Mother Talkers

I'm Stressed, Therefore I Eat

by mkkendrick

Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 06:58:36 PM PDT

The end of October is always a perfect storm of business for me.  Just as 1st quarter grades are coming due, and I have 118 essays to read and 30 make-up assignments to grade, and the school computers go down making uploading grades into the district's database impossible, Halloween rears its spooky head and costumes must be found, candy must be purchased, and Halloween activities must be completed.  

In the midst of all this I must attend a Parent-Teacher conference with my 1st grader's teacher, cheer on same son at soccer, get a very necessary haircut, consider a summons to jury duty, and write several teacher recommendations for very deserving seniors who are all lovely young women who would be assets to any college or university that deigned to accept them into their student bodies.

And, oh yes, there's a giant assessment sample to prepare--a thick folder of projects and papers to be sent off to the International Baccalaureate Organization in Cardiff, Wales--all a part of my school's five-year IB Middle Years Program evaluation.  (Please don't ask any questions about that one...don't think I could explain)

And, of course, it's that time of the month.

To cope with my ramped up business I've been throwing food down my gullet at an alarming rate: chips, crackers, extra sandwiches, extra breakfasts, etc.

In my defense--almost everything I've induldged in has been whole-grain or organic: a giant bowl of organic whole-grain cereal for breakfast, organic tortilla chips, whole grain bread at Panera, an organic apple, fair-trade organic chocolate, etc.

My point: Not sure that I have one, but at least I'm relieveing stress by writing instead of eating!  Now, if I can just make it till bed time without sneaking one more chip out of the bag....

Tags: food, stress (all tags)

Permalink | 19 comments

  • And it's Halloween! (0 / 0)

    I didn't buy candy until yesterday to try and ward off my tendencies, but I've already busted open a bag of milk chocolate almond Kisses.  I really wish those things didn't just jump in my grocery cart when I'm not looking!

    by cynmill on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 08:56:34 PM PDT

  • Just had this same discussion with my daughter. (0 / 0)

    She is co-manager of a Hallmark store...a previous manager just left to open a new store and took half the staff.  And ofcourse, the store's busiest time of year is coming up....she had been eating really well for a few months and had started exercising daily.  Well, now she says that she's stressed and wants to eat.  And she does...she gives meaning to the words "comfort food".  

    I made a couple of suggestions to her regarding supplements...not sure she'll follow my advice, because, well, I'm just Mom...

    by tjb22 on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 09:05:12 PM PDT

  • argh! (0 / 0)

    I'm totally with you. I'm a total comfort/bored eater. Only way I've learned to avoid it is not buy any of it, or else I'll eat it.

    Also, celery sticks. I know, I know, but they do crunch...

    by Rachel on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 10:15:18 PM PDT

  • if i'm too tired, i'll eat for energy (0 / 0)

    if i'm getting enough sleep and rest, i find i eat a lot less.

    maybe you're not just stressed, but also exhausted, and your body is just trying to get more energy any way it can?

    hang in there.

    by thankgodforairamerica on Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 08:41:41 AM PDT

    • Me too (0 / 0)

      I substitute food for sleep sometimes. But I am conscious of it, so I can control my impulses.

      I find I actually lose weight when I'm stressed. But I am a pretty low-stress person so unfortunately stess will never get me into a size 6!

      by minnmom on Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 10:00:18 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  • I hear ya! (0 / 0)

    At least your snacks sound healthy. (Okay, except for the chips.) I am gorging myself on (non organic) enchiladas verdes from my favorite Mexican restaurant and Cheetos. :-)

    Hang in there, M! I can't imagine the stress of grading papers well into the night as you have to get the kids down, too. I have so much respect for teachers.

    by Elisa on Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 10:04:14 AM PDT

  • I have the same problem... (0 / 0)

    When I'm stressed, I have very little ability to control the hand-to-mouth action.  I try to eat a mini bag of popcorn or an apple to try to talk myself out of crazy munchies, and I'm VERY careful about what I buy and bring into the house.  But sometimes....  I had a hot date with a bag of baked cheetos last week.  Wasn't pretty.  By the time I made it home from the grocery store, I had convinced myself that it was ok to eat the whole bag, as long as I didn't eat anything else all day.

    by K C on Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 01:01:48 PM PDT

  • Thanks for the support, ya'll! (0 / 0)

    I did manage to keep the wild eating under control today.  AND, I finished all the essays and posted all my grades.  THAT felt good!  As a bonus, the big assessment packet that I thought was due today got pushed back till Monday.  Big WHEW there.  I was done at work by 3:00 today, and instead of swinging by Starbucks for a sweet treat, I went home and did the yoga workout I missed this am.  FEELS GOOD!

    by mkkendrick on Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 02:38:42 PM PDT

  • total emotional eater here (0 / 0)

    I even know that I'm doing it but I do it anyway.  Salt and Vinegar chips are my biggest enemy when I'm down.  It's not pretty.  

    I childproofed my house but they got back in somehow.

    by lonestar canuck on Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 04:21:12 PM PDT

    • "I even know what I'm doing but I do it anyway" (0 / 0)

      Ohhhh...yes!  That says it all.  At least now I only let it go on for a few days before I reign it in; when I was in college I'd let it go on for WEEKS.  Probably why I ended college many pounds heavier than I started :)

      by mkkendrick on Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 05:53:09 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    • I hate that part (0 / 0)

      Not only does the junk food make me feel bad, but then my mind is going, "You know, that's really not very good for you.  You're only doing it because you're stressed.  I just don't understand why you don't (insert active verb here).  That's what all the smart and healthy people do."

      It's a wonder I haven't chopped off my own head.

      by mamacita on Wed Oct 31, 2007 at 01:53:09 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      • OH yeah (0 / 0)

        and then when you rag on yourself you just end up feeling down and hey...there's your hand in the chip bag again.  Vicious cycle.   And no one to blame but myself...which makes me feel bad..and then I eat.   Note to self: Get life!

        I childproofed my house but they got back in somehow.

        by lonestar canuck on Wed Oct 31, 2007 at 07:22:40 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  • Days are shorter too (0 / 0)

    I'm having a real problem now that the sun doesn't come up until after DD gets on the bus. We've had foggy mornings too, so it doesn't feel like morning until about 10am. And this week is minimum days, so DD gets home at 1.

    Daylight savings will mess with me next week, too.

    I totally eat under stress. Worse, eating is a break from working... so it's a double whammy of incentive. And yes, I can know that I'm not really hungry, and still have an amazing compulsion to put some sort of food into myself.

    Recreational eating, sigh. At least I don't have much junk around. But I can totally OD on cheese.

    by shenanigans on Thu Nov 01, 2007 at 12:54:07 PM PDT

Permalink | 19 comments