Stress Eating

[veggiemom2]

How does everyone deal with stress eating.

I am a stress eater. When things get tough I head for the kitchen. Unfortunately, I don't grab the fruits and veggies in my kitchen, I grab the hubby's potato chips, or cereal, or leftover dinner for my family.

Today I had the most stressful day, as I was sitting down t eat my carrot salad, I snacked on my son's cheeseburger macaroni. Then later in the evening, I ate some cereal, then a handful of potato chips. The worst part about it is that when I eat the food I don't feel well afterwards. I have a super sensitivity to these foods (upset stomach, chest pains, other problems etc.). You would think that because I know how they are going to affect me, that I wouldn't eat them. However, when I am really stressed out, I go for the temporary and immediate comfort that cooked foods brings.

I am so frustrated with myself that I cannot stay the course. I desperately need to for health reasons, but the stress is killing me (literally).

Thanks for listening

[misslinda]

You are so not alone in this..........I think one of the most challenging steps to take is -- wanting to identify why you react to stress this way? I've done that many times where I consciously knew I would reach for the forbidden foods and while eating them, it would have no taste and I would still feel unsatisfied. But the beauty of going RAW is the struggles and learn as we go----as you will. If you read my journal, it took me approximately 3 months to where I tell people I am a 100% raw foodist. However, my path is what brought me here.......as yours will too.

I sympathize and empathize with you your struggle but your talking about it here is a step close to where you are going !!!!!!! for now, don't beat yourself up for it--it's done and over with and you have new beautiful day ahead of you.............why not treat yourself to making some special raw desserts in fancy containers :) Make it special for you and noone else.


To your health and healing,
linda :)

[Melissa]

Veggiemom,
I have the same issues and at first I doubted I'd be able to stay raw when stress hit (I used to snack all evening on cheese, bread, sweets, PLUS wine every night.)The #1 reason I've been able to avoid SAD stress eating and stick to raw since October 27 is seeing a therapist once a week to address underlying emotional issues. There's usually some kind of void/sadness/anger we are trying to fill with food and it helps so much to look at these issues. Some other things: I give myself permission to cry when I feel it coming on, instead of repressing it (with food) and I've found some other comfort items, such as a special tea I love to sip after dinner (Celestial Seasoning's Wellness Tea: Honey Ginger Peach...herbal tea is not technically raw but this is one of my healthy "cheats" because the herbs really help my digestion.) My trick: I throw a few dates into my big mug of tea, sip out the tea and then eat the softened, flavored dates. That's dessert most nights.

[Spider]

I feel your pain, also.

The Answer is NOT
*at the bottom of the chips bag
*the bottom of the cookie bag (my big trigger)
*in the kids food
*_____________ (insert item here)

I try and tell myself that I will not find the answer to what's stressing me with food. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. I struggle everyday with this. Half the time I'm just bored, so I eat.

Hang in there. Take it one moment at a time. Don't be too hard on yourself.

[Olive]

I've been there . . . still return there from time to time! There are a few books that you might find helpful--the ones below literally changed my life and my relationship with food after almost 20 years of compulsive eating.

*Anything by Geneen Roth, but especially "Feeding the Hungry Heart," "When Food is Love," or "Why Weight." If you don't like to read much, then her short "When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair" is great.
*"Overcoming Overeating" by Jane Hirschmann

I have found through countless attempts that nothing changed until I addressed the reasons why I ate. Food, for me, was merely a coping tool. Something else that helped me was making a coping jar. I took a small jar and filled it with slips of paper that had my favorite easy activities on it--take a bath, read a poem, go for a walk, call a friend, color in a coloring book, etc. Every time I wanted to reach for food, I picked out a slip of paper instead. Didn't always keep me from eating, but allowed me a moment to consider why I was eating and some alternatives. There are lots of other suggestions at www.something-fishy.net, a site for eating disorders, but a great resource for anyone with a rocky relationship with food. Also, as Melissa said, therapy has been key--my therapist has helped me see things I wasn't able to on my own.