up and quickly walk up and down a flight of stairs? It will help wake you up a bit, get the blood flowing. Some people get up and dance or walk too.
- Can you study in a place where it is difficult to eat so it forces you not to eat to cope that way?
- If caffeine doesn't affect you too much, you could have a cup of coffee or black or green tea. If you are sensitive, then go for decaf.
- What about snapping a rubberband, tapping your feet, using a hand strengthener ball?
- Try meditation? That would be ideal - and would likely help you perform better on exams.
- 50 ways to soothe yourself without food by Susan Albers is a good read for ideas too:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041D8UU4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1
Mockingjay13
02/24/16
Thanks for the recommendations! I'm gonna try them out :)
May261
04/19/16
I found the vending machines at work were a problem, so was the coffee shop. I am packing my meals complete with snacks and extras in case the apple is just not what I want. I also leave all coins and money locked in my car parked too far to reach in a 15 min break.
Surprisingly at home it's not as big an issue, once I got rid of the bad stuff I am so busy with house and farm work. I am too busy most days to want the bad stuff
HikingToHealth
05/17/16
I keep a zip lock of baby carrots and an apple with me. The carrots help a bunch. I snack on them and that is a lot healthier than the darn vending machines or 7-11.
Cynthiasgalaxy
06/02/16
I like a bag of microwave pop corn- 100 cal bags are perfect- salty crunchy and very satisfying when I need comfort from stress-- also I reduced my caffeine intake since that was making me nervous- I had hoped it would help curb my appetite- but have found it makes me nervous and crave comfort foods. I also think a yogurt is a nice high protein snack- gets me over that "deprived" feeling that I struggle with.
Stress Eating
