STRESS and overeating...

[BabyDreamer]

Hello All,

Well, I am 1/2 done with my Christmas shopping (don't ya just HATE me). Anyway, the holidays are a stressful time for many people, me included. I was wondering if any of the seasoned veterans out there have any tips to help people avoid "stress eating". I know I could sure use some.

Deb

[slimndown]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

C'mon, eating is stress...now which salad dressing do I use? .

[BabyDreamer]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

LOL! Stess=food=stress...yep I see a trend here!

Deb

C'mon, eating is stress...now which salad dressing do I use? .

[Curveegrrl]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

I find it really helps to try and paln ahead. Yeah, sometimes that's close to impossible as the holidays approach. But try and have a general understanding of when you'll want to eat, and when you'll be able to eat. It's great to think you have a well stocked fridge at home, but what happens when you're at the mall in the holiday madness? The food court isn't always an Atkins haven. And it might be a long drive home in holiday traffic.

So maybe you could keep lots of Atkin's friendly snacks around. And not just at home. Keep them in the car and in your bag and at work. During the holidays, everyone and their monkey brings goodies to nibble. And unless you have ones you can have, you might be really tempted to have the ones you can't.

Those are my best ideas. I hope they help.

[Sheshy]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

I find it really helps to try and paln ahead. Yeah, sometimes that's close to impossible as the holidays approach. But try and have a general understanding of when you'll want to eat, and when you'll be able to eat. It's great to think you have a well stocked fridge at home, but what happens when you're at the mall in the holiday madness? The food court isn't always an Atkins haven. And it might be a long drive home in holiday traffic.

So maybe you could keep lots of Atkin's friendly snacks around. And not just at home. Keep them in the car and in your bag and at work. During the holidays, everyone and their monkey brings goodies to nibble. And unless you have ones you can have, you might be really tempted to have the ones you can't.

Those are my best ideas. I hope they help.

Hi Curveegrrl!

Excellent ideas and thoughts! Planning and preparation is really important!

[2big4mysize]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

keep your Atkins emergency kit well stocked and handy. Check it beofre you leave home and make sure you have everything you need water to stall your actual food decision with, those before pics to reminfd you what you used to be before you did Atkins and what you are in danger of becoming again should you not eat correctly, your favorite do anywhere exercise list ( ladies think kegels yep i see you laughing but just think while your friends are stuffing your fav dessert in theor mouths you are getting a great workout of some muscles you know what to do with and nobody sitting there but you knows it. Now that should bust you up laughing and laughter is a great stress releaser) need some more thing isometrics chair pushups are jsut a few. make it your exercise list. A copy of your reasons for doing Atkins so you can remember why you are even thinking about not eating and or drinking this.
Papaer and pencil so you can do a benefit cost ratio of eating the bad for Atkins food or drink. assign value to the ros and the cons add them up and divid the benefits you will recieve from eating that item by the costs to you of it be it health money or whatever you decide it will be and see if the final number is over 1 if so then you need to have that food if not then you have decided you don't want it. (good engineers do this when they decide if something should be built created or designed before they start.)


Next if you get this far some acceptable for your phase snacks sour if you like that crunchy or even sweet if you like that cause if you are in a crunchy mood and all you got is something soft then you are in trouble from a build up of even more frustration.

And finsally the URL for the board so you can do a quick post and ask for some hand holding or a stern talking to to keep you from doing it.

With all that with you every step of the way you should be posting alabout your great success resisting temptation all season long.

Happy low carbing.

[BabyDreamer]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

Shelly and 2big,

I have got to get in the mindset of having a kit ready. Heck, I need to keep veggies and stuff sliced in the fridge and ready to go. Someone throw a nerf ball at me for that!

Deb

[Moochiecat]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

Yep..plan plan plan...here's a few more things to keep in mind when it comes to holiday get-togethers as well...

If you are invited to a potluck type thing, make a big batch of something that you are allowed to eat (lasagne, with thinly sliced zucchini as 'noodles', or a meat/veggie/cheese platter, or a big salad) so that if nothing else is allowed, you won't go hungry.

Eat before you go to a function! Have something before you go so you aren't ravenous when you get there and obsessed by the buffet table.

Remember the reason for the season, whatever your particular reason is, and enjoy yourself.
I find that since I've recognized and dealt with my obsession with food at parties, I'm able to have a much better time socially. This translates to every day activities too...like the treats people bring in at work, and the special treats that appear on store shelves, restaurants and so on. Now that I know those offer me nothing nutritionally/emotionally, I can pass them by quite easily.

I've digressed a bit on the original topic of this thread, sorry..but I hope you find this helpful too!

[not2late]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

Yup, plan plan plan plan plan...

Keep things at home that are acceptable for your phase of the diet. Keep small portable snacks with you on shopping trips.

When you are invited to holiday parties, do one of two things:
1. eat a meal before you go, that way you'll be less inclined to eat more when you get there.
2. Bring along food you can eat---a veggie tray, a cheese platter, etc. If your host won't provide suitable drinks for your phase of Atkins, bring a bottle of club soda.

But the most important thing you have to remember is this: You are responsible for everything you eat and drink. Unless people are holding you down and shoving food into your mouth, that excuse of "they made me eat it" is just a cop-out. Similarly, the excuse of "there was nothing I could eat so I had to eat the bread and chocolate cake" is a cop-out too because you didn't take the time to plan and prepare.

And please, please, please, try not to come here to scrounge for "permission" to eat or drink something you know isn't acceptable for your phase of Atkins, because you won't get that permission from us.

[cleochatra]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

There will always be stress in life. It doesn't go away when we're thin, either. The best way to deal with it is to go with little steps to reduce the stress. Pick 6 things you plan to do for the day and write each of them on a post-it note. As you complete each task, toss the note.

You might think that 6 things a day isn't much, but in 30 days, it's 180 things you completed. Think about it!

[BabyDreamer]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

Cleo,

If 6 would cut into my to-do list I would be so much better off. I teach for five online colleges (1 full-time) so actually my today's to-do list has 16 things on it, with exercise as #1!

Deb

There will always be stress in life. It doesn't go away when we're thin, either. The best way to deal with it is to go with little steps to reduce the stress. Pick 6 things you plan to do for the day and write each of them on a post-it note. As you complete each task, toss the note.

You might think that 6 things a day isn't much, but in 30 days, it's 180 things you completed. Think about it!

[cleochatra]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

When we look at the big picture it is overwhelming. So, today make 16 post-its if that is necessary (and exercise is always one of the post-its!). As you knock each thing off, you're already closer and will have a real feeling of accomplishment, especially if you are visual, like me. Then, tomorrow, give yourself maybe only 4 things, with one being exercise. I know there are times when there are unavoidable circumstances-- today I have a lot to do and it exceeds 6 things.

I have to say to myself: If I were better at knocking out those 6 things everyday, would I have really gotten to this place where I have so many today? I know I would have had less to do had I planned ahead, had accomplished those 6 things everyday and had moved forward, instead of always putting out those proverbial forest fires.

[/lecture]

[BabyDreamer]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

Cleo,

You are silly girl! I am down to checking one school (four classes) and chatting on here (which is a to-do listed as post food/exercise).

Deb

When we look at the big picture it is overwhelming. So, today make 16 post-its if that is necessary (and exercise is always one of the post-its!). As you knock each thing off, you're already closer and will have a real feeling of accomplishment, especially if you are visual, like me. Then, tomorrow, give yourself maybe only 4 things, with one being exercise. I know there are times when there are unavoidable circumstances-- today I have a lot to do and it exceeds 6 things.

I have to say to myself: If I were better at knocking out those 6 things everyday, would I have really gotten to this place where I have so many today? I know I would have had less to do had I planned ahead, had accomplished those 6 things everyday and had moved forward, instead of always putting out those proverbial forest fires.

[/lecture]

[2big4mysize]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

great while you are on line replace your chair with a fitness balland then you can exercise while you work and relief any stress it causes at the same time.

What a great job toi have you get to exercise and work at the same time

[BabyDreamer]

Re: STRESS and overeating...

2 big or anyone,

Do you know of a website where I can order that thing?

Deb

great while you are on line replace your chair with a fitness balland then you can exercise while you work and relief any stress it causes at the same time.

What a great job toi have you get to exercise and work at the same time