Help! Can't stop eating during exam period!!

hey hey!
I am a college kid who is trying to lose weight...
after freshman year... yep the freshman 15.. I GAINED EXACTLY 15 lbs... now I am a rising third year... but that 15 lbs are still hanging there... well
i can keep my daily calories to around 1200 during my diet period.. but during exam time, I will eat around 1700 and don't have time to exercise!!! THe thing is  I feel like if I don't eat as much,my brain will just stop functioning...
is that normal to eat more during exam/intense study time?? What should I do??
ADVICES NEEDED!!!!

Well actually that sounds like maintenance cals to me...not too bad...shouldn't put any weight on you...I used to polish off pizza rolls and boxes of marshmellow rice crispy cereal during exams...it's normal...maybe just sit aside 10 min per hour and walk up and down the stairs in your bldg or go for a 10 min walk...several times a day will burn off any extra cals!

you need glucose for your brain - eating WILL HELP YOU STUDY. I have hust had my big exam, and got through the munchies by preparing a big plate of healthy snacks - carrot sticks, olives, apple slices, celery, rice crackers, sultanas (rasins) dried apricots, and sweet herbal teas. The last couple of days I ate pizza and licorice!

I also did 5 minutes of situps, crucnche, hand wieghts or skipping every hour......

I did the same thing my last finals period. Actually, studying (according to this site) uses up more calories than just sitting (about 70 or 80). And when you study for 10-12 hours a day (aghh, law school), it really adds up. So maybe add it to your activity and see how many calories you are using to get through the books.

Good luck on your tests!

The same thing happens to me.  I'm taking degrees in Engineering and Math and the studying during exams just kills my eating habits!  Find things you can munch on that have fewer calories, like celery and carrots.  Drink tea - it's better than coffee and fills you up so you eat less.  If you really want/need something sweet, even after eating healthy food, just eat it!  Otherwise all it does is distract you from studying, and you'll end up eating it later in the study session anyway. 

I dealt with all the eating stress by taking time to go for a good run or walk or something every day.  Even when you're putting in those stupid 12-14 hr study days, you still need to take breaks, so use them to get exercise and burn up some of the extra calories you're consuming.  As a bonus, that exercise helps keep you refreshed for studying too.

All that said, don't worry about 1700 cals.  That's totally not unreasonable.  During times like exams, focus on maintaining your weight rather than losing and you'll be happier and not feeling so guilty about your eating!

i know how you feel - im premed, and its a complete pain. I agree with what everyone else says. try to aim for the healthy snacks - fruits and veggies, triscuits. Also- ive found if i prepare fruit and what not before i sit down to study for the day, it really helps. Taking the 10 min early on makes it much easier to grab something healthy thats good to go instead of the ice cream, cookie dough, and m&m's.

Scientifically you're body's actually supposed to tell you to eat less when you're stressed out, because evolutionarily, you're in fight or flight mode, so your body stops spending energy on digestion and puts it all into mobilizing your body... meaning the body has more important things to worry about when it is releasing cortisol *(the stress hormone), such as fighting off attackers.  Once your body has relaxed it starts wanting food to refuel after battle.  So maybe you're really craving food after a long day of studying and writing exams.  Just try to resist the cravings to chow down on too much food... your body's just sending a STRONG signal to eat... but you don't need to eat as much as it wants you to, cause you haven't actually expended as much energy as fighting a bear would require... you just sat still for hours studying, ie no exercise.

I find that I'm never hungry when I'm running around busy during the day completing errands, but once I slow down and get home, I'm furiously hungry!

Hi!

Although I am new here, I thought I'd share what I did to help reign myself in for exams. Currently, I have completed law school and I am studying for the Bar Exam. Its basically one massive pain, as I sit listening to 3 years of school condensed into a few hours a day, realizing my whole career depends on two days of 200 questions and 12 essays (forget the achievements of the past 3 years, it only counts now) in about five weeks -- its stressful!

When I am stressed, I tend to eat because it feels good and is something to look forward to. Treats! Yeah! However, it has a downside -- that guilty feeling, that feeling of isolation because you do want to lose those extra 20 pounds, which of course makes you eat even more.

For exams, and right now, I basically convinced myself that my body needs me at its tip-top form. That means eating natural foods, balanced, at regular intervals. If you are good to your body, it tends to be good to you. I make sure to exercise at least 30 minutes a day on my elliptical and engage in some other activity, such as a Carmen Electra 2 DVD or my usual crunches and free weights.

If you can convince yourself that you really need to be in control so you can do well for your schooling, chances are you will. I'm healthier when I am in this mode: I feel better psychologically and I tend to lose weight as well.

I have also found that eating sensibly, and keeping focused, organizes my life in other ways. I find myself being up at a better hour of the day, doing more organization, and feeling more in control of my life. (I will admit I have some competition on the matter as my s/o, who is across the country, is also doing this for encouragement. His lifestyle changed a lot since he relocated from Scotland to the US, drives everywhere now, and gets used to different foods. We have the same basic goals and its always good to have support when you change patterns.)

I think the most important thing is to remember to relax. Exams are nothing to scare you. Its your chance to perform and show your stuff. You worked hard all semester, go ahead and shine. Just remember to get plenty of sleep so your brain works as well.

Best of luck and cheers!

thanks everyone for your useful and important advices!
it is just stressful to have to worry about school and get on diet in the same time.
I am glad to find a great site like this one where everyone supports each other!

: D

oh dear,

i found out during exam i eat a lot too. And I skip my taebo routine too fearing my body will be too lethargic to function. thanks for asking this question for me,i was just about to ask wether its normal or not. =)