How do you deal with stressful times?

Ever since I can remember, I've associated eating with comfort, and as such I have the god-awful habit of eating whenever I'm stressed out. For example, today I got murdered by an awful biochemistry exam and afterward ate a plate full of corn and roast beef, along with a strawberry shortcake, without thinking twice. I know stress-eating is the worst for you: your cortisol levels are up, which means your body's trying to store fat where it can be easily mobilized and used by the liver, i.e. your stomach. This is the LAST thing I need right now, especially since my crazy schedule has been keeping me from getting to the gym as often as I'd like.

My question is, to all you stress-eaters out there, how do you resist? How do you tell yourself that you're not really hungry for that food?

To be clear, I'm not really looking for numbers on the scale to go down - though that'd certainly be nice, and in the end, I'll probably find myself 5-10 pounds lighter. Mostly, I'm looking to burn the fat I have (too much, ewwww), tone, and build muscle, especially in my upper body.

Also, a weird question, but does anyone else have belly fat that stops just a little below where their hipbones jut out? Below that, I'm fairly flat. Weirder still, there's a strange area right where the button of my jeans sits where there's no fat. Is it because of the low-rise pants, or because I'm a singer, or just because I have weird body fat distribution? At any rate, it looks horrible in swimsuits. Can't wait to wish it goodbye.

bump?

I don't know about the stress eating, since i eat less under stress (don't associate food with comfort at all). But as for the belly fat thing, i have the same thing. Very slim hips and a flat belly below the bone line, but more fat above it. I have no idea why... sorry. but you aren't alone.

I know there have got to be other stress-eaters out there...my mom and I aren't the only ones...:p

I also remember failing a few biochem tests in college (if its any help, I was a chem major, got a C in biochem and four years later I am about to finish my PhD in chemistry, trust me, no one cares about biochemistry except those in that field, lol).  My problem is not eating when I am stressed, but drinking when I am stressed, which is way more calories.  I put on a lot of weight my first few years of grad school but about a year ago I made a conscious decision to stop drinking (well, a lot, lot less) and I have lost a lot of weight since then.  I have also made it a point to go to the gym more often, and I think that has helped too.

Good luck the rest of your semester, it's gotta be close to the end!

I am totally a stress/emotional eater all around!  Food is comfort in every sense of the word for me.  I am frustered, mad, tired, really busy, dissapointed...any of them or other stress....something in my brain says eat.  I have known this for quite some time, but it takes contant effert to maintain my awareness that this why my brain is saying eat.  Some things I do to help manage this...

1. Plan my meals and the times to eat.  This makes it just something to do, not based on how I feel.  I usually have to eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks a day.  It also allows me to make good food choices when i have a clear head,..not a stressed needing comfort head!

2. If i am feeling like I want to eat other than the scheduled times....Try to do some sort of stress relieving activity for 10-15 minutes.  For me it is usally take a quick walk somewhere.  Around the block, around the office, in your case,..across campus. The physical movement helps clear my head, relieve the stress and the desire for a  snickers and a soda are usually gone.  In the moment of stress can be hard to think of anything to do except get some food, so make a list or already have plan of what you can do.  Walk, take a bath, listen to some music, call a friend ( who won't offer to go out to eat)...even 15 minutes of cleaning upa room or something can help release that stress.

If there are cases where i can't seem to shake the desire for somrthing I keep a few "emergency" foods on hand.  Green or Fruit teas (i have learned to love).  A handful of almonds, an apple and maybe a boiled or some protien for a shake.  It is hard to overindulge on boiled eggs!

really try to ask myself everytime before I go to get any food...what do i really need?  Then try to meet that need with an appropriate solution.  Not food.  Food is only for fuel!

I think that there are alot of people out there that have the same struggles, probably most common among women.  Hope to hear some more tips from some others!

I am a total emotional eater. My whole life whenever something really really stressful came up i buried myself in a bowl of pasta (yay being italian haha). I also have this weird thing the past year or so that when i get stressed i sometimes crave a cheeseburger, which is just fantastic. Anyways I have still yet to overcome my emotional eating but i have learned to try to substitute for the heathy version of things. I only buy whole wheat pasta and if im in my cheese burger phase i get turkey burgers with whole wheat buns and 2% cheese. When its TTOTM I get reallyy bad chocolate cravings so i keep those little warm delete cups in the house. they are only 150 calories and they meet the chocolate craving. Its just a matter of finding the heathy and low cal version of whatever it is to make you feel better i guess. I would love to be one of those people who go for a run when life sucks but i am just not there yet... =(