[tchrnow]

Ok, I knew I was a stress-eater, but it snuck up on me. My computer went down--hard-drive. I spent 2 weeks dealing with it. I was stressed out due to company and I ate, ate, ate.... I know I grabbed poor choice foods because I was too tired/lazy to prepare better choice foods, but in my mind I kept hearing "not a big deal, do better tomorrow". Well, the 'tomorrow' became two weeks and I am up 2 pounds. GRRR, I'm so mad at myself. I worked so hard to get the 2 pounds off and how easily they came back!!!

My rational self knows that the problem was I didn't plan for the stress eating (I was under the delusion, I would handle it when needed.) and I didn't have any strategies developed to deal with the times I would be stressed or tired or unwilling to make the effort to prepare healthy/positive choice foods.

My question to the group is....HELP.....what strategies have worked for you all???
Lynne

[synger]

I keep "emergency rations" in my house -- quick things that take minimal preparation and fill me up. Or at least they take the edge off until I can make a real meal. I find that if I make sure I get some protein, I am satisfied with less, for longer. So most of my choices tend to be protein-ful.

Cottage cheese. One of the best choices for high protein, high calcium.

Skim milk

Canned soup -- Progresso and Healthy Choice make some really good, veggie-laden soups that aren't too salty. Some of them have serious protein. And all they take is a dump into a bowl and nuking for a minute or two. Even eating a whole can is usually less than 400 calories.

Canned tuna -- mix with low-fat mayo or some lemon juice and chopped veggies and it'll fill you up quite a while

Frozen chicken breasts -- easy to nuke with minimal seasoning

Frozen hamburgers and meatballs -- higher in calories than the chicken, but a nice change. And the meatballs are great in tomato sauce with veggies or over pasta.

Frozen veggies -- bags of spinach, green beans, peas, broccoli, and corn. Easy to nuke with a pat of butter and some salt for a healthy boost of fiber and vitamins

Low-fat microwave popcorn -- when I MUST HAVE something crunchy and salty that's not a veggie

Hope that helps.

[kykaree]

I planned my weight loss for three months before I started. I kept a journal and tracked the times when I over ate, then I wrote down a list of triggers. I also wrote what feelings I felt before I ate, physical and emotional. Because I don't know about you, but often I would be inside the fridge with my bottom in the air like Winnie the Pooh stuck in Rabbit's hole before I realised what I was doing!!! For me the big three, prevention, planning and preperation were really important. With the first being the most important, keeping an eye on your stress levels and pre-empting a binge is a lot easier than dealing with it once it strikes.

Then I came up with a list of alternative behaviours. Like walking around the block, getting on the computer, writing in my journal, I even bought a colouring in book and pencils. Mindless colouring in is a great stress reliever.

I do have safe foods in the house like Synger, but if I am in a stress eating mood I can still murder the calories for the day on "safe food".

I exercise a lot now, and i find that a good preventer of stress. I go to the gym if my stress attacks occur when it's open. My instructor knows now when I am stressed and to keep away from me!!! Apparently I work harder when stressed!!!!

[tchrnow]

Thanks!!!! I'm seeing from many posts that planning and awareness are the key.