For the past 3 weeks I've been stress eating non-stop! I'm in the middle of studying for my midterms (they're over after Sat) but it's just really starting to get me down that I've lost all self-control.

I never really thought I was a stress-eater before now! I've tried stocking up on carrots and salad stuff, but while I'll start the day out well, I usually end up gorging on pizza, chips, cookies, etc. at study group sessions. How do I stop myself from doing this?

The scale has crept back up to 150lb...but I refuse to change my ticker. It's starting to really get to me as this is the longest I've gone without losing weight since I commited to my diet and there isn't anyone to blame but myself for this. any advice?

Hi there,

I know exactly what you mean as I've been suffering from exactly the same thing recently!

When do you find you most want to eat? Is it when you're actually sitting down to study? If it is and you feel the urge coming on these are some things I try:

Put everything down, take a deep breath, picture what I'm craving and myself eating it, then all the work I'd have to do in the gym to work those calories off.

Paint my nails, or do my make up or style my hair or something and by the time I'm finished the cravings are normally done.

I know weather's rubbish now its autumn, if it was summer I'd say go outside for a while but this next one still works as long as it's not raining! Open your window as wide as you can so you get the cool air blowing at you. Take big huge lungfuls of the cold air (as big as you can) and really concentrate on breathing in as much as you can, the cold feeling in your throat. Keep doing the deep breaths until you start to feel calmer, then go back to studying.

If all else fails and you do snack, then remember it's not the end of the world - beating yourself up about it probably adds more stress than anything!

Sometimes it helps me to read the GOAL section on this forum. Sometimes, I can call a friend and reach out for help. I also can go to my closet and look at the clothes I love or would love to wear....or organizing the closet is good too, if there's time. Maybe you could study at the library? Then, there's no access to food. Make sure not to take any money with you! Good luck and hang in there. Oh, and make sure you still workout to get rid of some stress.

I agree with katykat and luckymommy! I'm a victim of stress eating. I either eat too much or don't eat at all. You can try taking a deep breath and removing yourself from the situation for a few minutes and distract yourself with a glass of water or maybe some sugar-free gum. Just think about all of the hardwork you'll do if you stress-eat. But if you do, don't stress about it, it's no big deal and you'll jump back on the ball in no time! Stressing because you ate too much just causes more stress..it's a never ending cycle!!

I know how those study sessions are. At my school you can order Dominos or Pizza Hut from your school meal plan and every session had an array of chicken wings, pizza, breadsticks you name it! I would bring a bag of popcorn. Even if you can't stand the fat free (it takes a special person to like it) you can eat a bag of the buttered up kind for less calories than you would if you over-indulged on pizza, chips or cookies. Not only that, it takes awhile to eat a whole bag so chances are you'll have calmed your cravings by the time its gone.

I'm a chip-a-holic and thats one of the things I miss about eating healthy is just chowing down on a bag of chips until my fingers are caked in a strange colored seasoning. Eating popcorn is the only thing that has helped me with that too, I can a lot of it so it makes me feel like I got away with something bad.

I've totally been stressing....and the worst part is that when I get depressed or stressed I dont' want to eat...so I totally have to force myself. It also means taht I dont want to work out either...so its like double whammy on my body!

I'm a big stress eater. If I'm stressed and unoccupied, then I eat. So if I'm feeling overwhelmed, I try to do something to occupy my time. I also have to stop and think about it and ask myself if I'm really truly hungry. The answer is usually always "no" so I am able to tell myself to hold off on the eating.

Not really sage advice, just wanted to chime in and say I know exactly how you feel!

I stress eat for the same reasons you do. School is my biggest enemy when it comes to my weight loss. Studying for 8-9 hours a day and then having to go to class, and then maybe a job. Thats enough to make any girl want to eat whatever is in front of her. What I have to tell myself is that I am in control of the food that goes into my body. If I am in a study group and that pizza comes, I go and get me a diet coke and some baked lays from the snack place in our library. Usually the time it takes me to do that and get back 80% of the pizza is gone and most of everyone is full and they have gone back to studying.

I hear you!! I do the same thing... I like to chew some SF Gum while studying because I know one bite will turn into 300. So I just can't go there, the result will be catastrophic.

I know that isn't the greatest advice but I've been there (and still go there...although trying to make it less frequent).

Hugs to you- this too shall pass!

plan, plan, plan...

If you're going to a study group where you know they will probably order junk food, bring some good stuff for yourself, or for everyone if you can. Also, fill up on water so you can't gorge on junk food. I remember how stressful it can be and totally sympathize... planning was the only way I ever got around it, and also letting people know that I'm trying to lose weight, and seeing if we could order something healthy. Even just a vegetarian pizza versus a meat pizza is better. A lot of take out places have large salads you can get and split with others. Just some suggestions...

i know exactly how you feel and KimL1214 is so right...all you have to do is plan everything u do in advance. but that is hard..and boring!