Stress eating

[HikeMama]

I have a problem with stress eating. When my mind says tension, my body says brownies, etc. We are in the process of buying a house and have had some recent BUMPS in the road. Luckily, I have enough self-control to know that I can't spend money on crap food right now, so I didn't have chips deluxe, brownies, double chocolate ice cream sundae, or pot roast (I am a vegetarian) today. I did have a free slurpee coupon and boy did I down that orange cream chemically enhanced horribleness, and let my daughter share. :-( When I'm stressed, a yogurt parfait JUST DOESN'T CUT IT. I think I want to eat the way I feel. Surely it is psychological. What can I do? What do you do? I REALLY don't want to pass this habit onto my child. It doesn't happen too often because luckily I don't usually feel this out of whack, but, this is no way to handle stress.

[Chicky2]

Take Siberian Ginseng, which has an adaptogenic effect, which means it normalizes glandular function, whether high or low.

[Sol_y_Paz]

Maybe write down some healthier outlets instead of going for food?
Drink a lot of water with lemon. Take a walk. Paint? Things like that. HTH. And good luck on all you have coming up!

[Magelet]

I try to think about why I'm eating every time I'm eating. (and also in the middle of eating).

I think about how my stomach feels and how my mind feels and ask myself "Am I eating because I'm hungry? Or am I mentally hungry? Or am I depressed/sad/angry/other emotional eating? Am I bored?" (those are the main reasons I eat). If I'm hungry physically, I'll eat. If I'm mentally hungry, I'll make a note to eat something fatty at my next meal (this helps my mind feel full). If I want to eat because of my emotions or boredom, I try to find something to do, and just will-power through it. (Most of the time.)

With in the middle of eating, I'll occasionally ask myself "Do I need more food or does it just taste good". Of course, I still tend to keep eating after I say to my self that I'm full but it tastes good, but I'm improving.

I've improved a LOT about emotional and boredom eating and do it rarely now. I still do occasionally, but taking stock of why I'm eating helps me.

[Mrshawwk]

I read somewhere that when our bodies are stressed they need extra fat, which is why a lot of times people crave ice cream. I myself don't like adding the extra stress of "ack I can't eat anything I want!" to the stress of life. I let myself have a nice full fat hot chocolate with coconut oil. If ice cream is your thing, I'd get the most natural highest fat yummyness you can find. It's possible that once you eat what your body is crying out for then you won't crave it anymore...which doesn't mean eat the whole carton, it just means give yourself a break.

I don't know if any of that helps. But I hope things improve for you soon.

[chattyprincess]

maybe start by eating alot less? Like really savoring eating slowly every single bite of an item you take? I find that when I am eating a "treat" that if I do that I tend to be sick of the taste/flavor a lot ffaster than before!
~Kate

[HikeMama]

Thanks- it's not really that I overeat. In fact, I am underweight and should be eating more than I do, but with breastfeeding it's just so hard to keep it up. It's that, I don't feel right showing my daughter "hey, look! Mommy hides her feelings in a brownie sundae!" I think I'll try some of your suggestions, like thinking about what I'm eating and why and eating a food high in good fats. I am also going to try to just think more positively WHILE I eat the food instead of wallowing in it....

[Beppie]

Could you enjoy a cup of hot tea instead? My daughters LOVE drinking herbal tea with me (or maybe it's just the honey that they love!).