I have a confession. Last Tuesday, I ate 15 double-stuffed Oreos. (Actually it was more than that. I was so upset with myself, I stopped counting.)
This wasn’t an isolated incident either. My stress eating started about a month ago. I skipped lunch because of a late meeting and ended up snacking all afternoon. Shortly after that, I didn’t have time to make breakfast. But I did finish my breakfast burrito before I even made it to the school drop off line.
I’m not eating because I’m hungry. I eat to feel better when I’m stressed. And I eat junk food. So when I eat all those layered foods, I feel sluggish and bloated so I don’t want to go to the gym either. Double whammy!
The good news is I finally recognized what I was doing and am trying to make some changes. The better news is I’m sharing it with all of you. Leaning on other FitCity Moms will keep me honest, as I plan on reporting in from time to time on my progress. Here is my plan:
Step 1. Confession. I told my husband and I’m telling you. Reciting the list of food is a lot harder than eating the food on the list.
Step 2. Journal. I’m a BIG fan of journaling. When I did this before my wedding, I not only lost a few pounds but I also paid attention to the types of food I ate and the amounts.
Step 3. Mood Tracking. This time, I want to track why I stress-eat. Something goes wrong with work? Rainy Saturday blues? I know it will be harder to resist the snacks I love and be prepared for it.
Step 4. Ditch the Junk. As hard as it was to do, I threw the rest of the Oreos in the trash. I divvied up the Cheez-Its in the kids’ lunches. In moderation, these are fine. But when I stress eat, I eat the whole box.
Step 5. Stock up on the Healthy Stuff. I bought 100 Calorie packs of my favorite snacks (and they are small!) But I get a taste of what I crave, and then fresh veggie sticks are easier to turn to.
Step 6. Water. I keep a thermos of water with me all the time. If I think I’m hungry, I drink some water. It usually takes care of the craving.
I can’t stop being stressed but I can stop reacting by eating. It’s been a week and so far, so good. Will it work long-term? Stay tuned.
Tags: binge eating, diet, lifestyle, Nutrition, oreos
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