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turning to food after stressful day? ok? or no? |
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I'm so glad I resisted temptation today! I've been proud of myself for making great nutritional choices. My mom brought over a cheesecake which if I wanted I could've eaten and stayed within my calorie range but the empty nutrition at the tune of 420 calories and 27 grams of fat wasn't going to undo all the good I've done. NO thank you! I'll save those calories for when I really need them!
I don't wanna just turn heads. I wanna BREAK necks!
| Pounds lost: 21.0 |
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If your day is like most of us, every day is stressful. If you use food as a drug to soothe your emotions you are going to get yourself in trouble sooner or later. If you have a favorite fruit or veggie that you like keep it in the frig already washed, cut up and chilled. Take it to the table where you eat it slowly with your left hand. If you still feel you need to eat your emotions when you are done try to take a short nap. That will usually calm you down and let you make better choices. We have all been through this and sometimes we do something we are happy about and sometimes we don't. Bottom line, forgive yourself and move on. You are awesome and you can do this. Oh and if you can, only eat ice cream out of the house at an ice cream parlor.
Be blessed and be a blessing!
| Pounds lost: 30.0 |
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Every now and than indulging on a stressful day is not 'bad'. Food is comforting and sometimes you just need to go home and eat a gallon of ice-cream in front of the TV. The problem arises when you use this as your only method of dealing with stress. People who are overweight or obese often have problems with stress-eating and don't know how to cope with life without-food. If you believe that your stress eating is contributing to your high weight (if you have a high weight) than you may want to stop using food as a comfort tool. However if your stress eating doesn't occur on a regular basis and does not really effect your weight, than I think it's just fine. I know that sometimes my days are so stressful and awful that I just need to dig into ben and jerries triple chocolate ice-cream
| June Minutes: 426 |
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I facilitated a group through my church following a book called "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeust and the best piece of advice I got from that book was surrounding this topic. She points out that we need to remember that the only thing eating solves in hunger... if you are experiencing another emotion then food won't help. If you are lonely call a friend, if you are tired sleep, if you are thirsty drink etc. For those of us taking the course we could expand to reading our Bible, listening to Christian music etc but, even if you are not a Christian most people have something... meditation, exercise... something that will help deal with stress. The answer for me is to turn to food only to satisfy hunger and to turn to God to fill the other voids... now, this is obviously easier said than done. I try and ask myself "why" before I eat something... if the answer to "why are you eating this" is anything other than "because I am hungry" then I need to put the food down and try something else... Good luck!
We were made for victory, sometimes we just have to find our way to that truth.
~ Allison ~
| current weight: 270.0 |
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My thought is to forget it and move on. You could go 400 calories over your goal for a week and not gain a pound. No, using food to de-stress isn't healthy, and as others have posted, if it's a habit and a coping mechanism, it can get you into weight trouble. But if it takes a bad work day and going to the DMV in two states to get you to overeat by 400 calories... you probably aren't going to gain much weight this way. I think exercise is a good way to deal with stress. Sometimes I use it. Other times I use mindless TV shows or equally mindless computer time to just zone out after a bad day. Personally, I find that going to bed early helps just because I tend to overeat when I'm sleepy late at night. But we all overeat for different reasons. I'd suggest not worrying about it too hard, but taking other tips here to find non-caloric stress relievers. And remembering that it takes a few thousand calories to make a pound of fat, so that you aren't so stressed out by going over by 400 that you need the rest of the ice cream. Sounds like you're doing great. You stuck to one portion, you counted calories, and you looked for help when you had a minor setback - keep up the good work. :)
| current weight: 178.0 |
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It depends on the food - if it is something healthy, that is fine, simply cut back on your dinner meal. If it is junk food - well, the odd time certainly won't hurt you that much. If it becomes a regular occurance with junk food, then you need to curtail it. Post on the fridge-what you want in your life, to be a motivation for what you want in life.
Linda
There is no such thing as impossible. The word reads, "I'm, possible." - Audrey Hepburn
Optimism is the faith that leads to acheivement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence - Helen Keller-
| June Minutes: 0 |
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I eat especially when I am bored. last child left for college so the pounds pick up tremendously. This is a topic i printed and placed on my computer to remind me NOT to do this...
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Alternatives: Light some candles chew some gum make a lovely cup of tea read a good book take a brisk walk noodle around on the internet go on Sparkpeople and plan the next day's meals pack tomorrow's lunch make a nice big pot of vegetable soup
"You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and stars. You have a right to be here."
| Pounds lost: 0.0 |
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I think everyone struggles with emotional eating. I know I do because I feel it's the one thing I have control over. But I have come to understand that really isn't control because now the food is controlling me instead of the issue. I try to hear that little alarm go off in my head before I reach for comfort food. This gives me a chance to consider my options. I try to reach for something healthy--veggies or fruit, but sometimes carbs are the only thing that works. I allow myself to have it but I don't berate myself for it. Sometimes stressful eating is a day to day struggle for me. I might lose a battle but I am determined to win the war.
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Barb from NY
| current weight: 180.6 |
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My mindless eating or stress eating can usually be curbed by carrots or grapes or other healthy foods. One thing that helps is that my parents always had a rule about only eating food in the kitchen. I try hard to adhere to that rule so I'm not munching at the computer or TV. So far, it is helping. :)
"The Lord is my shepard, I shall not want."
| current weight: 175.6 |
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Ditto to the previous posts. Food doesn't solve nor address the issues that cause me to feel down in the dumps. I love the idea of making a list of things that DO deal with the stress. I have a short list. I think I'm going to extend that list and post it so I can't miss seeing it. :)
Fitness requires perspiration. John Bingham
We can do more than we think we can because we have a God who is bigger than we think He is.
Judi
| Pounds lost: 2.0 |
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Saying something is OK or not OK is setting that something up to be the problem. If you make a "mistake," just say I'll do better next time, and move on. To continue to use food to deal with stress may have been one of the things that got you in the overweight situation in the first place, so it's illogical to continue to use it as a coping mechanism, don't you think? Better: make a list of things (other than food) that comfort you, like going to the movies, or working in the garden, meditation or prayer, punching a pillow, driving out to your favorite place to enjoy a sunset or (insert a favorite thing here). When the stress comes, there is always that millisecond you have to make the decision, and this time you have ammunition. You can say to yourself, "yes, I know this will taste good and comfort me right now, but only for a few minutes. Then I'll be disappointed and will feel worse. Also, I want to stay true to my goals and enjoy the weight loss way more than I want this (cookie, ice cream, chips whatever). I think I'll go for a walk and think things through. Giving into the immediate impulse is kind of easy, and it's your body trying to get back into homeostasis. You can't just quit overeating under stress. You have to replace it with something. If you prepare and have something to put in its place, it will go much easier. Like any new habit, it gets easier to do after a few successful intercessions.
No regrets. I am who I am by traveling the path I've traveled. I'll just keep on traveling!
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It depends on what food you turn to. I build in a small piece of chocolate into my food tracking, especially for those days that I know will be difficult. I still stay within my calorie ranges, and I'm still losing weight.
"...Hath I said, and shall I not do it? Or, hath I spoken, and shall I not make it good?" Numbers 23:19
| Pounds lost: 28.9 |
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No but..... If you eat it track it
Edited by: IOWADEB at: 3/1/2013 (19:33)
If you deal with High Blood Pressure try the DASH diet
http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/gro
ups_individual.asp?gid=51260
| June Minutes: 240 |
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No.
Maggie from Auckland the City of Sails in New Zealand.
Member of Silver Spies BLC 18 & 20
"Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, and move on." Henry Rollins.
| Pounds lost: 107.4 |
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Sometimes food is the only thing that helps!
Ronnie Huey
| current weight: 202.0 |
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It is not a good habit to get into but everyone has done it at one point. I try to turn myself from eating to herb tea when I come home in a foul mood. Getting out a new tea or having a favorite one that I save to have when my willpower needs a boost to not scarf down everything in the frig is a help for me
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YES, by all means....ONLY make sure you have your "go to" ready for you. Mine is air popped popcorn, I use No Salt & Cant Believe Its Not Butter....wonderful!! Have it everyday!!!
"There is no sense worrying over past failures, present situations or potential mishaps...as long as we do our best as praying, positive thinking people, God will see us thru" Mrs. Norman V. Peale
| Pounds lost: 42.0 |
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Everyone once in a while I throw my hands up and say screw it, I want to consume something that I know is terrible for me, but I also know will make me happy. And I do, and the next day I pay for it, and I realize that every time its a little lesson, and over time, I have learned to cope with stress in new ways, because the extra calories add a new stress of their own.
Discipline is just choosing between what you want now, and what you want MOST.
| current weight: 159.4 |
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I think it's okay to eat a little something when you want it, but 400 calories is not "little." That is actually quite a few calories---an entire meal for someone who is allowed 1200 a day---so that is too much. And you can trust me on this because eating "just" 300-400 extra calories a day is exactly how I gained 25 pounds! And gaining it was much, much easier than losing it has been! So I say: enjoy a small treat, but keep it small and try to stay within your boundaries almost every day. Good luck!
| Pounds lost: 10.0 |
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Yes. As long as it is occasional (and not a daily/weekly habit) it should even itself out. 1-2 days a month shouldn't make much difference.. IF you get back on your plan.
Edited by: VALERIASUE at: 2/26/2013 (17:02)
Keep going... Don't give up... You can do this!
| Pounds lost: 16.0 |
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I've been following this thread with interest. There seem to be two definitive thoughts expressed here...
1) Emotional/stress eating is NEVER ok. Many people have issues with emotional eating which has eventually lead them here.
2) Mindful eating can allow emotional/stress eating. Moderation in everything.
I'm definitely in the second camp, despite my history of emotional eating. I have self medicated with food for emotional reasons for most of my life. I still do, but now I do it on purpose, acknowledging fully what I'm doing and why. I even give myself permission every now and then to have a horrendously bad day on the food front, just because I'm having a horrendously difficult time dealing with emotions on that day.
The thing is, I don't just fill my face on those days. I can make a small bag of ketchup chips last for hours, savouring every little nibble and crunch. I make that bowl of coconut milk ice cream into a production - measuring it out and savouring the smooth richness as it melts on my tongue. I'll eat that 10 oz steak for supper, which is about double the normal portion I'd eat, but I'll enjoy every single bite to the fullest.
I love food and I enjoy the food I eat. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't eat it. Which is why I don't eat the foods I don't like, even if they're good for me. I make choices, and some days my choices are 'better' than others, but that doesn't make my 'worse' choices wrong, regardless of the reasons I made those choices. Which is the difference between my emotional eating now versus my emotional eating in the past - I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I use many many different options for dealing with stress and strong emotions - food is just one of them, and it's not even first on the list. But it's there and I use it and I don't feel bad about it.
Of course, I'm also not a calorie counter, in general. I don't get upset with myself for going over my range on a given day, because I don't generally track my meals for the day anyway. It's more important to me to make healthier choices, rather than counting sips and nibbles. I'm making a lifestyle change, which happens to have the added benefit of helping me lose weight.
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No it's not but this is what I started doing for this issue keep carrots celery and peanut butter cauliflower broccoli or what ever you like apples for crunch If you like banans grapes oranges lemon limes grapefruit peaches or kiwi any other fruits use the the type like if chips is what you normally turn to use the crunchy fruits and veggies If ice cream is it use yogurts with fruits to help this area it Takes some getting used to but it at least it's not calorie filling unless its yogurt Another thing I eat when just can't get my fill is popcorn no oil you can put seasonings on it I have used mrs dash or onion and garlic powder or chili power what ever you like i haven't check on the butter type seasonings just if any of them are salt and sodium free I agree to foods in moderation also like me I rarely eat ice cream But I do eat it like every 3 months or so another weakness for me is cheese sticks I love those
Edited by: SHERRYWILSON at: 2/26/2013 (12:50)
I do the best I can from now on my life is mine I want to be a healthy nana I can only control that I'm back And I'm doing the done girl and I am going to be a turbo fire hottie with the blazing blue team i am a positive thoghtful person who cares about others And my family sherry wilson
| Pounds lost: 0.0 |
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Not a good idea at all. That is emotional eating and is something you should try and avoid doing. Best to eat only at meal and snack times. Try and find an alternative to work stress... maybe considering exercise?
Rhonda
Seaside, Oregon
Remember...
Eat healthy.. Exercise daily.. repeat! and Consistency.. that is the secret!
| Pounds lost: 79.0 |
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Eating when you're stressed, doesn't actually reduce the stress. It distracts you from it, but when you've finished the chips or the pizza or whatever, the stress is still there. And if you've made poor food choices, you may have added a lot of salt, fat or other things that won't help your health. It's my personal experience that after about 30 minutes or so of a good solid cardio type exercise, the stress just slides away and is gone. Complete it with a hot bath and you feel like a new person. Something else that works almost as good is doing yoga to soothing music.
| June Minutes: 1,552 |
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I'll say no. It's considered emotional eating and food cannot fix problems. It will start a new problem which is turning to food for comfort and that's not good. If you are stressed, it's best to find ways to relax.
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Normally stressful day.. .no. There are going to be a LOT of them. Superiorly stressful day, totally out of the ordinary ... you probably do well considering it. But I admit a couple days I encountered far worse than that -- I had no appetite at all. Don't worry about eating on THOSE days. You'll just have gut upsets.
Got rid of the ticker cuz my scale decided to flatter me unduly. I haven't re-gained, just got a better, honest, scale. Just because you steam it, doesn't mean you can't add herbs and spices. (A gripe at those insipid restaurant "healthy choice" menu selections.) My blog: goatsandgreens.wordpress.com
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After a long stressful day, I enjoy blogging on Ntuned. It helps to relax me. Also, exercising is great too.
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I try to stick with the rule "if you have energy for stress you have energy for a run"
Keep fit and have fun.
| current weight: 163.0 |
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Lilli, I think the fact that you are being honest with yourself, as in posting the details of your rough day and calorie indulgences here for all to read, is a great step in the right direction. More to the point, I admire your candor, and have lately found it to be most helpful when I tell on myself, so to speak. Somehow, for me, writing of such troubles in my private journal is not enough, even though reflected therein leads me to many discoveries and little epiphanies about my self. I need to spill, so to speak, and you have inspired me to do so. For background, stress eating has been an issue of mine for years, but it is only within the last year that I recognized it for what it is, largely because of openly discussing it and confronting it head on. Tomorrow is a better day.
| current weight: 247.0 |
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I just had a stressful day AND I went over on my calories when I got home. I fact, I stopped by the store, especially to get foods that I KNEW would put me over my limit. You know what? I feel great. I have been sticking to my plan. I only ate into what will be my "maintenance" level of calories. AND tomorrow I will be back to the plan. I will exercise. I will be good... ...But today was awful and I needed to go easy on myself. I savored every delicious calorie!
| current weight: 128.0 |
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No. Go for a walk, do some excersices talk it over with a friend but don't go toward the food , it is not a good idea. it will just make you feel worse after you eat,
| current weight: 173.0 |
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sometimes it can be beneficial because it may be the only comfort you can find... but ONLY if you do it smartly. Do not binge eat but you can allow yourself one serving of your favorite ice cream or pasta dish. Everything within reason seems to be fine... and helps avoid over indulgence later
"All things are possible to Him who believes!"
| current weight: 130.2 |
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I think it depends on 2 things: - have you tracked your food for the day, and do you have calories left? If the answer to this is no, then it's not okay to eat more. - on the other hand, if you do have calories left,it depends on what you choose to eat. If you sit down with a fast-food burger and fries, no, it's not okay. If you have something healthy (my favourite evening snack is yogurt or cottage cheese, depending on whether I still need protein, with fresh fruit, 1/3 cup bran buds and 1 tsp. brown sugar. Delicious, nutritious and tastes great.
Eastern Time Zone
| Pounds lost: 0.0 |
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I think this question depends entirely on the attitude and approach you take when addressing it. Are you eating gobs of chocolate because you had a bad day? Not OK. On the flip side, are you coming home and trying a new healthy recipe to blow off stress? Totally OK! I think that's the approach you should take! At least, that's my personal approach! Emotions are triggers, boy do I know!! When my mother became ill with a terminal disease, church ladies began bringing over daily deep-fried feasts, because I live in the south and that's what you do when someone is ill.... DROWN YOUR SORROWS IN CAKE. Needless to say, it was very comforting and I gained 15 pounds before my (first) wedding! Now, I'm older, divorced, my mother has past and I'm trying this marriage thing again and I'm taking a much healthier approach to emotional eating (There's a wedding dress to fit into, now!!) Cooking is a solace for me... so I make wholewheat banana nut muffins instead of cupcakes.... or veggie sitr fry instead of fried chicken. It's all about perspective, my dear!!!
| current weight: 132.4 |
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Going over calories is not such a huge deal, but I think that stress/emotional eating is never a good idea because you can set up a bad habit for yourself. As long as you give yourself some wiggle room by cutting back a little on calories other days (maybe 50 calories a day for a week or so) or adding a work out, you should be fine. Bottom line: no one choice is going to throw you off if you pay attention to yourself and your goals. In the long run though what may be most helpful is to find emotionally healthy ways to relieve stress so that you can enjoy your free pass meals without the guilt.
Kristin
Goal Weight
5/31/13:165
actual:
6/30/13: 160
actual:
"I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me." - Tracee Ellis Ross
| current weight: 167.4 |
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Ugh, yesterday was not a good day. I started off on track but some where between lunch and dinner, my brain completely shut down and I needed, no wanted to indulge! So after an Oreo milkshake, I felt horrible. I'm not going to dwell on it. Today is a new day and time to get back on track! Emotional eating sucks!!
Tackling everyday, one bite at a time!
| current weight: 208.6 |
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no, it really does not fix anything and you always end up being sorry.
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This is a very interesting topic and discussion, and I'm enjoying reading everyone's perspective. I'm definitely guilty of emotional eating - when stressed, frustrated, bored, or just not having anything else to look forward to in the near future. I think most people would agree that coming home from a hard day and bingeing on a box of cookies or large pizza is not the right solution. And I think it's hard to argue against finding other ways to relieve stress or "reward" yourself. There are a lot of great ideas here. However, the difference between eating and other behaviors that can be destructive (excessive alcohol or drugs or compulsive shopping or gambling) is that we HAVE to eat. And eating is historically a social event, and a pleasurable event. So I'm in agreement with the people who talked about "mindful" eating. I'm figuring out there's a big difference between eating a handful of mini candy bars at work (that I don't even really taste because I'm just stuffing them down) because things aren't going well and I'm tired of dealing with people... and coming home, relaxing with my husband, and eating a reasonably nutritious meal, then savoring a special treat like ice cream or chocolate. But we know ourselves best, and if you'll never be able to moderate your portions of "treat" foods when under stress, maybe that's not the right solution. To each their own.
~Kim
| current weight: 129.0 |
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This is a "duh!" question, right?!? If you're shoving food in your mouth because you're stressed--that's emotional eating...and it will only cause trouble. I did the same last night--had a terribly stressful day & spent the evening grazing on Doritos. Oops. Bad move. Scale is now up 3 lbs again....whoops. Better luck next time, Fat Girl!
It Is What It Is.... :)
| June Minutes: 1,075 |
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Great question and fun to read everyones thoughts. I myself have found that if I am feeling stressed soaking in a hot tub and eating a small piece of dark chocolate helps me to relax. I think the issue is not if you indulge but how big of indulgence and how you deal with the effects on your spark nutrition tracking. If it fits in or you change something else to balance it out I think it is not only fine but in some ways healthy!! Making a plan to take care of yourself and your health involves balance and for me that includes dark chocolate!! Smiles Barb
Smiles from Barb!!
"If you want something you've never had...you must do something you've never done!"
Time Zone: PST
| current weight: 186.5 |
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MEDEARBORN: Thank you for sharing your opinion. It is "food for thought" as I actively begin my healthy lifestyle. I had over-indulged yesterday (due to stress) and this morning I was feeling resigned. "Here I go again" type reaction to my screw up. "you can adjust your calorie intake the next few days to be in the lighter end of your range, and it'll be fine." Whew, so refreshing to read your remarks this morning. It is a reminder not to fall back into the old behaviors/thoughts. Thank you! Debbie
Debbie
| current weight: 287.0 |
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I used to do this ALL the time until I learned about nourishing my body. Now I eat to live instead of living to eat. I know that my food addiction is just a symptom and I had to get to the underlying problems. Hard work but I really feel like I am on track now.
I am changing my health, body and life one day at a time.
Every day I get closer to my ideal weight.
| Pounds lost: 34.0 |
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Now and then....sure but basically I try and keep with the "Mindful eating" thing(there's a team for that) and it can be a great tool to trigger your mind into thinking "this isn't what I want for myself" and I'll close the pantry door and grab a box of raisens instead out of the fridge if I can't pull myself away. All this emotional eating stuff is hard to deal with but, hey it's worth it in the end : ) Good luck fellow Sparkers!
Lets RUN with the wind!!
| June Minutes: 801 |
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