My life has an absurd amount of stress. Between raising three kids under seven, being a full time nursing student, attempting to run our home, working part time as a baking assistant and trying to be a good wife it is safe to say I am overwhelmed most of the time.
When I’m overwhelmed? I eat.
I eat a lot.
I’m not picky. I love sweets, carbs, and fruit…anything that I can munch on. I don’t always eat unhealthy foods, but I eat them for the wrong reason. I don’t eat because I am hungry; I eat because I am bored or because it makes me feel better. I feel like in my crazy life at least I can control what I put in my body.
I Was Out Of Control
The only problem is, I am not in control. The food is in control of me. My first year of nursing school saw me gain 25 pounds and an ulcer. I’m 5 foot 4 inches. Not cool. None of my clothing fit and God knows I wasn’t happy with my size BEFORE I gained this extra pudge. I was barely fitting in my size 16s and it was making me feel like poo. I knew that I was overeating but I just couldn’t stop. I was so stressed ALL the time about school, and I had kids in three different schools with three different schedules and I was losing my losing mind right along with my waist.
JUST NO. NOT COOL.
May came and so did summer. I had two and a half glorious months off. I spent time by pool, I went on to the beach as much as I could, I went away for the weekend with my husband, I enjoyed my kids and I lived day by day.
I also lost 20 pounds without even trying.
As the fall semester started back up at the end of August, I really tried to evaluate my eating habits over the summer and compare them to the school year and the results were staggering. The amount I was eating during the school year was unbelievable, and during the summer? I ate when I was hungry. Imagine that.
4 MONTHS LATER, SAME JEANS YA’LL!
How I Lost The Weight
I looked at what I could to take away some of the stress that accompanies being a full time nursing student. I finally did what I never do and hate doing. I asked for more help. I finally took my mother-in-law up on her offer to help more with the kids. I picked up a ten-hour a week job baking, which is something that I love to do. I made time to reconnect with some friends. I made sure my time spent with the kids was actually with them and not just time spent in the same room. I talked to my super supportive husband about things I just really needed help with. I felt better about myself and better about my abilities to juggle all the responsibility on my plate.
I have managed to get through almost the entire semester without really putting on any weight outside of the oh mah gawd why did I have that last piece of pie bloating weight that come with the holidays.
So I ask you… why do you eat? Do you eat when you’re nervous? Scared? Happy? Sad? Stressed? All of the above? I truly think that if we can explore the reasons behind our need to over eat we will be in such a better position to get healthy.
P.S. There is NOTHING better than getting back in your skinny jeans.
I think asking for help and then accepting help are both huge factors in dealing with stress. Thanks for the timely reminder. And congrats on the weight + enlightenment successes.
Oh, you are so right. It’s stress and, I’ve decided lack of sleep. My body knows it needs more sleep but I don’t have time so I feed its need with food. For me it started with business school (now 19 years ago!), then a high pressure job, then a new baby with high pressure job, then infertility, then preemie twins. I need to get a handle on it.
I try to get a decent amount of sleep, too, because being tired is a huge trigger for me to stuff my face. I gained about 10 lbs. in about 6 weeks this last summer and a lot of it was traceable to “tired” eating.
I totally do that too – I am a huge emotional eater. My husband and I are separating and yesterday I ate a whole package of cookie dough – the one with the squares. Over 2000 calories in one sitting. I’m working on getting a handle on it but it’s been so hard. Maybe when we formally are apart I’ll feel better – your story really hit home for me. Thanks for writing this and Happy Holidays!
I never realized I was an emotional eater until recently and it was quite a wake up call. I think finding your trigger whatever it may be and choosing to be aware of it can make a big difference. I’ve lost 28 pounds since June 1. I feel better, I look better, and nope nothing feels as good as rocking an old pair of jeans you previously couldn’t get up over your thighs. Walking and your work slacks falling off is also a nice one as long as you are at home that is. Downside…shopping for new work clothes that fit; that is never fun.
I eat too much when I feel a lack of energy, and that lack of energy can come from many sources. Often it’s a matter of focusing hard mentally, which as a student I do a lot, and I’ve learned how to replace pep-me-up snacks with breaks outside, changes of activity, tea, or even just packing a smaller, healthy lunch and a bunch of clementines or tiny apples, so that I still have snacks but they are not a big increment to my calorie intake. Sometimes it’s lack of sleep. I’ve also noticed I get the same thing when I eat too much sugar/not enough protein. And – tricky body – I am sapped of energy when I’ve ALREADY eaten too much. Now it’s obvious when I’m stuffed and therefore tired, but I find it quite challenging to get back on track afterward, because until my digestive tract feels “empty” again, I don’t really feel hungry and can only identify a need for food by fatigue. I try to solve it by eating lots of fibrous, watery foods which will be filling but break down and not prolong the problem.
What if you don’t eat a lot, but are still stressed? I packed on at least 20-30 pounds in the past year and a half. I weight almost 180 at 5 feet tall… And the fact that I don’t eat a whole lot but still gained the weight makes me freak out even more!! I honestly think it might be a thyroid issue, but I have no insurance to even see a doctor, not even through work… how can I lose weight?
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