question about stress eating

[Guest guest]

Hey gang...we're in the middle of buying a house and moving to Houston...we live outside of Ft. Worth right now. It's been a stressful time, as you can imagine.

Here's the problem, I go either way with stress...either I have no appetite at all, even feeling sick to my stomach at times, or I have increased appetite where I feel hungry, empty...even to the point of my stomach growling. How do I discern true hunger...the big "O"?? If my stomach growls, does that mean I'm truly in need of food?

I know that stress affects metabolism and emotional eating is a very real danger. How do ya'll handle this?

thanks, Vicky

[Guest guest]

http://cdnwriter.blogspot.com/2006/07/stress-eating-and-finding-your.html

I decided to write a blog about this topic cause my reply to you was getting so long, so I hope you find it helpful...

April

-----Original Message-----From: IntuitiveEating_Support [mailto:IntuitiveEating_Support ]On Behalf Of ASPENPONY86@...Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 8:29 PMTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Subject: question about stress eating

Hey gang...we're in the middle of buying a house and moving to Houston...we live outside of Ft. Worth right now. It's been a stressful time, as you can imagine. Here's the problem, I go either way with stress...either I have no appetite at all, even feeling sick to my stomach at times, or I have increased appetite where I feel hungry, empty...even to the point of my stomach growling. How do I discern true hunger...the big "O"?? If my stomach growls, does that mean I'm truly in need of food?I know that stress affects metabolism and emotional eating is a very real danger. How do ya'll handle this?thanks, Vicky

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on the house!

In response to your question, I think that if your stomach is really

growling, then yes, you should eat. I have been able to discern

stress eating so far because I will feel stress, I will think about

the pile of chocolate in the corner and think it sounds appealing

(appetite), but then instead of just eating it I examine myself for

physical hunger. Most of the time I find that I want to eat just

because it has been a soothing behavior for me in the past. In those

cases I don't eat. It is a struggle though - it amazes me how

closely eating and emotional relief are linked for me. Working on

overcoming those ties.

>

> Hey gang...we're in the middle of buying a house and moving to

Houston...we

> live outside of Ft. Worth right now. It's been a stressful time, as

you can

> imagine.

>

> Here's the problem, I go either way with stress...either I have no

appetite

> at all, even feeling sick to my stomach at times, or I have

increased appetite

> where I feel hungry, empty...even to the point of my stomach

growling. How do

> I discern true hunger...the big " O " ?? If my stomach growls, does

that mean

> I'm truly in need of food?

>

> I know that stress affects metabolism and emotional eating is a

very real

> danger. How do ya'll handle this?

>

> thanks, Vicky

>

[Guest guest]

Well, I can't tell you what your hunger would /"should" feel like because everyone is different ... some people get the "growl", some people just get irritable, some people even get headaches. You have to give yourself time to figure that one out -- even though I'm sure that's very difficult with the stresses you're dealing with right now. :-?

For me, it's usually just the irritable bit. I start to get pretty cranky. :-P LOL

TW has a saying: "When in doubt, wait it out". If you wait, eventually you'll KNOW -- without a doubt -- that you're hungry! ;o)

As for dealing with the stresses, I'm still working on that, myself. When I'm tempted to reach for sweets, sometimes I'll grab water instead. This helps me. I even sometimes find that I was thirsty, not really hungry at all!

And, you can distract yourself with other things. Make a list of things you've been wanting to get done, but haven't gotten around to ... then, when you get tempted to eat from stress, get out your list and pick something ... then do it! So, instead of eating, you're keeping yourself occupied with something else.

Suggestions only, of course, but maybe they'll help. ;-)

Prayin' your move goes smoothly! )

Jenn

<><

-----Original Message----- Hey gang...we're in the middle of buying a house and moving to Houston...we live outside of Ft. Worth right now. It's been a stressful time, as you can imagine. Here's the problem, I go either way with stress...either I have no appetite at all, even feeling sick to my stomach at times, or I have increased appetite where I feel hungry, empty...even to the point of my stomach growling. How do I discern true hunger...the big "O"?? If my stomach growls, does that mean I'm truly in need of food?I know that stress affects metabolism and emotional eating is a very real danger. How do ya'll handle this?

http://mizbooksreads.blogspot.com

http://intuitive-eating.blogspot.com

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/IntuitiveEating_Support

* NEVER DIET AGAIN! *

[Guest guest]

Awesome, April! And, i totally agree! )

Hey... Would you mind expanding on that "shades of grey" bit? I've heard that mentioned LOTS over on DietSurvivors (group), so I'm curious... I *think* I know what ya'll are talking about, but I'd love some clarification... just in case. ;o) Thanks!

Jenn

<><-----Original Message----- http://cdnwriter.blogspot.com/2006/07/stress-eating-and-finding-your.html

I decided to write a blog about this topic cause my reply to you was getting so long, so I hope you find it helpful...

http://mizbooksreads.blogspot.com

http://intuitive-eating.blogspot.com

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/IntuitiveEating_Support

* NEVER DIET AGAIN! *

[Guest guest]

Most people who are recovery compulsive dieters have these sets of black and white rules. Here's an example. EVERYONE that has ever dieted know of the "Must not eat at night" rule. Thinking in shades of grey shakes that up and says... who said eating is on a 24 hour cycle? If I'm truly hungry at night, I can eat! I may have indigestion, I may not sleep as well, or I may go to bed feeling satisfied and content and sleep better... For me, thinking in shades of grey means experimenting with changing black and white rules that were written in stone for my entire life. There's no black and white anymore. Only shades of grey... Does that make sense? could probably explain this better, and I'm sure there's a meditation on her blog about this somewhere...

April

-----Original Message-----From: IntuitiveEating_Support [mailto:IntuitiveEating_Support ]On Behalf Of Jenn S.Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 7:34 AMTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Subject: RE: question about stress eating

Awesome, April! And, i totally agree! )

Hey... Would you mind expanding on that "shades of grey" bit? I've heard that mentioned LOTS over on DietSurvivors (group), so I'm curious... I *think* I know what ya'll are talking about, but I'd love some clarification... just in case. ;o) Thanks!

Jenn

<><-----Original Message----- http://cdnwriter.blogspot.com/2006/07/stress-eating-and-finding-your.html

I decided to write a blog about this topic cause my reply to you was getting so long, so I hope you find it helpful...

http://mizbooksreads.blogspot.com

http://intuitive-eating.blogspot.com

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/IntuitiveEating_Support

* NEVER DIET AGAIN! *

[Guest guest]

I think I get it ... but I'll have a look through 's blog, anyway. Thanks so much for explaining it for me! )

Jenn

<><-----Original Message----- Most people who are recovery compulsive dieters have these sets of black and white rules. Here's an example. EVERYONE that has ever dieted know of the "Must not eat at night" rule. Thinking in shades of grey shakes that up and says... who said eating is on a 24 hour cycle? If I'm truly hungry at night, I can eat! I may have indigestion, I may not sleep as well, or I may go to bed feeling satisfied and content and sleep better... For me, thinking in shades of grey means experimenting with changing black and white rules that were written in stone for my entire life. There's no black and white anymore. Only shades of grey... Does that make sense? could probably explain this better, and I'm sure there's a meditation on her blog about this somewhere...

http://mizbooksreads.blogspot.com

http://intuitive-eating.blogspot.com

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/IntuitiveEating_Support

* NEVER DIET AGAIN! *